TIMARU

New Zealand Tablet, 2 October 1913, Page 26

TIMARU

CLOSING CEREMONIES OF THE MISSION (From our own correspondent.) The closing exercises in connection with the mission which the Marist Missionary Fathers, the Very Rev. Father O'Connell and Fathers McCarthy and Herring have been so successfully conducting in the Sacred Heart Church during the past fortnight were held on Sunday before large congregations. The special Mass at 6 o'clock was largely attended and at the 7.30 service over four hundred men, Hibernians in their regalia constituting a fair proportion of them, approached the Holy Table. The Very Rev. Dean Tubman celebrated the Mass and the Very Rev. Father O'Connell conducted the men in their singing of well-known hymns. Over nine hundred adults received Holy Communion at the different Masses, the numbers being, it is understood, when the available Catholic population of the parish is considered, a Dominion record. After the men's Mass they were photographed in a body on the Priory lawn, and then they marched to the Parish Hall in Craigie avenue, where the Communion breakfast was served. The Very Rev. Dean Tubman presided, and among those present were Mr. W. Angland (Mayor of Timaru), and Mr. J. Kennedy (Mayor of Geraldine). After the tables had been cleared various commemorations were honored, the proceedings taking the shape of a huge family gathering,- and passed off with great enthusiasm. .' The Pope and the King' was first honored, the Very Rev. Dean paying a fitting tribute of loyalty to the spiritual, as represented by the Pope, and the temporal in the person of his Gracious Majesty King George V. , J 5 Mr. P. Kane followed with 'The clergy.' For 36 years he had been in the parish, and during that time it had been guided by men who by their personal example had been a credit to the Church and a worthy example of their flock. The progress made by the parish was indeed remarkable, and the Rev Dean had done a great work in building that church which had been filled morning and evening during the past fortnight. On behalf of the parish he expressed his hope that the Dean and his devoted assistants would be spared to them for many years. The Very Rev. Dean Tubman said he appreciated the honor done him. He fully realised that he was spoken of as representing the saintly rectors and curates who had labored in the parish and also his present devoted helpers. A priest by himself could do little, neither could the congregation, but a united pastor and people, which by God's blessing they had in Timaru, enabled the works they had just completed to be brought to a successful issue. His predecessors, besides being men of piety had been men of well balanced minds, and they had laid the foundations of the present prosperity of the parish on a sure basis. The sight in church that morning was a magnificent demonstration of faith. Over nine hundred people had approached the Holy Table, and he felt that by the labors of Very

