The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-03
CATHOuC|TY IN NEW ZEALAND
MARVELLOUS GROWTH OF THE
CHURCH SINCE THE FIRST
MASS WAS SAID IN 1888.

MASS WAS SAID IN 1888.
Writing apropos of last Christmas
Day as the centenary of the introduc
ton of Christianity into New Zealand
for on that day, in 1914, Samuel
Marsden, a jealous and devoted An
glican minister, preached the first
Christian sermon ever heard in that
country-the New Zealand Tablet
says:
This celebration of the centenary
of the Anglican missionary, Samuel
Marsden, makes fitting opportunity
for us, the Catholics of New Zealand
to pause for moment, and look back
upon the marVellously rapid growth
of the Church in this country. The
first important date in our history is
1885, when New Zealand was included
in the neWly-formed Vicariate Apos
tolic of Western Oceanica. Then on
January 10, 1888, the first Mass was
said by Bishop Pompallier at Hokian
ga, in the house of Mr.. Poynton, an
Irish Catholic settler. 1t was indeed
fitting that the great Sacrifice of the
Catholic Faith should be offered for
the first time in the house of one oil
that stream of Irish emigrants, who
in the garb of priest, nun, brother, and
layman, have contributed so largely
New Zealand. Not once, but several
times, before the coming of the first
priests, had Mrs. Poynton undertaken
the tOilsome and expensive journey tC
Sydney in sailing vessel, in order
that her youngest-born might be hap
tized by a priest of God; and the
lively faith of the Irish Catholic house
hold received it's reward when, under
their roof, Christ came for the first
time in His humanity, to bless the
new land in which they lived. 1t is
II years since the first priest landed
in New Zealand. To-day-or, rather
a couple of years ago, when the last
available figures were recorded-Catl
Olics in New Zealand numbered over
100000, and they possessed nearly
300 churches, as well as using 62 other
buildings for Church purposes. There
is a Hierarchy, consisting of two Arch
bishops and three Bishops, and ever
the remotest country districts are
served more or less frequently by
priests. 1t is fine record of progress
strengthened by constant immigration
from the older lands"
Maori Missions.
The tablet" goes on to sum ur
what is being done for the native
race-whose fine natural qualities, il
says, would lead one to expect great
things from its conversion to Chris
tianity-writing these words:
''And what of the Maori missions
Our missionary work is done without
the blare of trumpets and the beat
of drums. Our missionaries are mer
and women, priests and nuns, whose
whole heart is in their work. Nc
family ties, no family duties, distract
them, and they do not as a rule leave
their work either for rest or recuper
alton. Consequently, unless one visits
them at their posts, one does not hear
much about that work The Maoris
had tradition telling them to pay
heed to men who would come with
out wives or children, teaching a new
religion, and they listened eagerly tt
the Catholic missionaries when they
came One writer, indeed, compares
their docility and zeal to that of the
Irish at the coming of st. Patrick
In many places Maori families have
now been Catholic for three and foul
generations, and only those who have
had personal experience of it car
realize the truly Catholic atmosphere
which pervades a native Catholic
village"
In the Mission Villages.
The writer goes on to give a de
scription of everyday life in the mis-
sion villages in which he draws thi:
beautiful picture:
Watched over by their pastors, anc
OduCoICus NdlOu 1O1s d1u Ii
sickness by our own Australasia
Sisters of st. Joseph, these Maori:
grow up peacefully and innocently tt
manhood and womanhood, marry, ant
| live their lives in the bosom of the
Catholic Church, dying fortified BY
her holy rites. When the priest is il
residence, daily Mass is attended BY
the entire population as a matter O
course: when he is absent on one o.
his laborious parochial visitations
morning prayers are conducted in the
church by the native catechist. AL
ways, the day is finished by evening
prayers in the church. Nor is The
piety of these dark-skinned brethren
of ours an ignorant piety, for many O
the brown boys and girls, taught il
the Sisters schools. would put white