%META:TOPICINFO{author="PaulKlemick" date="1186256598" format="1.0" version="1.1"}% %META:TOPICPARENT{name="PolishArtilces"}%

-- PaulKlemick - 04 Aug 2007

WAIHOLA NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE OPENING CEREMONIES

It is rarely, if ever, that the pretty township of Waihola presented such an animated appearance as it did on Sunday last, when the new Catholic Church, dedicated to St. Hyacinth, was opened. It was computed that there must have been over 1000 persons present in the township during the day, and of these special trains from Dunedin and Balclutha brought between 700 and 800.

Apart from its sacred character the church is a decided acquisition to the township, as its pleasing Gothic proportions show out well in the picturesque and commanding site on which it stands. The Very Rev. Father O'Neill has been loyally and generously assisted in his efforts by his people, as well as by many outside friends. As a result the church has been handsomely furnished. His Lordship Bishop Verdon presented the fine altar; the Very Rev. Dean O'Leary gave the altar rails; the artistically designed stained-glass windows, with medallions of the Sacred Heart, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Hyacinth, immediately behind the altar, were the gift of the Rev. Father O'Donnell of Queenstown; the Stations of the Cross were given by the Dominican Nuns (Milton), and the carved book stand on the altar by the Dominican Nuns (Dunedin). The stained-glass windows were made by Mr. Fraser, of Dunedin. The site, which is an especially prominent one, was presented by Mr. Phillipowski, a resident of the district. The building will accommodate a congregation of about 300.

It is needless to say that numbers of those who arrived by the excursion train were unable to gain admittance to the church. The ceremonies commenced shortly after 11 o'clock, when a Missa Cantata was celebrated by the Rev. Father Edward O'Donnell (Dunedin). The music on the occasion was Farmer's Mass in B Flat, which was rendered by a special choir and an orchestra. Mr. E. Eagar conducted, and Mr. O. Nauman was leader of the orchestra. The solo parts were sung by Misses Crane and Crawford (soprano), Misses K. Blaney and K. Moloney (alto), Mr. Sheppard (tenor), Messrs. J. Woods and W. O. Feil (bass). As an offertory piece the orchestra played 'Der Fruhlingszeit,' by E. Weissenborn, while at the conclusion of Mass 'Marche aux Flambeaux' was played. The music was admirably interpreted and reflected much credit on the performers.

The clergy present were the Very Rev. Father O'Neill, the Rev. Father P. O'Donnell (Gore), Rev. E. O'Donnell (Dunedin), and the Rev. Father Cleary (Dunedin).

The sermon was preached by Rev. P. O'Donnell (Gore). The rev. preacher took for his text the account of the miraculous draught of fishes described in the Gospel. He made an interesting and well-reasoned application of this great miracle to the repugnance which existed between the simple, humble ways which Christ enjoined and the world's ideal of wealth, comfort, and worldly power. He also showed how Christ teaches the multitude from St. Peter's barque to-day as he did long ago by the sea of Galilee; and drew the lesson from Christ's command to St. Peter to let down his nets in the open day, after a night of fruitless toil, that at God's command we must practice what our holy religion enjoins-fasting, &c.-even when our intellect does not at all times see the reasonableness of the divine commands, ever remembering the large draught; which rewarded the simple faith of St. Peter. When we labour independently of Christ, our toil is in vain, as regards supernatural reward; when it is done under the guidance and direction of God, it will meet with its reward exceeding great. At the close of an able and instructive discourse, Father O'Donnell congratulated the Very Rev. Father O'Neill on having built such a fine edifice in a district where the Catholics were represented by a few scattered people from far-off Poland. Father O'Neill had erected churches in Mosgiel, Greytown, Catlins, and Balclutha, a convent at Milton, and now this fine edifice at Waihola. The Polish people, though coming from a different land, speaking a different tongue, and having different national customs, would benefit by the ministrations of a warm-hearted Irish priest. There was a bond of sympathy between the Irish and the Polish peoples-a sympathy which sprung from the fact that both had borne centuries of bitter persecution for the faith and remained steadfast under it all. The preacher concluded with a brief biography of the great Polish saint, St. Hyacinth, to whom the church is dedicated. By a happy coincidence, to which the preacher also referred, the opening of the new edifice took place on the seventeenth anniversary of Father O'Neill's ordination to the priesthood.

The total cost of the building is about Ł220, whilst the amount in hand, including subscriptions received on Sunday (Ł80), is about Ł120. Mr. Barty, of Balclutha, prepared the plans and specifications of the building, and Mr. J. Agnew, of the same place, was the builder.

After the ceremony some of the visitors made the most of the fine weather in seeing the various points of interest in the neighbourhood, whilst others were entertained with sacred selections by the orchestra.

A start was made for Dunedin by the visitors at 5 o'clock, the city being reached in good time. "NZ Tablet", 20th April 1899.