ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11, 18 March 1909, Page 414

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, AUCKLAND

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The general meeting of the Particular Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, at which were represented the various conferences in connection therewith, was held on Sunday afternoon at the Marist Brothers' School, Pitt street. His Lordship the Bishop presided, and there were also present Rev. Fathers Edge, Holbrook, Dignan, and Wright, and Bro. C. Little, president. Short addresses were given by his Lordship the Bishop, and Messrs. E. Mahony and J. J. O'Brien, J.P., in which complimentary references were made to the good work done in and around the city by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Mr. C. Little read the report and balance sheet. The report, which was as follows, was signed by Bros. C. Little (president), A. J. Fernandez (secretary), and J. A. Mclntyre (treasurer). ' In this our first annual report we feel justified in saying that the society has obtained a firm footing in our midst; the reports from the Conferences re the attendance of the members at the weekly Communion being very satisfactory. During the year the Brothers held a pilgrimage to the Little Sisters of the Poor of the Immaculate Conception, Ponsonby. The . attendance was splendid,, and the Brothers followed the ' Holy Way of the Cross,, afterwards receiving Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament from the hands of the spiritual director of the Sacred Heart Conference, the Rev. Father Doyle. A collection was then made, the proceeds being handed over to' the good Mother. . On All Souls' Day another .pilgrimage was held, this time to St. Benedict's Church, the Brothers going round the Stations of the i Cross, afterwards proceeding to the cemetery of St. Francis de Sales, and offering up prayers for the dead. The collection here was given to Very Rev. Dean Gillan, V.G. On Sunday, December 20, an enjoyable visit was paid by the Society to the Star of the Sea Orphanage, each of the Brothers taking with him an offering of cakes, fruit, or confectionery, which, needless to say, was much appreciated- by, the orphans. A collection was" also taken up and handed over to the Rev. Mother. The reports of the Conferences . show that the Brothers have been the means of persuading many careless Catholics to return to their duties, andattend regularly to same, and have even got some to re--

ceive Holy Communion who had not even been to Mass for a number of years, and one Conference reports the conversion of a family of five. We desire to express our' appreciation pi the good work done by the ladies' branch of the Society; their statement showing an expenditure of £54 13s 4d, and the distribution of a considerable amount of clothing, boots, etc. f We feel they deserve the highest praise for their zeal. ' During the first part of the year St. Patrick's Conference took up the .work of visiting the ships, visiting 53 in all, distributing cards among the Catholic seamen showing them the time of Mass, etc., at the Cathedral, but on October 18 of last year a special Seamen's Conference Committee was formed, who now fulfil these duties, having visited 12 ships since formation, also distributing cards, meeting the seamen, and accompanying them to Mass, and doing all in their power to help our seamen to lead good Catholic lives. St. Benedict's Conference have under their patronage a Bo3 r s' Club, in which they take great interest. •' On Boxing Day they entertained them at a picnic, together with the altar boys. We regret that up to date the Onehunga Conference of the Assumption has not sent in any returns. The Ladies' Branch has made an earnest appeal to us to help them in getting a Maternity and Rescue Home for our girls and little children in this city. We feel that a home of this kind is -urgently needed in Auckland) as there is no place at present where we can put infants, and the danger in sending cases to Christchurch is too great for us to risk any longer. It is to be hoped that some benevolent people will realise the necessity and help us by giving freely for this purpose. Donations will be thankfully received by any of the undersigned.' During the year 4498 visits were made. The total receipts were £308 Is Id; expenditure, £270 5s Sd; and the active members numbered 80. The receipts of the Particular Council for the year ended December 31 were £36 5s lid, and the expenditure was £24 18s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £11 7s 4d. The following is a summary of the work of the various conferences : — St. Patrick's — Cases, 48 ; visits, 901 ; receipts, £163 10s sd ; expenditure, £154 Is lid ; active members, 19. St. Benedict's — Cases, 17 ; visits, 193 ; receipts, £48 12s 2d ; expenditure, £45 19s 6d ; active members, 21. Sts. Michael and George — Cases, 5; visits, 68; receipts, £20 15s 9d; expenditure, £14 6s; active members, '9. Sacred Heart — Cases, 4; visits, 64; receipts, £36 19s lOd ; expenditure, £30 19s 8d; active members, 11. Ladies' Branch — Receipts, £54 15s lOd; expenditure, £54 13s 4d. During the year the branch distributed various articles of clothing to adults and children, and also performed the following work : — Rescue work, Mt. Magdala cases, 13 ; rescue work, prison cases, 3 ; rescue work, Police Court cases, 6; maternity cases, 10; visits, prison 22, sick and destitute 112, hospital 90; baptism, adults 6, children 12. On Sunday evening his Lordship the Bishop, preaching at the Cathedral, said : 'On this my first Sunday evening at the Cathedral after my return from abroad, it was my intention to address you concerning the Eucharistic Congress in London, but I was so much edified by the meeting of St. Vincent de Paul Society, which I attended this afternoon, that I feel bound to speak to you of it. Again next Sunday evening there will be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and that will be an appropriate occasion to speak of the Eucharistic Congress. With the proceedings this afternoon I was quite charmed. Last Sunday evening you gave me a reception marked by its enthusiasm and warmth, and its memories shall never fade from my mind, and I want again to thank you all individually for that great welcome home. In the midst of it the president of St. Vincent de Paul Society asked me to keep free next Sunday afternoon. At the timo I did not understand, but during- the week he asked me to attend the conference on Sunday afternoon. I did so, and it is because I was so pleased with what I heard and saw that I wish to speak to you of it. When, about two years ago, Mr. Heydon, of Sydney, was here he asked me what success would attend St. Vincent de Paul- Society here. I answered that I thought its success very doubtful. "Permit me to try," he said. About this time tho Hibernian Society was holding its triennial meeting- in Auckland, and ' on Sunday the assembled delegates, after Holy Communion, gathered in the Hibernian Hall- for breakfast. To this I invited the Hon. Mr. Heydon, with the result that he arranged for a meeting one evening that week. The society Avas formed, and, contrary to my expectations, it has flourished, and the resxilts; which were laid before us this afternoon, amply proves this. The rules are most stringent. The president directs his men to such a visit: this is done. No ostentation, no display, but simple charity and humility are paramount. Founded in 1833, in imitation of the teachings of St. Vincent de Paul, by eight young men in a- small town in France, it has spread over the whole world. It flourishes in New York and in Constantinople — capitals so widely apart in their

characteristics. The conferences here have done noble work : in additio.n to alleviating distress, they visit ship's in port and converse with and supply Catholic sailors with information and Catholic literature. I was surprised at the amount of work done, and the money -raised and expended by a handful of young, men. - Praise -they do not seek — the rules forbid it. The work is done and the . money subscribed in true Christian spirit, and true charity given for the honor and love of Almighty God, not for personal merit. We know that to many this work would be distasteful, but with the spirit animating the members all this is easily overcome." The work reminds me of that done by the Little Sisters of the Poor. We should recollect that Our Saviour visited the sick and distressed. I hope my remarks may tend to interest you in the great Avork going ■on in your midst ; that you might assist the society, and also that they may impel young men to join in the work and assist those engaged in this noble undertaking. We realise that tho members in doing this work give up time and pleasures. They have assisted the priests very much, to whom those in distress readily apply for succor. Many a time I have been stopped and asked for help in the street. Now we feel that, thanks to the society, our money finds the right quarters. I ask you to contribute of your -means, always remembering that you could not expend your charity in a bettor cause, thus pleasing God and comforting yourselves.'