SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

New Zealand Tablet, 5 November 1908, Page 14

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

CATHEDRAL CONFERENCE, CHRISTCHURCH

Formerly, on the occasion of an appeal for funds . for the Conference to enable it to carry on its mission of charity among the deserving poor and 'others needing a helping hand in their . temporary destitution, which is always found to be a necessary part of the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a summarised report of the past year's operations was presented, together with a balance sheet showing the receipts and expenditure. Owing 'to the fact that these are embodied in the general report, published annually by the Superior Council of the Society in Sydney, and as such are made up to the end of each calendar year, to keep in line with all other conferences under the Superior Council, instead of as heretofore, in connection with the Cathedral ..Conference in July of each year, it has been decided to present in 'future a general outline only for the information of our benefactors and all others interested in the work of the society. Meetings were held at regular intervals during the year. The Hospital and Consumption Camp were regularly visited. Orders for groceries, meat, clothing, boots, etc., were given where required, school books and other necessaries provided for poor children ; meals and accommodation were provided for a number of men in destitute circumstances, and travelling expenses advanced to enable several to go to other parts to obtain work. Owing to the generosity of a kind benefactor, a supply of coal was donated to many deserving cases during the winter through the medium of the society. On the recommendation of the society a fair proportion of orders through the Mayoral Coal and Blanket Fund was received by our deserving clients. Considerable supplies of Catholic literature have been judiciously distributed, and many services rendered in individual cases with successful results. We desire to thank most sincerely our devoted patron, his Lordship the Bishop, for many little acts of kindly interest and encouragement, and especially for his eloquent charity sermon on* the occasion of our last annual appeal, which proved the means of providing the main portion of our funds for the years-operations.s -operations. With infinite sorrow we parted from our late spiritual director, the Yen. Archpriest Le Menant des Ches-' nais, after a number of years' devoted service and kindly intercourse with the members, owing to his transference to another' scene of activity in the sacred ministry. In his successor, the Rev. Father O'Hare, we have attached to the society one who manifests deep interest in its works. The conference also suffered the loss of its president, Bro. E. O'Connor, J.P., who, after many years of devoted activity, felt obliged, for private reasons, to resign from the position. On receiving the resignation of Bro. O'Connor from the office so worthily filled for so long a period of years his lordship the Bishop wrote the following tribute : ' I cannot express ' to you how I am grieved to hear of your determination, nor how deeply I appreciate your great services in the noble cause of the poor. Our dear Lord, Who knows all, can alone thank and reward you and yours for the same; but I know that it will be hard, very hard, to replace you, and I am sure that you will be greatly missed at the meetings of the Conference. I would venture to suggest that you still retain your membership, so as to have the share in the many indulgences granted to the society, and so as to give the Conference the advantage of your counsel from time to time. -II 11I 1 am glad to know that you are not forced to the step you feel impelled to take- by any ill-health or feebleness brought on b-r age. Thank God, you are still vigorous and healthy, " and I hope and pray that you"] may be spared to^ enjoy many years of health and strength and ever-growing usefulness. Again expressing my deep regret at your resignation, and wishing you and yours every .blessing, I remain, my dear' Mf . O'Connor,' yours very faithfully in Christ, J. J. Grimes, S.M., Bishop of Christchurch. LADIES OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. President, Mrs. W. Holland; vice-president, Miss McGuire ; treasurer, Miss Nelson; secretary, Miss Murray; wardrobe' keeper, Miss Walley ; librarian, Miss Ryan.

Report and balance sheet for year ended July 30, 1508 : — • During the past year over 40 meetings were held, 182 visits were paid to poor families, 60 visits to the hospital, 30 to the Jubilee Home, 20 to the Refuge, 10 to the Samaritan Home, and also, to the Salvation Army Home. All the meetings in connection with the Mayoral Coal and Blanket Fund were attended, and our poor people received their share of the fund. Many hours were spent in visiting boarded-out children, the police court in the interests of neglected children, and g>ur infants "were taken to be baptised.' The ladies desire, to express their grateful thanks to those benefactors who sent clothing" for distribution, of which 45 parcels, comprising over 260 secondhand garments, were given .out during the past few months ;~32p new "garments were made and distributed during the year by the members, together with nine pairs of boots, etc. The ladies wish -to thank his Lordship the Bishop for his generous^ efforts on their behalf, also the Rev. Father O'Hare (spiritual director). They most earnestly ask for new members for their society, whom they will be most pleased to welcome from among the ladies of the congregation.

BALANCE SHEET. Receipts. £ s. d. Po Collections at weekly meetings 5 17 2A „ Donations from annual sermon 10 o o „ Private donation 6 17 o „ Honorary members' subscriptions 3 17 6 „ Discount and interest 1 7 3 „ Debit balance 017 o 6J Expenditure. £ s. d. ?y Drapery H ,3, 3 .» Boots 3 19 6 „ Groceries 3 14 4 » Me at x 1 4 » Milk oiß 9 » Coal o 10 6 „ ' Benziger's Magazine ' 070 „ Cash relief 2 16 o _____ o 6i