N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 22

N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

DUNEDIN DIOCESAN COUNCIL’S HALFYEARLY MEETING. The ninth half-yearly meeting of the Dunedin Diocesan Council of the New Zealand Catholic Federation was held in St. Joseph’s Hall, Rattray Street, on last Tuesday night. The Very Rev. J. Coffey, diocesan administrator (president), presided, and representatives of branches present were Messrs. M. Reddington and J. Airey (St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Dunedin), the Rev. J. Del any and Messrs. J. J. Marlow and M. McAllen (South Dunedin), Mr. T. Pound (Invercargill), the Rev. M. Spillane (Oamaru), the Rev. B. Raveney (Roxburgh), Messrs. D. L. Poppelwell and O. Kelly (Gore), Mr. J. Hally (Queenstown), Mr. J. Robinson (Alexandra), Mr. M. Millar (Lawrence), and Mr. E. Sandys (Cromwell). The half-yearly report stated that the months of November and December, 1918, would be indelibly imprinted on the memories of all. First came the news of the cessation of hostilities and the armistice bringing the war to an end, and, it was hoped, opening an avenue to a durable and honorable peace. Next came the epidemic. While deep sympathy was felt for all who suffered therefrom, the hearts of all went out particularly to the brave nurses, doctors, and attendants, who, by their willing response to the call of duty, made the supreme sacrifice. In this connection might be mentioned the name of Dr. Aeneas O’Sullivan. Three priests and five nuns had also passed over the Great Divide. The report referred to the loss the Church and the community at large had suffered through the recent death of Bishop Verdon. His 22 years’ record in Dunedin bore the imprint of apostolic zeal and earnestness, austere and saintly living, and silent but indefatigable work for the Church’s wellbeing. Manly College, Sydney, was much indebted to him, but Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, would remain his enduring ecclesiastical monument. Referring to education, the report stated that the Year Book for the period 1916-17 gave the number of pupils in the schools of New Zealand at 237,916, and the cost as £1,674,000, or £1 9s Id per head of the population, and just over £7 per pupil. In the Catholic schools there were 17,266 children that year, and the Government was saved thereby £120,862, while the Catholjc body, on a population basis of 140,000, contributed over £200,000 on a per capita basis to the general education fund. Yet after this had been done, and at a season set apart for peace and goodwill towards men, the State School Teachers’ Institute had had the effrontery to pass a resolution recommending the Cabinet to refuse scholarship grants won by Catholic children, unless taken out in the State schools. Surely these gentlemen did not believe that Catholics, after making such tremendous monetary sacrifices, would send their children to the State institutions for the sake of the paltry £5 or £lO a year! If from the commercial aspect only the matter were considered, the answer was obvious. But the Church in establishing schools, kept the spiritual and the temporal steadily in view. The schools were, for the most part, controlled by devoted men and holy women of various teaching Orders, and in the possession of such the Catholic Church was opulent. In the figures of receipts and expenditure given appeared the following regarding the Catholic Field Service Fund contributions:lnvercargill £IOO, Dunedin- £4B 10s, Gore £43 15s 6d;—total, £192 5s 6d.

. On the motion of Mr. Sandys, seconded by Mr. Robinson, the report was unanimously adopted. Before proceeding with further business, Mr. Poppelwell moved the following resolution of condolence with the diocese on the great loss sustained by .the death of Bishop Verdon:—“That this, the first .meeting of the Dunedin Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation since the death of Bishop Verdon, places upon record its sorrow at the death of so saintly a prelate, and its appreciation of his great and successful work in the diocese, especially in the establishment of Holy Cross College, an institution which will long speak eloquently of his memory through the mouths of the several priests who already, and will in the future, claim it as their Alma Mater.”

After Mr. Poppelwell had spoken at some length on the saintly life and manifold good works of the late Bishop, the resolution was adopted, all present standing.

After an amount of general business had been transacted, and reports from various branches had been received, a very hearty vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr. Poppelwell, passed to the chairman for presiding. GISBORNE BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the Gisborne Branch Committee of the Catholic Federation was held in St. Mary’s School on last Sunday, Father Lane presiding (writes our own correspondent, under date February 28), The secretary (Mr. J. H. Reidy) read various circulars from the diocesan secretary. The scheme of Federation scholarships, as outlined, was considered excellent, and should meet with unanimous approval. The treasurer (Mr. Hudson) read the financial report for the month, which was adopted. It was resolved to take up the collection for the Catholic Field Service Fund on the second Sunday in March. DOMINION COUNCIL. ■ ■ J In connection with the half-yearly conference of the Catholic Federation Dominion Council (the first meeting of that body held in Dunedin), there was Solemn High Mass in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, commencing at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Father O’Connell (Wanganui) was celebrant. Father Kaveney deacon, Father Spillane subdeacon, and Very Rev. J. Coffey (diocesan administrator) master of ceremonies. The occasional sermon was preached by the Very Rev, J. Liston, Rector of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, the subject being “The Duties of Laymen.” Fathers Delany, Hurley, Peoples, Kerley, and Rooney were present in the sanctuary. The conference of the Dominion Council was commenced in St, Joseph’s Hall, Rattray Street, immediately after Mass. The delegates present were —Wellington, Rev. J. A. O’Connell, S.M., Rev. D. Hurley, S.M., Adm., and Major Halpin; Auckland, Messrs. F. Burns and J. T. Fitzgerald ; Christchurch, Rev. F. Kerley, Rev. W. J. Peoples, and Mr. F. J. Doolan; Dunedin, Very Rev. J. Coffey, diocesan administrator, Messrs. D. L. Poppelwell, and T. J. Hussey. Miss A. Girling-Butcher, general secretary, was also in attendance. The president (Mr. D. L. Poppelwell) presided.