DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 8 April 1915, Page 24

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) April 5. Rev. Father O'Reilly (Maitland) arrived here yesterday. lie intends touring the Dominion. Rev. Father Dunphy addressed the last meeting of the Holy Family confraternity, and dealt particularly with the solemn events of which Holy Week always reminds us. At St. Benedict's on Good Friday the Mass of the Presanctified was celebrated by Rev. Father Kreymborg, Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., and Rev. Father Kelly being deacon and subdeacon respectively. In the afternoon at 3 o'clock there was the devotion of the Stations of the Cross. In the evening the sermon on the Passion was preached by Rev. Father Tormey (Ellerslie). At all the services there were large congregations. His Lordship Bishop Cleary left by the Makura on Monday night for a few months' rest and for treatment in Australia. His health has been impaired by the strenuous campaign of the last three years, but more particularly by the severe and constant overstrain of the last nine months in the great battle for the defence of the religious rights and liberties of the Catholics of this Dominion. lis Lordship has assuredly spent himself in the interests of our people, and our prayers will be fervently offered for his early and immediate restoration to health and strength. In the Bishop's absence the administration of the diocese will be in the hands of the Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., parish priest of Parnell. Rev. Father Golden has returned from his holiday trip in the south. He visited the West Coast of the South Island for the first time, and is quite enthusiastic in praise of the priests and people there and the kind hospitality shown him. He attended the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Reefton, and at the Hibernian Society's gathering there he was charmed with the singing of ' Old Ireland, you're my darling.' A mission was being held at Westport, consequently his stay there was limited, but he spent some happy hours with the Ven. Archpriest Walshe. Father Golden also visited his old parish of Kaikoura, and renewed many old acquaintances. At Greymouth he learned of the death of Bishop Grimes. The Holy Week services at St. Patrick's Cathedral commenced on Wednesday evening with the office of Tenebras, which was repeated on Thursday and Good Friday evenings, his Lordship Bishop Cleary presiding on each occasion. On Holy Thursday Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by the Bishop, and the holy oils were blessed. Right Rev. Mgr. Hackett in the evening preached on the Blessed Sacrament. .On Good Friday the Mass of the Presanctified was celebrated by

the ; Bishop, Rev. Fathers Jansen and Farragher being deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The deacons of the Passion were Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., and Rev. Fathers Furlong and Skinner, Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook being master of ceremonies. . Rev. Fathers Cahill, Murphy, and Dunphy were present in the sanctuary. , The devotion of the Stations of the Cross was held in the afternoon. There was Tenebras in the evening, the Bisnop again presiding. The Easter services at the Cathedral commenced with early Mass celebrated by Rev. Father Cahill. Very large numbers received Holy Communion, including members of the various confraternities. Pontifical' High Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock by his Lordship the Bishop, Rev. Father Kehoe being assistant priest, Rev. Father Jansen deacon, Rev. Father Dunphy subdeacon, and Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook master of ceremonies. Rev. Father Cahill preached a short discourse on the day's festival, and on behalf of the Bishop and priests thanked the choir, collectors, and all who had assisted in the Cathedral, particularly the Sisters of Mercy and those associated with them for decorating the altars. There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the afternoon until Vespers, when so large was the congregation that the usual procession had to be abandoned. Temporary seats were placed in the passages, and even then numbers had to stand in the aisles. His Lordship the Bishop preached on the day's festival, and showed that from time immemorial it was strictly observed by the Church. He exhorted all to remember Him Who had suffered and died, and had risen for them. They, too, should rise from their sins, and thus in a small degree repay Him. Bishop Cleary took occasion to say good-bye for a while, and asked them to pray for his safe and speedy return to his good priests and people. He would constantly pray for them and remember them. The choir during Holy Week and Easter Sunday, under Mr Hiscocks, rendered the music in a highly creditable manner. The high altar was handsomely adorned, the decorations showing great care, attention, and taste on the part of the Sisters of Mercy and assistants. • TWO AUCKLAND PRIESTS HONORED. (From our own correspondent.) On Holy Thursday morning the briefs from his Holiness Pope Benedict XV., conferring the dignity of Monsignor on the Very Rev. Dean Mahoney and the Ven. Archdeacon Hackett, were read in the Cathedral by the Bishop. The dignity carries with it the title of Right Rev. His Lordship said that this high dignity was conferred upon these two worthy priests on account of the splen-

did services rendered by them to the diocese, ''often under circumstances of great difficulty. For long: years the two new prelates had kept the flag of religion flying almost from the North Shore at Auckland to the North Cape, at a time when even the present wretched apologies for roads hardly existed, and their work was carried on under extraordinary difficulties. The Bishop concluded by wishing the two Monsignori many long and fruitful years of work for the glory of God. ' Monsignor Mahoney is a native of Auckland City;: where he obtained his primary education. He left here in 1876, and spent three years in St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland. From there he went'to St. Trond, Belgium, remaining .there six months, and afterwards to St. Omer in France. In 1881 he proceeded to Oscott, England, where he was ordained priest in 1884 by the present Archbishop of Birmingham, Most Rev. Dr Ilsley. He returned to Auckland in October, 1884, and was presented with an address by his former schoolboy associates.' - Monsignor Mahoney was stationed for fifteen years at Puhoi and two years at Thames, and on the decease of Monsignor Paul in 1905 he was appointed to Onehunga, where he has been since. Three years were spent by Monsignor Mahoney in travel. He went Home no fewer than five times, and on the last trip he went by way of Japan, and thence across Siberia to Europe. His great knowledge and varied experiences have won for him a very high place in the hearts of Bishop, priests, and people. Monsignor Hackett is a native of Moate, Westmeath, Ireland, and was educated at Propaganda College, Rome, where he was ordained in 1883. He arrived in Auckland in April, 1884, and had charge 'of the parishes of Helensville and Dargaville from 1884 to 1886. From there he was transferred to the Administratorship of St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he continued until 1895. Since then he has been stationed on the goldfields, where at first he had charge of Waihi, Paeroa, and Te Aroha. Owing to increased population this district was divided into three parishes, Monsignor Hackett retaining Paeroa, where he now resides. As preacher and popular lecturer Monsignor Hackett is well known, and his elevation to the prelacy is well merited. Te Awamutu (From our own correspondent.) In reply to my enquiry concerning the usual yearly mission in this parish, the Rev. Father Lynch informed me that instead of having a mission this year he will advocate on every possible occasion the necessity of having the Tablet in every Catholic home in the parish. He considers that the Tablet and a Catholic school are necessary for the success of every parish.