DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 11 January 1906, Page 4

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.)

, n , January 5. , Rev. Father Hills, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, is spending his holidays here, and is the guest of the Bishop. Rev. Father Murphy; St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, will arrive by the ' Zealandia ' on Sunday week on a short holiday. Dr. Holbrook Chatfield, from the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., dental surgeon, has been appointed hon. dentist to St. Mary's Orphanage, Ponsonby. Rev. Father Molloy arrived here on New Year's Day from Home. He received his education at All Hallows College for this diocese, and was ordained just before he left. Rev. Father Edge, of St. Patrick's, was for a time in AH Hallows with Father Molloy. On Friday last the devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration' began at St. JVlary's Convent, Ponsonby. Solemn High Mass was celebrated at nine o'clock, at which his Lordship the Bishop presided, Rev. Father Hills, S.M., being celebrant, ißev. Fathers Holbrook and Cahill deacon and subdeacon respectively. The ceremonies closed on Sunday. Very Rev. Father Murray, C.SS.R., at present conducting the retreat for the Sisters of the Mission at Pukekohe, will open the retreat at the Sacred Heart, College on January 7 for the Marist Brothers, and on January 14 for the Sisters of Mercy at Ponsonby, and on January 22 for the clergy at the JSacred Heart College. On v New 'Year's Day the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society at Onehunga held an excursion down the Manukau on .the .' Weka,' when 250 excursionists were on board. They stopped at the Huia until 5 p.m., reaching Onehunga at 7.30 p.m. Sports for the children were 'held. Several members of the Auckland branch attended. The branch will clear £10 out of the trip, which will be devoted to renovating the Hibernian Hall. On Sunday last, the last day of the old year, special services were held at the Cathedral. At 11 o'clock Mass and in the_ evening the choir rendered- the ' Miserere,' 'Te Deum,' and ' Verii Creator.' A very fine sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Edge. At St. Mary's Orphanage, Ponsonby, great excitement prevailed on Christmas eve, when the children entered their spacious dining-room and saw Santa Claus. with his snowy head and his arms laden with presents waiting to greet them. It was quite amusing to watch the joy and eagerness depicted on the faces of the little tots as they feasted their wide opemeyes on the. many gifts which Daddy Christmas had to share among them. Numerous scrolls and appropriate mottos decorated the walls, and with the festoons and bunting had quite a 'picturesque appearance, and showed plainly that Christmas was indeed among those little ones, eighty of. whom are inmates of St. Mary's Orphanage, and on their 'behalf the (Sisters acknowledged with sincere thanks gifts from many kind friends. Christmas Day was celebrated with the customary religious ceremonies at the city and suburban churches. At the Cathedral the- first Mass was said at 6.30 o'clock, and from that time continuously until 11 o'clock Masses were said. Large congregations assembled at all the Masses. His Lordship the Bishop briefly addressed the^arge congregation at the last Mass. He spoke to them'' of the holy season and the -momentous Christian events of which it is the anniversary. The great lessons it brought home to us of salvation, hope, charity, and peace should be ever before us. In the midst of ouj rejoicings it was sad jto record the deplorable tragedy which took place in our harbor on Saturday evening! when several lives were lost. He would ask their prayers for the repose of the soul of John Fletcher, who was amongst those drowned. Turning from this sad story, he wished all his people every blessing of God. Ha sincerely thanked the priests, choir, collectors, and all those who assisted in the good worJtf of the church throughout the year. Rev. Father Hills was celebrant, Rev. Fathers Holbrook and Cahill deacon and subdeacon respectively. The choir, under Mr. P. F. Hiscocks, contributed invaluable service. At St.. Benedict's Masses were said at an early " hour and continued throughout the morning. Very Rev. Father Murray, C.SS.R., assisted during the day. Rev. Father Dignan journeyed to Avondale, where he said three Masses. At St. Benedict's the altar was very

tastefully decorated by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and looked exceedingly well. The choir, under Mr. Jackson, rendered the music in a finished manner. ~ At the Sacred Heart and St. John the Baptist churches the various Masses were largely attended. The choir at the former church, under Mr. Adams, rendered signal service.