Opening of New Church at Havelock South

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 1, 7 January 1925, Page 13

Opening of New Church at Havelock South

During the small hours of the night of New Year's Eve, 1923-1924 the church at Havelock South, an old wooden one, was totally destroyed by fire. It was an old building, but still quite fit for its purpose, and was an interesting link with the past, dating back many years into the past history of the Pelorus district. Years ago it was moved from another site to where it stood until its destruction by fire. On Sunday, December 21, the Catholics of the Pelorus district met for the happy purpose of seeing the solemn opening of their new church by his Grace Archbishop Redwood. The erection of the new building was seriously handicapped by months of persistent wet weather, but the contractors, Messrs. Bythell and Co., of Blenheim, worked hard against heavy odds, and thus enabled the church to be opened on the date fixed, although interior fittings in the sacristies, etc., could not be completed. After almost a week of wet weather, which boded ill for the coming function, the day turned out most propitious; calm, not lacking in sunshine, and yet not too hot. The opening was fixed for 11 a.m., and from an early hour a, fleet of cars began to make their way out from Blenheim to Havelock. In addition to the ordinary Havelock. congregation, a large number of non-Catholics were present, there being barely standing room by the time the ceremonies commenced. This was no doubt due, in part at least, to the presence and active participation of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, senior Bishop of the Catholic world to-day, whose well-known and venerable figure added solemnity to the function. Punctually to the moment, his Grace began the blessing of the exterior walls of the church; after which he opened the door with a gold key presented by Messrs. Bythell and

(From our Blenheim correspondent.)

Co. He then proceeded with the blessing of the interior of the sacred edifice, the. structure of which is unusually pleasing for a country church, being built of red brick, in the Gothic style. The timbered vaulting of the roof is light and graceful, and gives plenty of ventilation. The altar is particularly handsome, being built of polished rimu, which showed up to great advantage the brass crucifix and candlesticks which are part of the furnishings of the church. When the ceremony of dedication was finished, Mass commenced, the celebrant being the Very Rev. Dean Holley, S.M.; his Grace the Archbishop being present in the sanctuary. There were also present the Rev. Father Gilbert, S.M., Rector of St. Patrick's College, and his associate, the Rev. Father Kingan, S.M. The music of the Mass was rendered by members of St. Mary's Choir, Blenheim, who. were accompanied on a small organ kindly lent by Mr. Smith. Others who made the trip from Blenheim were the Rev. Father Henry, S.M., a large contingent of altar boys, members of the Regimental Band, and a good many of the general public. Very Rev. Dean Holley addressed the congregation after the Gospel, recalling to their minds the unusual and very gratifying circumstances under which this new church of the Sacred Heart was opened,, circumstances which his Grace the Archbishop afterwards spoke of as unique in the long history of his episcopate. Owing to the munificent gift of the late ■ Mr. .' Fitzpatrick, the church was erected and opened absolutely free of debt, at no cost to the congregation. The sum of money apportioned to this purpose under Mr. Fitzpatrick's will had so materially accumulated in the course of years, that there had been no difficulty in. building a church

a which would be a constant source of gratifiv cation to the Havelock Catholics, and of legitimate pride to the whole district in which :- it -was situated. The Very Rev. Dean then ■i. went 'on to thank all those who had contributed in any way to the successful complex tion of the church, mentioning particularly the contractors, the workmen who had frequently faced drenching rain in order to comfcfplete, the building by the date set, the choir, »,who had contributed so much to the solemnity of the occasion, the O'Sullivan family, whose . gift of a magnificent chalice was a touching • link with the past, and the early pioneers of \ the district; Mrs. Perry of Havelock, whose ■s. long and faithful service of the old church I ; had rendered her perhaps the most inter- ■ JestedJ ested participant in the opening of the new, '- and the gentlemen who had placed their •; cars at : his disposal to make the trip to Havelock. At the conclusion of Mass, his Grace delivered an impressive discourse, taking for /: his subject "Truth and Grace as exemplified in the Catholic Church." He pointed out that the Church was the guardian and expounder of the truths of faith, and the dispenser of the mysteries of God in the Seven Sacraments, which were the principal channels of grace. He dwelt particularly on the Blessed Eucharist, the centre of Catholic life, and the great reason for all splendor and beauty in church architecture. In conclusion, his Grace recommended his hearers to seek within the walls of the church that day opened to them, the words of Eternal Truth, and the means of grace contained in the Sacraments. The Archbishop . then imparted to the congregation the Apostolic Benediction, according to faculties given him recently in Rome, at his audience with

the present Holy Father. Speaking of that -audience, his Grace said that though he had personally known five Popes, having been appointed to the episcopate by Pius IX, he had never met with anything approaching the gracious welcome he had received from . the present Pope, who rose at once from his seat, not giving time to perform the customary genuflections, and, bidding him welcome, warmly embraced him. His Holiness then seated him beside his armchair, and conversed with him for a considerable time on the history and present state of Catholicism in New Zealand, in which land he had seen the Church develop from a mere mission to savages, to a flourishing province of the universal Church, with a hierarchy of its own. Before giving the Apostolic Benediction, the large congregation recited the Oonfiteor in English in an impressive and edifying manner. There was also a large volume of voice in the prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, and in the hymn "Sweet Heart of Jesus," sung before the congregation dispersed, the new church being, like the old, dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The majority of those present made a point of waiting outside the church to pay their respects to the venerable Archbishop, to whom they were presented by Very Rev. Dean Holley. At 3 p.m., his Grace administered the Sacrament of Confirmation, three candidates being presented. The fine afternoon tempted a large number up to the park, shortly after dinner, to listen to the sacred music rendered by the Regimental Band, and about 4 p.m. the different cars began to make their way back to Blenheim, thus closing a most successful day's function, which will long be remembered in Harelock and the surrounding districts.