Rev. Father O'Connell and his missionary band ‘ the work of the parish would be considerably lightened. ‘ The Missioners ’ were then honored by Mr. Angland, who expressed Bis pleasure in being present, and felt sure that any remarks eulogistic of the missioners would be received with - pleasure and enthusiasm. Ho considered the Communion breakfast a good idea, enabling them to meet, together and exchange ideas. Ha thanked the Rev. Fathers for their labors • during the past two weeks, and stated that' their eloquence was responsible for the great congregations which had attended the services. ■ . , The Very Rev, Father O'Connell responded on behalf of the Missionary Fathers. They had given many missions, but he could say frankly and truly that considering the Catholic population of Timaru and comparing it with other towns and cities in which he had labored, the attendance in the church, at the altar rails, and there present before them was the most magnificent demonstration of virile Catholic faith he had ever witnessed. The success of the mission was due in no small measure to the pastoral care of their clergy and to the watchfulness of their devoted Dean whose monument was the great church that they had assembled in during the fortnight just gone. He thanked his Worship the Mayor for his kind remarks and all who had assisted to the smooth working of the mission arrangements. The Very Rev. Father O’Connell then gave the sentiment Kindred societies.’ The Hibernian Society was doing good work in the parish, it helped men to habits of thrift, it would make happier lives and fewer grey hairs both for members and their wives. Difficulties had to be met in married life, and men should make provision for them. The Catholic Club was a useful adjunct to a Catholic parish. The Celtic Club had shown their prowess on the football field, which provided a great training ground for conquering self. The Hierarchy of New Zealand had just issued a circular letter urging greater consideration of the claims of the Catholic Federation,' and he (the speaker) could not too earnestly urge all to join that movement which aimed to good citizenship. . Mr P. Mahoney, on behalf of the Hibernian Society, thanked the speaker for his appreciation of the society. The Hibernians in Timaru were a progressive body, but they would not be satisfied if they did not put another hundred men on their members roll. The Missioners, he had noticed, • had before coming to Timaru, been unstinting in the help they had given to the society, and they had certainly given it every encouragement in Timaru. The Very Rev. Dean was also a consistent champion of St. Mary’s branch, and the officers and members were gratified for his help. ' Mr. J. Kennedy thanked the officials for inviting him to be present They had a branch of the Hibernian Society in Geraldine which, starting with fifteen members, had now some sixty on their roll. Friendly societies were a great help to young men and tended to steady them for, the greater responsibilities of life. Dr. Loughnan in few words expressed his pleasure at being present and made brief and appropriate reference to the relation of science to religion. ; i Mr. Gillespie hoped that the function would bo an annual one. The Celtic Club played the game both on and off the field, and they were honored by having one of their number now en route to California as a New Zealand representative. ... Mr ’ J * G '. Venning spoke for'the Catholic Federation. _ The Timaru branch had still a good deal of ’ organising work to do. The Federation was for defence and not for attack. It aimed to be in a position to give a clear statement of Catholic doctrine and practice whenever required, the laymen helping in this way the arduous work of the clergy. , ’ Very Rev. Dean Tubman then gave the ‘Religious and secular press.’ He pointed out the accuracy and sympathy extended to their mission reports, and testi- ' fied his pleasure at the spirit of fair play' ’always extended to the Church in the newspapers. Mr. M. J. Doyle, in response, said that the press recognised all men and combinations of men,; living

according to law and order .equally, worthy of its attentions. The spoken word but reached those within hearing of the orator's voice, but the printing press and its various manifestations poured forth its black and white contents at the feet of the rising sun, the world around, entered the cabin and the. mansion, delivering its message and insensibly moulding the opinions and guiding the destinies of the age. .'The ladies were proposed by Mr. A. Wilson, and responded to by Mr. M. Hyland, and the gathering was brought to a close about 11 o'clock. • THE EVENING SERVICE. \ ; It was anticipated that the closing services on Sunday evening would attract a large congregation, and preparations were made accordingly. By 6.30 the church was fairly full, and by a quarter of an hour later, every available bit of floor space was taken up by chairs, supplementing the ordinary seats, till thirteen hundred and twenty-five persons were within the spacious building. The Very Rev. Father O'Connell preached a powerful sermon from the text ' Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life' (Apoc. ii., 10), his eloquent words being followed with the closest attention. On concluding his address he announced that during the mission which was a source of great gratification to the Fathers, over eight thousand Communions had been given and over eighteen hundred persons had approached the sacred tribunal. On behalf of the Rev. Fathers McCarthy, Herring, and himself he expressed his gratitude to God for the work, accomplished, thanked the Very Rev. Dean Tubman, Rev. Father Murphy, the talented organist (Miss E. Dennehy), the choir, ladies who had attended to the altars, the altar boys, and all who had in any way contributed to the success of the mission. The Very Rev. Dean Tubman briefly expressed on behalf of the clergy and laity of the parish his obligation to the Missionary Fathers, and mentioned that the Very Rev. Father O'Connell had promised to be with them on the following Sunday for the anniversary of the opening of the church, and to occupy the pulpit at the 11 o'clock and evening service. The Papal Blessing was then given and those desiring were enrolled in the archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. This last ceremony was most impressive, the vast congregation kneeling, each person holding a lighted candle in the right hand. The great length of the nave, the innumerable-twinkling lights, the high altar with its myriads of lighted candles, its elaborate candelabra and floral decking, apparently dimmed by the refulgent rays thrown from the numerous electroliers above, all combined to produce an impressive and striking effect. The Benediction closed a memorable fortnight for the Sacred Heart Church.