DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 4 June 1914, Page 31

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) < J une 1 . At the last meeting of the Holy Family Confraternity, Rev. Father Ormond gave a brief and interesting outline of the life of St. Paul. . ' J Rev. Father Bowen, at the Masses and Vespers yesterday at the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, appealed for assistance for the Maori Mission fund. ' Rev. Father O’Doherty, in letters to the local press, is fighting the Bible-in-Schools League champions, whom he accused of invoking the aid of the Orange Society to further their aims. The correspondence, concerning the publication of immoral literature, in which the Catholic Federation moved, is still going on in the -loc&l press. The writers, or most of them, take the line that objection was raised because the Catholic Church was assailed. His Lordship the Bishop, speaking at the Cathedral recently, stated that six young priests for the diocese would arrive here at’’the end of this year, and from that on a constant and regular supply, commensurate vjith diocesan needs, would take place. ■" The awful tragedy on the St. Lawrence River, in which five Aucklanders lost their lives, evoked the deepest sympathy. Bishop Cleary, at the .Cathedral last evening, referred to the terrible disaster and the blow inflicted by it on some of our respected fellow-citi-zens, and expressed his own and the congregation’s deep sympathy with the relatives of those who had perished in the calamity. Intercessory prayers dead followed, and the choir chanted the ‘Do Profundis.’ As the people left the church the organist played the ‘ Dead March ’ in ‘ Saul,’ Very Rev. Dean Lightheart, on behalf of the Maori Mission, appealed at all the Masses and Vespers on Sunday last. ‘My presence in New Zealand,’ he said, ‘ is for one object—namely, the spiritual welfare of the Maoris. Beyond that I have no interest in this Dominion whatever.’ ' -He referred to Dunedin’s splendid continued support of (the Maori Mission, and specially singled out the Tablet , to which splendid champion of the faith the Fathers of St. Joseph’s Mis- ' sioriary Society are deeply indebted. In his Lordship Bishop Cleary they had a warm friend, and he desired to take this opportunity to extend to him their thanks and warm appreciation. At the conclusion of the Dean’s remarks, the Bishop entered the pulpit, and announced that the whole of the collections, taken at the Masses and Vespers that day, would be given to the Maori Mission'fund. As there were extra offertory '•collections at the Masses, the amount collected should be; most satisfactory. ■ The local Irishmen were highly delighted on receipt of the cable news that the Home Rule Bill had been passed by the House of Commons in terms of the Parliament Act for the third and last time. His Lordship Bishop Cleary, on receipt of the news, directed that all the' Catholic schools in the city and suburbs were to close for half a day, and the children were, before leaving, to be impressed with the great importance of the event; of the long struggle for the ’ restoration of Ireland’s Parliament, the sacrifices made by their forefathers, and that victory was now at hand, and Ireland was about to come into her own. Again the peaceful ’" attitude of our people, in their moment of triumph at • .Home was the subject of widespread commendation by all classes. ' When the hews became generally known a meeting of Irishmen was hurriedly summoned. Mr. M. J. Sheahan was voted to the chair. An apology /was received from: his Lordship the Bishop and Messrs. Patrick Gleeson, J. J. O’Brien, and P. J. Nerhen'y for : their inability to attend, and expressing their warm 1 support and sympathy. There were present Messrs. D. Flynn, F. Moore, W. F. Jones, V T. Foley, Jos, Me-* Mahon, J. Hogan, Mitchell, Bradley, Hall-Skelton, | Maurice ' O’Connor, and . Colonel Bell. | .The chairman briefly 1 addressed the meeting, , and congratulated all upon the consummation of their dearest wishes. Though .the struggle had been a long one, . yet the Irish people > ■

had never wavered or faltered in the fight; The following message was drafted, and unanimously adopted by the meeting: Congratulations from all the Irish Nationalists in Auckland on the passage of the Bill.' It was further decided that copies of the foregoing be immediately cabled to the Right Hon. Mr. Asquith, and to Mr. John E. Redmond, M.P. This was done. It was decided that 1 all present form themselves into a committee to consider what further steps should taken to celebrate the. eyent after the King had signed the Bill and converted' it into an Act. of Parliament, Mr. M. J. Sheahan to be the convener. \