DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 41, 12 October 1905, Page 18

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) October 5. A 'gramd euchre party in aid of St. Mary's Orphanage takes place on Wednesday, October 11,, Rev. Father McDermott, Redemiptorist, is conducting a mission at Cambridge in Waikato. Sir Edward Gifolbes, Assistant Secretary of Education, visited tlie Orphanages during lat»t week. The 'toaz-aasn in aid of toe parish funds is in full swing, and promises to be a great success. The committee of ladies and gentlemen are working assiduously, and attention is shown to every detail. The mission at the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, conducted by Rev. Fathers Clune and McGrath, is being well attended morning and evening. On Sunday next it will close. Last evening at Devonport a very successlul euchre party in aid of the parish funds was held. Rev. Father Furlong was present, and a goodly number "went over from the city. At St. Benedict's last Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock his. Lordship the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 150 children, all of whom were prettily attired, the girls particularly so in white dresses and veils. The Very Rev. Father Gillan and Fatheis McMillan and Digivan we-ie present. His Lordship 'explained the importance significance of the great Sacrament, and exhorted the children to always remain faithful as soldiers of the Cross. Last week his Lordship the Bishop, Very Rev. Father Clune, Fathers Holbrook, Adm., and Furlong, and Mr. M. J. Sheahan visited the ' Prometheus ' as guests of Lieu'temants Hodgson and O'Dowd, and were kindly shown over the ship, which is in the dry dock at Calliope. The mishap at the Islands will cost the Admiralty £1500. The wireless telegraphy system was shown and explained. With the Catholic seamen on board Fatlher Clime is a great favorite. The visitors were! well pleased with thoir stay. Yesterday being the feast day of the Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary, Mass was celebrated on board the ' Panther ' by the Rev. Father Zanna, of the Mill Hill missionaries, who came out to specially minister to the Austnans in tins diocese. The whole* ship's company -attended Mass. Father Zanna addressed the officers and men in their native tongue al some length At noon the Bishop aad Fathers /anna and Ikj'l'brook wete entertained at luncheon by the Commander. On leaung the ship a salute was fired in honor of the Bishop. Last Sumday the officers and men cf the Austrian waiship ' Panther ' marched from the wharf and attended 11 o'clock Mass at St. Patrick's. They are a splendid lot of men, and atti acted much atten-ticß. and favorable comment from the public. They oconpied front seats cm the Gospel side. The Bishop warmly welcomed them, and addressed a few kindly words to them. At the conclusion of Mass, at the request of the* Bishop, the congregation stood up while the organist, Mr. Barry Ihscccks, played the Austrian National hymn. The Auckland Garrison Band assembled on the wharf to play the \isitors to St. Patrick's, but owing; to the death on board of one of the petty ofheers, the officer m charge had with regret to dispense with the music. The captain, accompanied by Mr. Carl Klcttc, secretary of the Austrian Consul, called upon the Bishop a few days ago. The visit is to ba relumed by the Bishop this week. Last Sunday e\ening at St Patrick's the Bishop called attention to the writiuvg in the local morning paper, of the Rev. Mr. Fitchett, wherein Vie .described a \isat he (Mr. Fitchett) had made to a Lomdom Catholic church. ( Ile> described las ' grotesque tho bobbing of heads evory time the preacher mentioned the Name of Jesus. One would imagine the speaker held a string, which he pulled, and ail the heads of the congregation bent forward.' The Bishop said if Mr. Fitchett would only consult the Bible, which Protestants so often allege Catholics are not permitted to read, he ■would find there an expressed command to all Christians to so honor the Name of Jews. When an educated man like Mr. Fitchett so forgot himself it wars no wonder that his example was followed by those in the ordinary walks of life. The Bishop then referred to the induction of his Holiness the Pope to th^ heads of the Church throughout the world to instruct, the people in catechetical form in a knowledge of th« Church. Nevt Sunday evening a course of instruction, in accordance witJh the wishes of the Holy Father will be commenced in St. Patrick's. The Bishop ga>ve am indication of what the instructions would be, and showed how efficacious and necessary they would prow to be to Catholics as well as those outside tho Fold.

The following was the programme at the complimentary concert to his Lordship the Bishop on the anniversary of 1 his birth at the Star of the Sea Orphanage, Poms-onby :— Chorus, ' Many happy returns,' children ; chorus, ' Let Erin remember,' children ; address, Miss Ida Lynch. ; chorus, ' I cannot sing the oljd songs,' children ; duet, ' Mother can this thy glory be,' Misses Id/a Lynch and Nora Bearpark ; chorus, ' Mother's helps,' juveniles ; part song, ' Nocturne,' children ; hymn, 0 Maris Stella,' children. The following took part in the drama, ' Dolores ' :— Misses A. Murta>gh, N. Bearpark, I. Lynch, C White, A tie Silva,, M Rowe (2), E Johnston, M- Lyhch. His Lordship ga\e a btief address, the proceedings concluding w th ' God bless the Pope' Mrs. W. J. Ralph acted as accompanist.