DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 25 January 1906, Page 19

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) January 19. Rev. Father O'Hare, of Ballarat, is spending a few days at Lake Takapuna. St. Patrick's Convent Schools are now being painted throughout, and made comfortable and more attractive. Very Rev. Dean Lightheart, Superior of the Mill Hill missionaries, visited Northern Wairoa and Whangarci districts during the week. Dr. Laing, for many years surgeon to St. Joseph's Orphanage, Takapuna, has, owing to his departure from, the district, resigned the position, and has been succeeded by Dr. Orattan Guiness. Rev. Fathers Murphy and Carey, of Melbourne, arrived here from Sydney last Sunday, and on Monday morning left, for Rotorua. They intend to spend a month in New Zealand. Right Rev. Mgr. O'Brien, and the Very Rev. Dean Slattery, of Sydney, are expected to visit Auckland about, February 21, and will be the guests of his Lordship Dr. Lenihan. The new convent and schools at Whangarei will be blessed and opened in the first week in February by his Lordship the Bishop. Four Sisters of St. Joseph will be in charge of the schools. The annual retreat of the clergy of the diocese will commence on .January 22, and terminate on January 20. Very Rev Father Murray, CSS R., will conduct the retreat. The annual retreat of the Marist Brothers, of the North Island, was held in the Sacred Heart College, Ponsonby, and concluded last week. Tt was conducted by Very Rev. Father Murray, CSS R. Twenty seven Brothers attended. Brother Boniface, attached to the Pitt street school, has boon transferred to the Sacred Heart College, and Bro. Irenaeus, of the college, goes to Pit 1 street. Bro. Virgihus, of the college, goes to Wanganui, and Bro. Patrick, of the latter place, goes 1o Ihe college. Brother Stanislaus (Provincial) attended the retreat. In the course of a circular letter on the parochial debt, the Very Rev. Father Gillan, of St Benedict's, says • — ' The total amount I have reeched to December 31st from the books is £438 Ifis Cd, and with the penny collections made at the church doors, which have over and above paid the interest, you will be pleased to know that I have paid off £000 of the principal debt In addition 1o improvements about the church, the erection of the fence, the plastering of the interior, the necessary enlargement of the schools so elTiciently taught by the Sisters, and the acquisition of the property at Avondale for school purposes, I have been enabled to reduce the parochial debt some £7'Bo. The energy of the Surrey Hills people has made me able to effect many necessary alterations and improvements about the school there, leaving me with a small credit balance in hand. Our organ fund, thanks to the patrons of our late bazaar, who so kindly responded to the very successful efforts and the hard work of committee, stall-holders, and assistants of the same, is augmented to £500, and I am awaiting the report of the choir committee, and the approval of the Bishop to make final arrangements for the placing of the organ in the church.'