St. Vincent de Paul Sunday School, Dunedin:

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 52, 30 December 1925, Page 55

St. Vincent de Paul Sunday School, Dunedin:

\ On Sunday, December 13, the annual "' break-up and distribution of prizes in con- , . nection with the St. Vincent de Paul SunSchool, took place in St. Joseph’s Schoolroom x Dunedin. Punctually at 3 p.m. about 50 bright-faced children from the tiny tots of four or five to the older boys and girls of • thirteen and fourteen who were attending their last break-up, assembled in happy an- . ticipation of the coming treat. The place r ! vof honor was given to the statue of Our

\ Lady, the patroness of the Sunday school, whose shrine was beautifully decked with roses and lilies. In the middle of the room stood a table laden with attractive prizes, the object of many a wistful glance, which . the Rev. Father Tylee, in the unavoidable 'absence of his Lordship the Bishop, kindly consented to distribute. Rev. Mother Prioress, who has always taken a great interest in the work of the Sunday school, was present, and also several kind friends and a few of the children's mothers. : The following report was read: -The year's work, which closes to-day, has - been eminently satisfactory. The attendance of the children has been much better than in previous years; a number of pupils have been prepared for fiirst confession and Holy Communion and are now preparing for confirmation. These gratifying results are due in no small measure to the zeal of the young teachers. It is inspiring to all interested in such work to see these young girls, who are still pursuing their higher at school, devoting themselves on Sunday afternoons to the so necessary and often arduous task of teaching these little ones their prayers and the principles of our holy Faith. The fact that in many cases the pupils do not appreciate the efforts made for them makes a heavy demand on the patience and energy of their young instructresses, whose very 'best qualities are thus developed. The members of the guild owe much to the help of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and especially to many friends for help and encouragement. Miss O'Rourke continues her invaluable work in gathering a number of children for the Sunday school. To the Cathedral clergy the girls are at all times ■ .indebted for. their readiness to assist in every possible way. Nor must a tribute be omitted to the memory of Mrs. Jackson (R.1.P.), who took a deep interest in the guild since its inception. The contemplation of a life such as hers, so utterly devoted to .:; the service of "Our Lord's the Poor," will be ever an incentive to the girls who are taking up the work in their humble way, '- for "She, being dead, yet speaketh." ;/ Immediately after the reading of the report the prizes—consisting mainly of reliV gious objects, which were given with a view ggio introducing some symbol of our holy Faith into homes usually so sadly lacking in them—- . were distributed, and child after child returned happy to her place, clasping tightly the cribs, prayer-books, - beads, etc., which j; will be treasured for some time, we hope, l amongst their most precious possessions. '>•;

At the close of the prize-giving, the Rev. Father Tylee, in a brief address, thanked Miss O'Rourke for her valuable assistance, without which the work could, not have been carried on, and asked her to accept a small token of the girls' esteem. He then expressed a hope that in a short time the Catholic children attending State schools would be induced to attend their own Catholic ones. At this point the children could be kept silent no longer, and a happy confusion ensued, "all being eager to display their prizes to their mothers and to their little companions. Father Tylee now spent some time amongst the children, speaking to them and blessing their beads, whilst farewells were exchanged between teachers and pupils, and many promises of a record attendance were secured for next year. Then at last as the little ones began to grow tired, the proceedings terminated with the singing of "Hail, Queen of Heaven!" and, together with the sweet strains, there ascended to Heaven many a prayer that the seeds of faith . sown in the hearts of these little ones would take root and that the efforts made on their behalf would not be in vain. ' —'■ I~X>. ——