Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 26, 5 July 1923, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) June 30. The social in aid of the Home of Compassion, took place at the Town Hall on last Monday, when a most enjoyable evening was spent. Mr. J. J. McGrath was • chairman and Mist D. Glee,son secretary of the committee, which, as a result of the several functions organised, has handed to Rev. Mother Aubert a substantial sura for her very deserving work. , The annual social of the St. Aloysius branch of the Hibernian Society, took place at St. Anne’s Hall, Newtown, last 1 hnrsday evening, and was most successful. Rev. Father S. Mahony, S.M., is still adding to the beauty of St. Mary of the Angels’ Church. The workmen are engaged in plastering the eastern and western walls. I he church has also been considerably changed inside by the addition of two beautiful altars— Our Lady’s and St. Joseph’s. The former is particularly beautiful, being in alb aster, marble, and precious stones, with a fine statue of Our Lady and Child; whilst the floor of the altar is set with the finest polished marble. The altar of St. Joseph is built of the finest Carrara marble, whilst, the statue of St. Joseph is a- splendid specimen of plaster modelling.- The floor is also set in the same marble. A ’ fine statue of the Sacred Heart chiselled out of the finest marble and weighing three-quarters of a ton adorns the western pillar outside the sanctuary. A splendid marble baptismal font is also being placed in the baptistry, and has been specially designed by Father Mahony, whose ingenuity has overcome a difficulty experienced with most fonts in regard to the lid. Instead of a hinged lid necessitating raising when being used, by the simple device of a solid brass swivel the marble top can, with the lightest pressure, be swung smoothly around. Other additions ' shortly will be a beautiful statue of St. Anthony/ and the Stations of the Cross the latter will consist - of plaster figures representing each station. These, with j the beautiful marble High Altar and the stained glass windows renders the Church specially edifying and devotional, and Father Mahony deserves the greatest credit for his artistic taste and - , his great perserverahed and dogged determination in the face of the greatest difficulties particularly financial making St. Mary’s the finest " church in the Dominion, if not in Australasia.

v Air. AI. J. Doyle, manager of the Timaru- Herald, with Airs. Doyle left on Friday by the Ulimaroa on a health recruiting visit to Australia. On Tuesday evening last an excellent concert was given in St. Joseph’s Hall to a large number of seamen of the steamer Tekoa, under the auspices of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Those who contributed to an enjoyable programme were: —Alessrs. F. Divan, A. J. Fogarty, Simpson, P. Lawlor, Loftus, E. Reade, F. Whittaker, R. Taylor, Burnette, Hackett, E. Aiurphy, and “Albert.” Air. F. Halley was an excellent accompanist. Rev. Father O’Donnell addressed a few words to the seamen, expressing the pleasure of meeting them, and the hope that he and the members of the society would again have the pleasure when the ship touched Wellington on some future date. Mr. AlcNulty suitably responded on behalf of the ship’s crew. Special thanks _ was accorded the performers and those responsible for the arrangements for the successful evening, namely— J. Hyland, W. B. Gamble, and R. S. Dwyer. OPENING OF NEW SCHOOL AT ELTHAAI. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea will bless and open a new convent-school at Eltham on Wednesday next, July 11. In the evening of the same date his Grace is to be tendered a public reception at a concert in the local Town Hall. Rev, Father N. Aloore (pastor of the district) extends a hearty invitation to all who can possibly attend either or both functions. NEW SCHOOL FOR, KILBIRNIE. There was held at Kilbirnie, recently, a meeting of the parishioners to consider ways and means of making some necessary improvements (writes a correspondent). Father Connolly pointed out that the building which had up till now served as church and school was altogether inadequate. Sometime ago the pressure was relieved by securing a cottage next door 'and converting it into an infants school. After some discussion it was decided that a new school was absolutely necessary. When this was provided the present building could be enlarged and made a suitable church. As there already exists a debt of £2OOO, it required stout hearts to set to work to wipe this out and get on with the new scheme. It was decided for this purpose to hold a. bazaar, and run in conjunction with it an art union. The art union books are now available, and very generous prizes are offered—£3oo gold specimens. A novel feature is the giving of a cash prize of £SO to the one selling most tickets.