JUBILEE MISSION SERVICES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3746, 4 October 1886, Page 3

JUBILEE MISSION SERVICES.

On Sunday night, September 26th, the Rev. Father Lemenan des Chenais, opened his jubilee mission services at the Roman Catholic Church, Timaru. Tliese jubilee services, we may here explain, are m the ordinary courso of things held once during) a period of 25 years, but thero are occasions when His Holiness the Pope can, if he sees fit, make an alteration. His Holiness has dono so this year, and this mission jubilee which Father Chenais is now conducting is, therefore, called an " extraordinary jubilee." Its objects are threefold, namely, to request the whole of tho members of thc Roman Catholic faith throughout the world to pray for (1) the exaltation of the Christian religion throughout the world j (2) for pence and concord amongst all princes and nations, and (3) for the bringing back of all erring sheep to tho fold of Christ. On the Sunday evening named, Father Chenais conducted the usual service, but gnvo a most impressive sermon. He then held throughout the past week four mission services daily, which were crowded to excess, so eagor were all to learn the objects of the mission and listen to the eloquent words of tho missioner. These services were brought to a close yesterday, and wero finally carried out m the high-class and completo manner so characteristic of tho Church named. The morning services drew together largo congregations, tho service at II o'clock being most solemn and impressive ; and the music by the choir, assisted by Mr Wood's string band, was very fino indeed. In the evening at 7 o'clock the wholo congregation formed into procession. At the hend was a banner borno by two girls who, liko the rest of the girls m the procession, were dressed all m white. Next the banner camo the missionary followed by a cross-bearer and acolytes ; next the girls attending the school, dressed m white and wearing white wreaths and veils ; the choir of school girls followed ; next the boys of tho school preceded by a bonner, and followed by a choir of boys ; next the ladies of the Guild, followed by the members of the Hiberniau Society m full regalia ; next the women of the congregation followed by the men of the congregation and the Church choir, and lastly the clergy of the parish —Fathers Foley, Brown, and Rowers. There wero about 1500 people m the procession, each of whom held a lighted candle, and there were 50 torehbearers. Tho line of march, which was a serpentine ono, wns lighted with Chinese lanterns, and tho sight as the procession moved over the convent grounds to tho convent door was, to uso tho wards of a lady present, " lovely m the eitreme." At the convent an altar had beon erected, and round it were grouped the Lndy Superior, the other nuns, nnd tho pupils attending the convent school, and when the procession reached thero thoy sang an appropriate hymn. This ended, one of the pupils of the convent read a prayer, which was an act of consecration to our Lord Jesus Christ. The church choir then sang " Glory be to Jesus ;" tho parish clergy offered up prayer, and the procession was re formed. Tho night being a dark one the effect of tbe procession was really beautiful, and tho grounds being so ample, a sight wns presented to the view which was picturesque m the extreme, and which loft an impression on the mind's eyo which will take years to efface. Arrived at the church the rev. missioner mounted to the pulpit, preached a most eloquent sermon, and then called upon Father Foley to request the congregation to renew their baptismal vows, to which tho whole of tho members of the large congregation at once responded. After this the choir again sang, and the Benediction intoned, tho Bey. Father Chenais oxpressed Bincere thanks to Father Foley and tho priests of the neighbouring parishes for the assistance they had given him; to the choir for the excellent manner m which they had performed the vocal part of tho services, and to the nuns and schoolmaster fpr tho exceedingly praiseworthy way m which they had instructed and trained the children, and he praised tbe congregation for their assiduous attention tothe services. The music and singing being especially good deserve more than a passing word of praise. Mr Wood's string band is especially good m sacred music, and did full justice to tho grand and solemn music of the Catholio Church. Tho choir was reinforced by the assistance of Miss E. T. Lack (soprano) and Mr Crosbie (tenor) and sang beautifully. Among tha musio at tho morning sorvice wero tho Kgrie and Gloria of Mozart j the Credo Sanctus Benediclus Agnus Dei, of Weber's Mass m G ; tho offertory beiDg Cherubim Aye Maria, with full orchestral accompaniment, sung by Miss Lack m a most masterly manner. In tho evening tho following hymns were sung:—© Sahttaris (Hummel) by Mrs Filmer; Aye Maria (Gounod) by Mr Rowe ; the Tt Deum by the

choir, nnd the duet Tanlitm Er.'/o (Rossi) by Mrs Filmer and Mr Duvnl. The choir was under the direction and conductorship of Mr M. ile 11. Duval, and Mrs Dennihoy presided nt the org»n with her usual taste and ability. Tho altar, wo may add, was magnificently decorated, and at tho evening servic-* was a perfect blaze of light, and was profusely decorated with the most beautiful (lowers.