Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1911, Page 2524

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From oar own correspondent.) December 9. His Grace the Archbishop will open and dedicate a new church at Feilding to-morrow. It is stated that the new building is a beautiful and commodious one. Miss Jessie G. Kerr, a pupil of St. Mary's Convent, was successful in the Royal Academy of Music theory examination, having secured 115 marks for advanced grade harmony. v Arrangements are well in hand for the annual combined pansnes’ outing at Khandallah on Boxing Day. Various sub-committees have been set up, and given fine weather it is confidently expected that the picnic will easily eclipse all previous ones. On last Sunday evening the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., announced that the handsome statue of the Sacred Heart unveiled on the previous Sunday had been presented to St. Anne’s by Mrs. Matthew Segrief, in remembrance of the occasion of her son (Rev. Father Thomas Segrief, S.M.) being raised to the priesthood. The Sacrament of Confirmation was administered on last Wednesday evening at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, by his Grace the Archbishop to a number of candidates from the Te Aro parish schools, and several adults. His Grace also confirmed a number of candidates at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Thorndon, yesterday morning. . At St. Mary of the Angels’, Boulcott street, , Mr. H. Flan, youngest son of Mr. F. Flan, Roseneath, was married to Miss Ellen Murphy, third daughter of Mr. Murphy, of Whittaker street. Rev. Father Venning performed the ceremony. The bride was given away by her father, and was attended by four bridesmaids, Miss Mabel Outrun being chief. Mr. Reuben Flan, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man, and Mr. Harry Murphy, brother of the bride, was groomsman. ' A reception was afterwards held at Godber’s, about sixty being present. The Newtown Convent High School held the break-ing-up ceremony on last Thursday afternoon, a good 4 number of the parents and friends of the children being present, and also the following clergy ;Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., and Rev. Father Herring, S.M. An excellent programme was gone through by the children, and thoroughly enjoyed by all those present. The prizes were distributed in the successful scholars by the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., For the younger children a huge Christmas tree was erected, from which toys, which gladdened the young hearts, were hung in tempting array, and afterwards distributed.

The new and up-to-date school which has been erected in the parish of Thorndon for the boys is all but completed, and will be ready for use after the summer.. holidays. A difficulty has arisen, however, in regard to the teaching staff. Heretofore the work has been carried on by members of the Marist Order,, but Brother Paul, Provincial pf the Order, finds the greatest

difficulty in providing sufficient Brothers for the work, and as the attendance at the new school is likely to show a very considerable increase in the next few months, it was considered advisable to put the position before the parishioners. This was done by the Rev. Father Hickson, Adm., at a meeting last night, and after careful consideration it was decided to recommend that the Sisters of Mercy carry on the work of the' school until such time as arrangements can be made fox', the establishment of another Order of teaching Brothers from Australia.. The pupils of St. Anne’s School, Wellington South, held their annual breaking-up concert at St. Thomas' Hall last Friday evening. There was a large attendance, including the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., and Rev. Fathers Herring and Mahony. The following excellent programme of items was presented by the school children, and all were received with well-merited applause: —Selections by the Drum and Fife Band; gathering flowers chorus, school children club drill, senior pupils; sailors’ song, boys; Scotch reel, C. Marshal, A. Delaney, K. Daley, and M. Hoare; dumb-bell drill, junior pupils; musical family, pupils; Irish jig, Lily O’Leary; duet, * I wish I were a tiny bird,’ M. Gamble and T. Ryan; infants’ song, ‘ Fly away, birdie,’ pupils; tambourine dance, pupils; chorus, Echoes in the orchard,’ school children; selections by the Drum and Fife Band, Good work was reported by the school during the year. In the Sixth Standard all the pupils presented to the Government Inspector for examination obtained proficiency certificates. This record indicates that whilst imparting religious knowledge, our schools are also able to hold their own against the public schools, which devote their whole time to secular education. The concert also reflected the greatest credit on the Sisters, the singing and dancing being especially good, whilst the playing of the St. Anne’s Cadet Drum and Fife Band, under Mr. Dean, was all that could be desired. ,