DR. P. F. LYONS

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 2

DR. P. F. LYONS

Consecration Yesterday AS BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH. (Rec. 1.27.) MELBOURNE, July 2. The Most Rev. Doctor P. F. Lyons, of Melbourne, was consecrated as Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand, at. St. Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, l ° Archbishop Mannix, who celebrated Pontifical High Mass, was the _ consecrating Prelate, with Archbishop Bedvich of Adelaide, and Coadjutor Bishop H. J. O’Neill, of Dunedin, as co-consecrators.

Tne diocese of Christchurch was represented by Right Rev. Monsignor J. Long of Greymouth; Very Rev. FatheiX J. Hanrahan, of Add-ngton, the Rev. Father T. Browne, of Ahaura, and the Rev. Father A. Loughnan of Dunedin, was also present. In preaching the occasional sermon, the Coadjutor Archbishoo of Melbourne, Most Rev. Dr. J. D. Simonds, said that, with a full knowledge of the merits and the labours of Bishop Lyons’s predecessors, he was sure that the new administration of the Christchurch diocese would bd as flourishing and productive as those who haa gone before. During his theological studies in Rome, Bishop Lyons had made a deep impression bv his intellectual gifts, and to the uprightness of his character. He had returned to Australia with his mind enlarged by the culture of European training that was such a sure antidote to provincialism and insularity. In 1938, Bishop Lyons became the Administrator of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in Melbourne, and Chancellor of the Archdiocese and Secretary to the Archbishop; and he subsequently was elevated to the office of Vicar-Gener-al Bv holding, simultaneously, four most important offices he had been equipped, as few men have been, for the functions which he will assume in Christchurch. He has been in daily contact with the most important personages of civil life as well as witn the poor and the friendless, who were uniformly impressed by,his unfailing kindliness and courtesy.,/