ST PATRICK'S DAY SERVICES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6127, 14 March 1898, Page 4

ST PATRICK'S DAY SERVICES.

The services at St Mary's Catholic Church yesterday morning were of a special character.' High mass was celebrated by the Rev Father Goggan, who also preached a sermon on the life of St Patrick. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr Percy Kehoe, and assisted by the full strength of the Bland Holt orchestra, rendered Gounod's "Messe Solennelle/' with full orchestral and organ accompaniment. The choruses were splendidly sung, and the solos in the mass were taken by the Misses Lucy Ryan, M. M'Laughlin, L. ' Grady (sopranos), N. Oakes, N. Slattery and Goggan (altos), Messrs C. Read and A. H. BJake (tenors); A. O'Brian, C. Goggan and R. Beveridge (bass). , During the offertory the orchestra played • the " Prayer '•' from " Rienzi " (Wagner), and the Tanhausser March at the conclusion of the service. There was a very large congregation. Credit was due to Mr H. Rossiter, the choirmaster, for the manner in which the mass was prepared. At. the Pro-Cathedral, Barbadoes Street, last evening, the church was unable to accommodate the large congregation. The services were of a special character, the musical portion being rendered by the Bland Holt orchestra, under the direction of Mr Percy Kehoe. The members of the Hibernian Society were present in full regalia. The Rev Father Cummings, V.G., preached a most impressive sermon from Genesis xii., 1 and 2, in which he delivered a panegyric upon St Patrick. In the course of his address he compared the people of Ireland to the ancient Jews, and -pointed to the similarity between . Abraham. _ and St Patrick, inasmuch' as the promises .made by both had been literally fulfilled. "' He -gave, a short;, sketch tlie . life, of the patron saint of Ireland, and also some particulars of the present state of that country in regard to , religious matters, referring especially to the great exodus which had taken place from Ireland to all portions of the globe. He concluded by exhorting all to imitate the life of their patron saint. After the sermon a member of the Bland Holt Company sang Gounod's " Nazareth," with full orchestral accompaniment. The Service of the Benediction was full choral, and was rendered by the full band and organ, at which Miss Funston presided. At the conclusion of the service Father Cummings urged upon all Catholics the necessity for their attending the gala to be held to celebrate St Patrick's Day.