DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 18 September 1913, Page 26

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie left by express train last Sunday night for Wellington on a business visit, "which he anticipates will take about ten days. The work of enlarging the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, is nearing completion, and much additional and needed room will be afforded the ever-growing congregation of the western suburb. .'• At the meeting of the Holy Family confraternity last week Rev. Fatner Orniond dealt with the Edict of Constantine, and the great results which followed therefrom. A lecture, 'ln the days of Robert Emmet/ by Mr. J. J. Sullivan, will be delivered in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Thursday evening. The proceeds will be in aid of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Rev. Father Roche, of Sydney, arrived from Rotorua last Friday, and stayed at the Cathedral presbytery while here. He preached a fine sermon on the Blessed Sacrament before a large congregation. He left this evening for Australia. His Lordship the Bishop' has issued a circular letter, which was read at the Masses and Vespers on Sunday, concerning the due celebration of the commemoration of the freedom granted to the Church by the Edict of Constantine. Rev. Father Carran, parish priest of Ormond, who has been absent in Australia for some months in quest of health, returned last evening from Sydney. Father Carran's numerous friends will learn with regret that his health is not yet fully restored, but it is hoped this will soon be the case. The Auckland Star had another excellent leader last Saturday, dealing with Lord Loreburn's suggested conference between parties at Home on autonomy for Ireland, in the course of which it characterised the proposal as inopportune and unstatesmanlike, and if agreed to by Liberals would result in their effacement politic cally for the next generation. Eden Terrace by a poll of the ratepayers voted against joining Auckland City last Saturday. The question was not decided on the merits of Greater Auckland, but on that of the Saturday -holiday, as shops may keep open that day in Eden Terrace, but if the district joins the city this will not be the case. Two years must elapse before another poll can be taken on the question. At the 7.30 o'clock Mass on Sunday morning at St. Benedict's, a most edifying sight was witnessed, when hundreds of men approached the Holy Table. The whole of the seating accommodation in the centre aisle was filled with the men of the parish. Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., celebrated the Mass and gave Holy Communion, and to him, his assistants, and the parish generally, such a magnificent display of faith must be most encouraging. Every second Sunday of the month this edifying sight is seen at St. Benedict's. t Hamilton (From our own correspondent.) A. special meeting of St. Mary's Young Men's Club was held last Friday evening to fill several., important offices in the executive. The result of the election was as follows:Treasurer, Mr. E. Dold, in place of Mr.' I. Lynch, who has been transferred from the district; vice-president, Mr. Carrol Cussen, in place of Mr. M. O'Leary, who has resigned; collector, Mr. James Skanaghan. A vacancy on the general committee of the executive was filled by the election of Mr. B. Cassidy. The voting in many cases was very close; and with the infusion of new blood into the executive' it is expected that the club will make even greater progress than in the past. - The - parishioners attended in large numbers in St. Mary's Hall, Hamilton, on the occasion of a hearty welcome, tendered to Very Rev. Dean Darby on his return after a short holiday in the South Island. A very fine musical programme was arranged, in which the following took part:—Mrs. Towsey, Miss Valerie Collins, Miss Dulcie Hulme, Messrs. O'Malley, Lundon and Jordan.

A short address was given by Father Murphy, of Cambridge, who had charge of the Hamilton parish during the Dean's absence. Father Murphy pointed out that the welcome was whole-hearted and came from every section of the parish, as the signatures to the formal address would show. The speaker said that long after the Dean had passed away his ' work would remain by reason of , the valuable Church properties he had acquired, the magnificent structures he had erected on them/, and the spiritual good he had worked. He concluded by wishing the Dean many happy years of spiritual labor. ... -,. " Mr. Hair, who spoke on behalf of the people, wished the Dean to understand that what the public had done in the past was but a small token of what they were prepared to do in the future. He would like their revered pastor to understand that the parishioners recognised that they had, in the past, left too much on his shoulders, and were determined to lighten his burdens in the future. Mr. C. Lafartey proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Rev Father Murphy for the care and interest he had taken in the people during the Dean's absence. Mr. E. de V. McGarrigle, on behalf of the committee, then read the following- address, which was afterwards handed to the Dean: Very Rev. and Dear Dean,—As a token of affectionate loyalty we, your parishioners, avail of this opportunity to convey to you our appreciation of your good work in our midst. For more than twelve years you have labored amongst us, and we are thankful to God that Heaven has shed its benign blessing on your efforts. Your zealous labors on behalf of our parochial schools, in the necessary work of Catholic organisation, and the deep abiding interest you have ever shown in our welfare, merit our grateful thanks and demand the loyal assistance and co-operation of us all. To your zeal and foresight, under God and His Holy Mother are mainly due the magnificent church and deanery which adorn our parish to-day, and the property on which the buildings are erected. The success which you have achieved in the administration, and the grand priestly example you have always placed before us, fill us with admiration, and is a golden link in the chain which binds priests and people together in this young nation. In the faithful performance of your varied sacred duties you have never been wanting and our prayers and wish is that God may spare you for many years to come to guide the destinies of the parish and be to each and all a faithful father and pastor. Signed on behalf of the parishioners—Andrew Casey, Edward de Venny McGarrigle (committee) Thos. Dillon (St. Mary's Catholic Club), Angela ' Madeleine Swann (Children of Mary), Augustine B Cassidy (church collectors), Joseph Duffy (Catholic federation), Kathleen M. McGarrigle (choir). Hamilton, September 8, 1913. Dean Darby, on rising to reply, was loudly cheered. He said he was glad to be back with his people, and was pleased to tell them that distance did not break the tie between pastor and people. He went away without telling them and had returned in a like manner, but out of their generosity of heart they had given him a formal welcome home. This welcome, by reason of its quality, would befit even a bishop, 'and bishops expected great things. The spirit of faith, of unity, and generosity that they had shown him that night made him feel new life, and filled him with a determination to carry on his arduous parochial duties. The evening proved most enjoyable, and at the conclusion cheers were given for the Dean. The accompaniments were played by Mr. C. Towsey and Mr. G. H. Gittos. *