DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1921, Page 21

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) July 22. At St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday evening, July 10, his Lordship DrCleary preached from the text contained in the Gospel according to St. John—" That was the True Light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world." The sermon held the close attention of the congregation. The Bishop seemed much stronger, judging by his voice and the-sustained effort. His Lordship afterwards officiated at Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Following the retreat to the Sisters of the Missions at Hamilton, conducted by Rev. Father Hannigan, C.SS.R., his Lordship the Coadjutor-Bishop (Dr. Liston) received the final vows of Sister M'. Georgina (Daley). Among the clergy present were the Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook (Grey Lynn), Fathers Moore (Eltham), Skinner, Hunt, Dore, and Bleakley. After delivering a short address, his Lordship officiated at Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. "'t! r ' > ■ ;'

>j: :'.-■-'••. The following letter has been received by the district ; - secretary of the Hibernian Society, in answer to the , resolution sent to the British Prime Minister (Mr. D. Lloyd George) from the triennial movable meeting of the . • society held some time ago at Chirstchurch: 10 Downing Street, <: Whitehall, S.W.I. 21/5/21. Dear Sir, ■ I am directed by the Prime Minister to acknowledge the receipt of the resolutions which you forwarded on behalf of the New Zealand District of the HibernianAustralasian Catholic Benefit Society. Yours- faithfully, t (Signed) F. L. Stevenson. Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook on Tuesday evening, July 12, gave a very interesting address to the men's confraternity on "Our Lady of Mount Carmel,-" at St. ; Patrick's Cathedral. Rev. Father J. Dignan, the popular pastor of the Thames, arrived in Auckland last Monday from his 12 months' tour of the. world. He had very strange and sorrowful experiences in Ireland, where he was arrested on one occasion and threatened at the pistol's point by the force of "Law and Order." Rev. Father Molloy, who was seriously injured by a fall, is receiving medical attention in the city. He is making steady progress and is extremely anxious to return to his parish of Pukekohe. I am pleased to learn that the Right Rev. Mgr. Mahoney, V.G., who is in Australia on sick leave, was by latest accounts much improved in health. He is at present staying at the Lewisham Hospital. Rev. Father Zanna, parish priest of Whangarei, left by the Makura last week on a holiday to the Old Country, after his 18 years of strenuous labor in the diocese. He is a native of the Tyrol, where his venerable mother still resides. Father Zanna will make the trip through Canada to London. Then lie will visit Ireland, and proceed to Italy. He will return to the Dominion in about a year's time. The quarterly meeting of the Particular Council of St. Vincent de Paul Society, comprising all the conferences of the diocese, took place in St. Benedict's Church on last Tuesday evening, the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul. After the' Rosary was recited, the CoadjutorBishop (Dr. Liston) presided over the large assemblage. The reports from the various conferences, each with its particular work and local color, were well received, and showed the wonderful activities of the society in' our midst. Dr. Liston then gave a very interesting account of the life and work of Frederick Ozanam, the founder of the organisation. Others present' made complimentary remarks on the reports and excellence of the work and expressed the conviction that that meeting gave fresh vigor and encouragement to the society and should result in a large increase of membership. Very Rev. Dean Cahill, Chancellor Holbrook, Monsignor Ormond, Fathers Brennan, Buckley, Forde, O'Malley Curley, and Lyons were also present. Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by Bishop Liston. " . The prayers and sympathy of her many friends will be accorded to Rev. Mother M. Claudia, "Provincial of the, Sisters of the Missions, on the death of her mother, which occurred recently. Rev. Father Bradley continues to make good progress . "-covery after his recent serious operation" in*Z Mater Hospital. He visited St. Patrick's on Mondav. . ' of . 5n ght r t7' Dr ' Liston mado llis episcopal visitation of Ellerslie-Panmure-Howick on Sunday last, and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation ,m v term of 50 years' service as organist at St Patricks Church, Pan v irG3 has been completed b? M rs • Fleming. In recognition of her services his Lordship Dr a*W t g ff Watch and an illuminated address on the occasion of his visitation n P JTf If G than neVer may be said of the Anglican people for the protests now being made in all quarters by them against the recent extension of the can es f 0

divorce by the Parliament, of our Dominion in its last session. Speaking of the fact that marriages can now be dissolved in this • country, by law, after three years' separation, the Anglican Bishop last Sunday said this was opposed to the Christian conscience. "The logical outcome of such an extension of the causes of divorce (said Dr. Averill) would be that the State should establish institutions in which the children of divorced parents could be looked after. He doubted whether it would be right for the present children's homes to take these children in simply because their parents had been divorced, lor it might.seem to be encouraging a breach of the,divine laws to which, as Christians, they were strongly opposed. It had been stated recently by a distinguished soldier and an M.P. that it was absolutely necessary to do all that was possible for the sake of the rising generation on account of the environment and atmosphere in which many were growing up. It had also been said over and over again that such institutions as the boy scouts and the Young Citizens' League were absolutely necessary at the present time in order to counteract the adverse influences which were coming into the lives of the children. The Bishop said that, to his mind, however, instead of placing ambulances at the foot of the precipice it was better to erect a fence around the top, and if the Government of. the country would show some regard for the principles of Christ in its legislation and education it would be far more likely, to influence growing children than any amount of superficial patriotism without any real basis/' Last year when the bigots raved, the Gentiles raged and the people devised vain things' against the Catholic teaching on the Sacrament of Matrimony—' all these good folk were in such dread of the Xe Tenure Decree, and were so patriotic and.zealous for the supremacy of the law of the land, that they were blinded and could see no other danger in sight. As a 'matter of fact, I am informed that this plea, of the three years' separation as a ground for divorce was only the curtain-raiser for the Xe Tonne discussion, the opportunity the bigots sought; and perhaps the strong protest which is now being voiced from all parts of the Dominion by the Anglican and other bodies, would at that time seem to be too much in favor of Rome, their loyalty might have been questioned, and accordingly judgment went by default. It is rather late in the day now to raise the crv. SBSSSSS"" mmmamm -^mmammm m—m»