THE DEAF AND DUMB

New Zealand Tablet, 1 May 1913, Page 43

THE DEAF AND DUMB

: WAR AT AH DOMINICAN INSTITUTE The Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Waratab, New. South Wales,-this year celebrates the twenty-fifth: anniversary of its opening. One way of marking the occasion was by the blessing and opening, on Sunday, April 6, of the new : wing, recently"-""erected I to t provide accommodation for the ever-increasing number _ of deaf - mutes. The additions consist of a chapel and a hall 45ix' : 22 feet, oh; the ground floor, to serve as 'Va^ class and work-room, with a dormitory for the boys, of like dimensions, above. Notwithstanding the strong wind and driving rain which began on Saturday evening and continued all day on: Sunday, a fair number of people attended the ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony of blessing Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father . O'Laverty. " ~ "■ '■-■ - : - - ..}'.'.■■:. . - • ;: _- .. , j • His Lordship Dr. Dwyer preached an impressive sermon on the ' Good Shepherd..' After dwelling at length on the love of our Divine Lord in His selfnamed office of Shepherd— title so familiar and well understood and appreciated by the people of Judea, whose chief occupation was tending their flocks—and drawing a comparison between the true Shepherd and the s , hireling, the Bishop drew attention to the special love and care of the Good Master for the little ones, the lambs of the fold, but, above all, for those who were suffering and in sorrow. He could well class the deaf mutes, whose affliction is far deeper, more hidden, and consequently greater than many other more appar-

ent misfortunes, among the most cherished portion of a the flock for whom the Good Shepherd so lovingly laid down His life. t Even at death He did' not abandon Hisr dear sheep, but left : one to represent Him and carry His work, who in turn appoints other shepherds to care for and minister to the. wants of the faithful all over the world. Australia also had its Archbishops, bishops, and priests, to continue the Saviour's work . throughout its broad lands Still speaking of the deaf mutes, his Lordship pointed out that the . work; carried on for their welfare at Waratah * owed its inception many years ago to the zeal of the bishopsi of Holy Church.;/ Children came to this institution from all parts of |the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and were well cared for ; and tended, ho matter how k ; straitened ! might be their parents'' -circumstances; in life. The comparatively: small number of deaf mutes in; each diocese, the immense strain on its resources had their educational needs to be separately provided for, the difficulty in securing suitable teachers, who need such a long and special training, adaptability, and temperament for the work—all would render it ; almost impossible to 'establish separate institutions where ; a thorough religious .training and due preparation for the holy Sacraments could be carried out. The institution at Waratah was "thus doing a glorious work, not for one place or diocese alone, but for the entire Australian continent. The Bishop remarked that many of those present might never have seen an uninstructed deaf mute, but they might try to picture what a blank; especially in the matter of religious knowledge, the mind of such a child would be, but most of them had often seen the pupils of the* Waratah Institute, and were they not delighted with their keen insight into .'things

Divine, especially, as exemplified in their every-day lives, their ; fervent reception of the holy Sacraments, and* their knowledge of the truths of faith, in no way diminished/ but often \ apparently the C greater; by the serious affliction under which they labored. His Lordship thanked the people of Waratah and district, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, for the never-failing kindness and sympathy they had : always extended to the deaf mutes, and assured them that the Good Shepwould bestow upon them untold graces and blessings for their charity to these little ones of the fold. : 7 The cost of the new building was £I4OO, and the names of subscribers will be # published later on. The Sisters request that generous friends will . send contributions and thus join in making this silver jubilee memorial a great success by helping to pay off the debt as soon as possible. All communications to be addressed to the Sister in Charge, Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, Waratah, N.S.W.