Marist Missioners in Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 40, 12 October 1922, Page 21

Marist Missioners in Dunedin

Tho missions conducted by Rev. Fathers Herring and Eccleton , Mar Missioners, at St. Joseph’s. Cathedral and St. Patrick’s Basilica (South Dunedin)—a. week each tor women and, men, were solemnly closed. on last. Sunday night in ,the presence of crowded congregations of men After the concluding sermons there was the renewal of' Baptisma! Vows and the imparting of the Papal Blessing. At the Cathedral Father Herring also spoke in grateful terms of the great help and encouragement had had received from his Lordship the Bishop ■ and parochial clergy. He also thanked the choir for its lead in the congregational singing, which had proved quite a feature of the mission, and those who had ■so diligently attended to the various duties which form a part of the general requirements. He very warmly congratulated the men (as he had previously done the women) < on. their zeal and devotion in attending the exercises in such strong force, and thus making the mission the remarkable success it had proved to be. The manner in which the confraternity had been supported afforded deepest consolation to the promoters, and he congratulated the men on the great numbers who had joined the Sacred Heart Association. , This, he trusted, could be taken as an evidence of their sincerity, and their adherence to the association would be productive of untold blessings. The formal reception into the confraternity was then conducted by his Lordship the Bishop, the numerous body of men approaching the sanctuary rails for the purpose: after which Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given. Addressing the crowded congregation at the close of the . mission at the Cathedral, Right Rev. Dr. Whyte said: I take this opportunity of assuring Father Herring that he has placed this parish under a great debt of gratitude to him for his unstinted and generous' services to it during the past fortnight. A great task was given to him when he was appointed to conduct this mission single-handed. How cheerfully, how successfully he has discharged those exacting duties nobody present need bo told. In South Dunedin Father Eccleton has .done his •arduous work in the same,spirit of zeal and heroism, and he, too, has seen the reward of his labors in ther vast: number of men and women 'who have approached ■ the Sacraments and who, ■-furthermore. ; have given ah'- eloquent proof of their desire to persevere by'joining the sodalities. , Last Sunday I commended the piet- and the heroism of the women. To-night •I* wish to compliment : you. : You have shown by your presence here every night that : you cling lovingly and immovably to the grand old Faith, that you are faithful and loyal members r of our Holy Mother the Church, and that you are, determined to"lead the honest, pure', and .noble lives that she desires you; to lead. In a special ■ way I congratulate the women and the : men who have joined the sodalities. The . gratitude that the Catholic [ men and : women of this , city owe to ‘ the devoted' missioners can best ; be' shown-bv their becoming loyal and constant members of the sodalities. : . If von ; f desire :to persevere • in the pious spirit that God’s Grace has aroused in you by means of the eloquent preachers; if you desire - to: avoid . the dangers against which they have warned you arid: to cultivate the virtues they have urged you to -practise, then I say to ’.“Join the sodalities.” 1 v ’ ■* ‘ '** ' - I : must not omit to convey, to the priests- of . both parishes •■■my, warm arid;• heartfelt thanks- for, their: generous rind';'whole-hearted- efforts to make - those missions so fruit- ( ful of good .to :manw souls , that had ' gone .astray.''' V::::-- ::::, Rev:'. Father'£ Herring returned : Forth by • v Monday’s /-express.' - ' ' ’ - •