Wanganui

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 23

Wanganui

(Prom our own correspondent.) March 1. .. The new school at Castlecliff is proving a wonderful success. The first roll-call numbered about 38, and it now has reached 50, without having exhausted all possibilities. As the Sisters cannot be spared to live at the beach suburb, two of them make daily pilgrimages in the tram car, and go down as well on Sundays for catechism. The building serves the dual purpose of church . and school, and although ministering to the

children’s needs is its daily glorious work, the fact of being able to hear Sunday Mass in it is, to us selfish week-enders, its noblest attribute. Long enough ago, our St. Vincent de Paul men went off to Castlecliff to teach catechism,' and through their interest and general hard work, Mass once a month became possible. The rest of the month, however, week-ending at the beach was out of the question, and the very nicest invitations had to be declined. In those days the Catholic toiler’s week-end in the surf usually commenced some time after the first car from town on Sunday afternoon. The new schoolhouse has altered all this, and perhaps some of us will be taking the neat little cottage adjoining the school, which also is church property. The Convent High School started with a record attendance of over 100. Last year’s examination results to hand are very satisfactory, all candidates presented having passed. In the Public Service Entrance were Lucy Carroll, Beryl GKiylee, and Mary Heneghan, and in the Intermediate Section Muriel Craig, Ray Duncan, and Grace' Clark. The parish, school, too, has a big roll. This year opportunity has been given our children to attend the Municipal Baths, and thrice a week the girls, under the supervision of the Sisters, hurry away in that direction. They cannot get into the water quickly enough, and under the kindly but ever-watchful eyes of the custodian (Mr. King), they enjoy themselves thoroughly. ' * Rev, Brother Basil is out of town just now collecting for the new novitiate to be. Brother Walter is a newcomer into the boys’ school this year. Chaplain-Father Moloney was here for a day or two during the week looking bronzed and fairly well. Father Moloney has finished military duty and probably will be relieving in one of the Wellington parishes for a time. Father Buckley, a visitor from the South, was here during the week. Father Ginisty is down from Jerusalem, Wanganui River, on a periodical visit to the Maoris in this part of the mission. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald and party, visitors from Auckland, spent some hours at the convent, Mount St. Gerard. Our friends from the northern city were delighted with the convent, its wonderful situation (the climb is delightful in a car), and the magnificent view from the uppermost look-out.