NAZARETH HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 20 April 1911, Page 717

NAZARETH HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) Last Tuesday, April 11, marked the diamond jubilee of the founding of the Order of Sisters of Nazareth, and their establishment at Hammersmith, London. The event was celebrated at Nazareth House, Christchurch, in a purely religious sense. Coming as it does in Holy Week Mass was celebrated at 6 o'clock by the Rev. Father Graham, S M., at which all who could possiblv do so, young and old, approached the Holy Table. Hi's Lordship the Bishop, attended by the Rev. Father Graham, celebrated a. second Mass, one of thanksgiving in honor of the occasion, and addressed all present in appropriate terms. There was Exposition all day and Benediction of the Blessed -Sacrament in the evening. On Palm Sunday the Rev lather Quinn, S.M., prior to celebrating Mass in th« community chapel, blessed and distributed the palms. On Holy Thursday there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all day, and in the evening a sermon on the Holy Eucharist was preached by the Rev. , Father Quinn, S.M* in the afternoon of Good Friday there was the devotion of the Stations of the Cross, and a sermon on the Passion by the Rev. Father Graham, S.M. Nazareth House, Hammersmith. London (of which tho Christchurch foundation is a branch), was founded by the late Cardinal Wiseman on April 11, 1851. It has "since made wonderful progress in the development of its different branches of charity, and has effected an incredible amount of good, both spiritual and temporal, among that portion of our race—the least attractive, and consequently the most to be pitied— namely, the aged and infirm destitute and incurable orphan and abandoned children. To both those helpless classes a permanent home is offered; the aged are received irrespective of creed and country' and the orphan and abandoned children are cared for and trained by the Sisters for domestic service or trades. The institution has no funds. For the support of the poor, it depends entirely on the alms of a generous public— which purpose the Sisters go abroad daily to collect food, alms, loft-oft apparel, old linen, furniture, in a word, anything and everything which the charitable can afford for the suffering helpless members of their Divine Master. It is chiefly from the produce of this quest that the necessaries and the comforts of life are provided for their poor There are now 33 houses of the Order in England, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, where thousands of poor— men, women, and children— food, clothing, shelter and the care and tenderness so much required in their helpless condition, to make them happy. It is a well mown fact what great service the Sisters rendered in South Africa during the late war, not only to persons or all classes, but to the sick and wounded soldiers to whom they gave up their own part of the convent and nursed with such tender care. The Sisters fulfil themselves, with pleasure and affection, every office, even the most menial, which charity can suggest or human infirmity may require, towards their poor charges, caring for each of them with the tenderness of a mother, making their beds washing their linen, cleaning their rooms, cooking their food. They minister to them in their infancy when old and decrepit, infirm and sick. Their one aim and object is to brighten the lives of all who need their hen and aid. The means of support for these great establishments come from the hands of God's providence The Sisters go out each day, regardless of the weather— the heat of summer or the cold of winter—to collect alms food, clothes, etc. They are well received in private bouses and shops and have free access to all the markets I hey have no permanent funds. Their poor are the poorest of the poor, but are, however, the, respectable, the deserving poor. As to the children, it is enough to say that they are pareutless and penniless. One of the most; sacred duties imposed on the Sisters by their rule is to pray for their benefactors, feeling confident that God will hear them in behalf of those who have fed the hungry clothed the naked, and that He will remember His promise—' Whatsoever you do unto the least of these you do unto Me.' The community of Nazareth House, Christchurch, which was established in the temporary home on • January 5. 1905, now occupies the splendid block of buildings recently erected at the f Grove,' Sydenham, with 169 inmates, and a staff of-twelve Sisters.