November 2014 Issue No 203 South for Sesqui Celebrations
November 2014 www.cdd.org.nz Issue No 203 South for Sesqui Celebrations OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SOUTHLAND Pat Veltkamp Smith. The first Catholic church was built in Southland’s ebullient Gerry Forde was Southland welcomed back its own Clyde Street, opening in 1864, 150 years MC for the dinner, at which the guest when a congregation of 650 attended ago, following that first generous ten speaker was favoured son of the south, a Mass celebrating the sesquicenten- pound donation from gold miner, Don- NZ Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, nial of the Catholic church in South- ald Cameron of Nokomai. whose talk on faith and family was de- land. Locals welcomed back proudly so Today the copper dome of St Mary’s livered with insight and great good hu- many Southland born, - our two belov- Basilica is an iconic landmark, not just mour. ed Bishops, Colin and Emeritus Bishop for Catholics. An ecumenical service at the Basilica, Len, Vicar General, Monsignor Paul Ma- The sesquicentennial celebration was on Saturday afternoon, was hosted by honey, and Dominican Sister Carmel a Southland affair, bringing together Fr O’Neill, who welcomed visitors and Walsh OP, now an invaluable member people from the other parishes which the city-wide choir from different de- of the faculty of Good Shepherd Col- grew from the first, which, initially, en- nominations who sang together under lege in Auckland, guiding a new gener- compassed the lot – Wakatipu to Wynd- the baton of the Basilica’s Dr Raymond ation of students for whom English may ham. White, epitomising ecumenism in ac- not be a primary language.
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