New Catholic Presbytery, Ashburton

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 17, 25 April 1907, Page 23

New Catholic Presbytery, Ashburton

His Lordship Bis-hop Grimes visited Ashihurton on Saturday and, prior to the eleven o'clock Mass on Sunday, blessed and opened the new. handsome bi*ick presbytery recently erected Uiere by the Very Rev. Dean Q'Domniell. The building (says 'the ' Press ') is a oorxih modiou's,- handsomely-designed, and su'bstantially- i built two-storey structure in brick, - with red-tiled roof, which has recently been erecttd on a pleasant site. close to the present church. and the cow-vent buildings. Ihe members of the Society of the Children of Mary, with their banners, and the children of the Sacred Hteart High School, with Sisters of the "Convent, the chuorch choir, with Bishop Grimes, the Very Rev. Dean O'Boniugll, and the Rev. Father McDonald,' formed in procession at the church and marched round to the new presbytery, the choir, under Mr. M. J. Burgess, leading the singing of the hymn, ' Faith of Our Fathers.' "On arrival there his Lordship performed the ceremony of blessing and opening. The procession then returned to the church (-the ahoir leading the singing of ' Hail, Queen of Heaven '), and Mass was celebrated. ' The Bishop preached a most eloquent sermon, takling for Ms text 1 Timothy, chapter 4, verses 4 and 5 : 'For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be rejected that is received with thanksgiving ; for it is sanqtified by the Word of God and prayer.' He referred in very feeling terms to the beautiful prayers and rituals the Catholic Church bad appointed for the blessing and consecration of her churches, homes, 'bishops, and priests, anfd to the devotion shown by her priests and to their high and exalted offices and to the gockl work they accomplished. Speaking more directly with reference to the presbytery just consecrated, he congratulated the priest who had conceived the idea and been the means of "bringing about its erection, and the architect and builders who had each done their work faithfully and well. He paid '-a high tribute to the Very Rev. Def>n O'Donnell for his self-denial in putting up with the discomforts of the old presbytery for so many years, and till the heavy debt on the church had been paid" off. The Catholics had a great reverence for their priesthood, and it was but right that they should take a pride in seeing them comfortably housed. The Catholics of Ash/burton had d'one_ their duty so far; and would, h.e felt sure, continue to do their duty. Personally he had many calls on his own slender means, but now that he had seen the handsome and convenient building erected, he had decided to double what he atfirst intended to ""give towards the cost of its erection, aiKd he. would ask all t(he other members of the Church to 'follow his example, and even to make their contributions guineas ins-tead of pounds. - The Very Rev. Dean' O'Donnell pointed out that one reason why. they should be was that they'badly needed "a new church, and he hoped this would not be undertaken while there was any deftt on the church property. He announced "an unsolicited contribution of £20 from one who had already given £50 towards the new presbytery. There was a very large congregation, and most liberal response was made to the appeal for help towards the buildinar fund. • Bishop Grimes preached a&ain- in the -evening.

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