ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 17 February 1888, Page 16

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING. St. Joseph's Cathedral was crowded on Tuesday evening atthemeeting of the Men's Confraternity of the Holy Family. Besides the members of the association, a large number of the general congregation were present. After the usual devotional exercises were gone through by the Rev. P. Lynch, Adm., the director of the society, Bishop Moran gave an interesting and impressive address. In the course of his remarks he alluded to tbe fact of that day (February 14) being the anniversary of the opening of the cathedral. Though the anniversary celebration was .fixed for the 19th of March, the Feast of St. Joseph, he thought it well to commemorate in some way the actual day in which the building was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God. Hence he wished that there should be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament that evening. In inviting the men to take part in the ceremony, he wished by thus honouring them to mark his approbation of their society, and to give prominence to his idea of its importance. The Bishop spoke of the success which has hitherto attended the Confraternity of the Holy Family, and to the great good effected by it. The members attended regularly every week in their numbers, and after each meeting brought away some good thought and some fresh resolution to serve God better. They carried to their homes that aroma of the virtues practised by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in the home of the Holy Family at Nazareth. Their fervent membership could not but have a beneficial effect on those about them, and influence for good society at large.

The procession which followed presented a very imposing spectacle. The high altar was artistically decorated and brilliantly illuminated. Beside the bishop, the Rev. Father Purton, 0.5.8., St. Patrick's, South Dunedin, the Rev. Fathers Lynch and Vereker, and tbe altar attendants of the church took part in the function. The men of the Holy Family Society walked in procession around the church— each leqtiop beiog distinguished, by tha dfetfeotivq

shield carried by the prefect. The blessM sacrament was carried by the bishop, vested cope under the beautiful canopy lately present^ by Mrs Bunbury, and borne by four of th prefects— viz., Messrs Woods, Connor, Connelly and Staunton. Those strangers who were pre sent last evening in the cathedral must hL' been impressed by the devotional and pleasij 6 way in which all present joined in singing th English and Latin hymns. c