Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 25 May 1911, Page 952

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) May 20. A number of children of the Thorndon parish will make their First Communion on Pentecost Sunday. The ladies' branch of the Hibernian Society are organising their annual social, which is to take place at St. Peter's Schoolroom on Wednesday, June 24. The Catholic Club commenced their monthly winter euchre parties at St. Patrick's Hall on last Wednesday. There was a good attendance and an enjoyable evening was spent. The Irish Envoys arrive here to-morrow, and will be the guests of Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G. Messrs. Redmond and Donovan will lecture, in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on ' ({rattan's Parliament.' On Wednesday they leave for Christchurch. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Paul Verschaffelt, of Thorndon parish, who bas received news of the death of his father, Mr. Desire Verschaffelt, who was accidently killed in Paris on May 11. His Grace Archbishop Redwood proceeded during the past week to Wairoa to bless the new convent erected for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Latest advices from Wairoa state that his Grace and the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, who accompanied him, are, through stress of weather, barbound. Last Sunday night at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, the monthly meeting of the Men's Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, was well attended. The Rev. , Father Hurley, S.M.,* addressed the members, taking for his subject 'The State of Religion in Portugal.' ■ *;' : It is with regret I have to record the death/ of. one of Thorndon's oldest parishioners in the person of , Mrs. Maginnity ,of Karori, which occurred en the 7th. inst. The funeral took place on the 9th at Karori, the Rev. Father Peoples, S.M., officiating.—R.l.P,

On Saturday afternoon a very enjoyable tea was given by 'Mrs. Keefe at the Kelburne Kiosk, her guests being those who had so willingly and untiringly given their assistance with the stalls at the recent King's Festival, held in the Town Hall. Before they parted. Miss (VSullivan, ou behalf of those present, asked Mrs. Keefe's acceptance of a very handsome hand-bag and cut-glass scent bottle. In conjunction with the official visitor (Mrs. Schoch), the members of the Catholic Club Dramatic Society entertained the inmates of the Porirua Mental Hospital on Tuesday evening with a concert and dramatic performance. The entertainment was highly appreciated by the patients and staff. Dr.' Jeffries thanked the entertainers, and expressed a wish they would come again. His Lordship Bishop Clune, so well known to New Zealanders, has already commenced to inaugurate tho Catholic Society movement in his diocese. His Lordship has sent an invitation to the Hon. L. F. Heydon, M.L.C. V President of the Superior Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Australasia, to visit Western Australia this month to found twelve conferences of the society. One of the works of the St. Vincent de Paid Society in this city that is doing an immense amount of good in a quiet way is the distribution of Catholic literature. Each church in the city is equipped with a book-case, and it is surprising the quantity, of literature that is circulated in this way. The demand for literature is also keen at many of the country conferences. Mr. G. D. Cronin, well known ij; Catholic musical circles at Christchurch and Te Aro, was killed last Saturday on the railway line between Mellings and Lower Hutt. Of late years Mr. Cronin has resided in Petone. Prior to taking up his residence there. Mr. Cronin was a popular member of St. Joseph's choir, and much sympathy is felt for his bereaved relatives. —R.I.P.

The Wellington Hibernians met last Thursday evening for the purpose of considering the question of giving the Irish Envoys— Donovan, Hazleton, and Redmonda fitting send off on the eve of their departure from the Dominion. In the unavoidable absence of the District Deputy (Bro. J. W. Callaghan, P.P.), Bro. W. J. Feeney was voted to the chair. The Rev. Father Hickson, S.M., Adm., and representatives from Thorndon, Newtown, Hutt, Petone, and Wellington, and ladies' branches were present. It was decided to tender a banquet in the concert chamber of the Town Hall, and various committees for carrying out of the necessary arrangements were set up. The mission conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers for the past three weeks at St. Anne's was concluded on last Sunday. Hundreds received Holy Communion at the 6.30, 7.30, and 9 o'clock Masses. The Rev. Father Whelan, C.SS.R., preached to a large congregation at the 10.30 o'clock Mass, and in the evening the Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., preached to a crowded congregation. He congratulated them on the success of the mission, and exhorted them to persevere in the good practices commenced in the mission. At the conclusion of his sermon the Rev. Father Creagh imparted the Papal blessing. The 0 o'clock Mass on the following Monday was also well attended, and was offered up for the departed relatives of the parishioner*. On Monday evening the Rev. Father Creagh' commenced a mission at St. Patrick's, Kilbirnie, and the Rev. Father Whelan _ opened one at St. Francis' Church, Island Bay. Both missions are being well attended, and will conclude to-morrow. Wairoa (From an occasional correspondent. May 16. On Sunday, May 14, his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington made a pastoral visitation of Wairoa. His Grace was accompanied by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), and the Rev. Father McDonnell, S.M. (Napier). Addresses of welcome from the parishioners was read by Mr. Duggan. A Missa Cantata was celebrated by Very Rev. Dean Regnault. The music was the Mass of St. Cecilia, which was excellently rendered by the choir. Immediately after Mass his Grace administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to a number of children. In the afternoon his Grace blessed and opened the new convent and school. _ The. school has been a success from the start, there being 77 pupils on the roll. As the result of an appeal a sum of £7O was subscribed at the ceremony. In the evening his Grace gave an interesting an instructive account of the great Eucharistic Congress in Montreal. At half-past twelve on Sunday a luncheon was given in honor of his Grace. There were present Dean Regnault, Rev. Fathers McDonnell and Le Pretre, Messrs. Jos. Corkill (Mayor), Jos. Powdrell (Chairman County Council), J. J. Hunter Brown, F. L. Matthews, F. Taylor, F. J. Foot. J. J. Parker, John Duggan, A. D. Lynch, A. Allen, and other. ____ ! s* Aramoho (From our own correspondent.) T , . May 19. , A new conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society has been opened here. The members take an active interest in all matters connected with our beautiful little church. They formed a working bee to put the church grounds in

order, the work being carried out in their spare time on Saturday afternoons. They have adopted the practice of

approaching Holy Communion in a body every fourth Sunday in the month. The Rev. Father Holley visited Aramoho on Sunday evening, and- preached an impressive sermon on the duty of prayer.