ST. MARY'S CHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1928, Page 3

ST. MARY'S CHURCH

SPECIAL SERVICE

At. St. Mary’S Church yesterday all the services were festival in character in honour of the great feast of the day. The "King of Kings” is celebrated at this time throughout the whole of the Roman Catholic world. Large congregations were present, and in the evening the church was filled to its utmost capacity, when the Rev. Father Robinson, a missionary of the Redemptorist order, preached the sermon. In a very eloquent discourse he explained the meaning and the reason of the feast, foretold by prophets of the old Jewish dispensation, and firmly held by the Apostles, during Christ’s own. life, on earth, and in the church from its very foundation days. “Christ was King of Kings and Lord' of Lords.” That had never for one moment been disputed by the faithful in all the ages, hut it had been left to the present reigning Pontiff to define the Feast and give it a definite place in the services of the church at this season of the year.

After the sermon the procession moved from the church to the Convent grounds adjoining, which had been, brilliantly illuminated by many coloured electric lights and by innumerable candles. An altar had been erected in the main entrance of the Convent buildings, and was adorned lavishly with arum lilies and illuminated with candles, as was also the altar in the church itself. The procession was headed by the Crossbearer and acolytes, followed hv the Convent boys in white with green sashes ; by the women and men of the parish ; the young women of the various schools in their veils and robes; and members of the Hibernian .Society in regalia. All taking part in the procession bore lighted candles. Then followed the clergy, the Rev. Father Robinson carrying the Host. The whole created a most impressive scene and was reverently witnessed by many hundreds of people. The singing of the hymns in Latin without any accompaniment was very sweet in the still night air. . After prayers the procession reformed and returned to the church, where the concluding portion of the service took place. The procession was, on a small scale, What the great Eucharistic procession was in Sydney a few. weeks ago.