DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 25 February 1915, Page 36

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) . _ February 22. .Nine Australian priests arrived last week from .Sydney, on a tour of New Zealand. Monsignor O’Haran intended to come over, but at the last moment he decided, instead, to visit the Orient. Rev. Father Ormond, prior to his departure for Sydney, received numerous congratulatory cables from Australia on his appointment as secretary to the Apostolic Delegate. lie was also the recipient of similar messages from all parts of the Dominion. A private cable received here announced his arrival in Sydney. His Lordship Bishop Cleary arrived from the north yesterday evening. Interviewed by a reporter of the Aew Zealand Herald the Bishop graphically described his experiences and impressions of the far north. That his Lordship travelled about with an enquiring mind was made evident by that interview. I would strongly 'recommend the leaders of the party in power, and of that in opposition to note his Lordship’s pregnant observations, and I feel satisfied that by so doing this Dominion, the northern part of it particularly, would benefit very much thereby. In the editorial columns of the paper reference was made to the Bishop’s comments, which stand as a strong indictment of the present and previous Governments of this Dominion. His Lordship Bishop Cleary delivered a most interesting sermon in the Cathedral on Sunday evening. His Lordship said that one of the most striking results of the war was the marked revival of religion in France, and quoted a number of illustrative instances, which went to show that the materialistic philosophies ‘made in Germany ’ were unable to sustain men in the trenches, and in the stresses and strains of war. He also gave a number of interesting quotations from religious sources, illustrative of the intense religious feeling prevailing in the French army at the front. Some years ago (said his Lordship) the group of aggressive antireligionists, who ruled the destinies of France, decreed that all young priests and ecclesiastical students should serve in the Army and face the grave perils of several years of barrack life in the garrison towns. As to its intent the law was a failure. As a mater of fact, instead of being corrupted by their surroundings, the young clerics helped to leaven the mind of the French soldier with more spiritual life than had been known before in the garrisons, and now the priest-soldier is ■one of the saviours of France, one of its most gallant and devoted patriots, and a centre of the most intense religious life in hospital, ambulance, and in the red 'front of battle. There were some 30,000 French priests 'with the colors, and through them occurred the great miracle of the war—that in the ambulance and in the strife God was once more taking possession of souls that lately were indifferent or hostile to Him. He quoted Count De Mun as saying lately that this awakening of 'faith was due to the fearful struggle in which the people were involved, but that the special cause at work was the sacrifice of life on the part of priests and nuns, who have shed their blood on the field of honor—the former •fighting, the latter caring for the wounded in trench and plain and hospital without decrees or official permission. The banished Sisterhoods had returned from their exile to aid their country in its dav of dire need, and they and the chaplains and priest-soldiers were now remaking the Christian soul of France,

Christchurch North ■ February 22. V The .Children of Mary in large numbers approached the Holy Table at the 7 o’clock Mass on Sunday. - On Sunday there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after last Mass until the evening devotions, when the usual procession took place. The annual meeting of St. Mary’s Altar Society was held in Ozanam Lodge on Sunday, February 7, and was presided over by the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G. The report stated that there was an increase in the membership during the year. The balance sheet showed receipts to be £52 2s 7d and the expenditure £52 8s Bjl. Dean Hills spoke in appreciative terms of the work of the members in connection with the adornment of the altar and sanctuary. As a means of assisting the members to carry on their good work, it has been decided to hold a euchre party in the Art Gallery on April 8, and it is expected that the parishioners will show their gratitude to the ladies concerned by purchasing tickets. At the annual meeting of the Confraternity of the Children of Mary the following were elected to fill the offices for the current year:—President, Miss Grace 11 aughey : vice-president, Miss Cosgrove : secretary, Miss K. Cosgrove sacristan, Miss Cissie Barrett. The Rev. Father Hoare, S.M. (spiritual director), ,in thanking the outgoing officers, spoke briefly of the way in which they had carried out their duties, and hoped that those just elected would follow the good example set them bv their predecessors. Owing to the kindness of Very Rev. Dean Hills, the confraternity has had its library enlarged, and moved to more convenient quarters. On Wednesday, the 17th inst., the Catholic children of Marshland met to make a presentation to Miss Grace Haughey of a handsome illuminated address, framed in oak, and a beautiful work-basket, in recognition of her services as Sunday school teacher. During the past six years Miss Haughey has done good work among the children, who are prevented by distance from attending church or Catholic school, by visiting them regularly and instructing them in their faith. Miss Lena Borloski read the following address: ‘ Dear Miss Haughey,—We, the Catholic children of Marshland School, take this opportunity of expressing to you our heartfelt gratitude for all the care you have always taken in our spiritual welfare. You have now been amongst us six years, and we feel we would be very ungrateful, if, at the beginning of this year, we did not acknowledge your very kind and zealous services. We askyou to accept the accompanying gift, as a slight token of the high esteem in which you have ever been held by the children of Marshland.’ Rev. Father Hoare, S.M., on behalf of Miss Haughey, thanked the children for their thoughtful and much appreciated kindness.