MIDNIGHT MASS AT ST. MARY'S.

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 December 1901, Page 2

MIDNIGHT MASS AT ST. MARY'S.

St Mary's Church was tastefully decorated for the Christmas festivities, the principal care being bestowed upon the sanctuary- Wreaths of evergreen, picked out with flowers of brilliant hue were suspended frota the arches and the walls oi the sanctuary were adorned with scrolls, bearing Scriptural texts, in maroon letters upon a light background. On the hig.h altar vases of many-coloured flowers and handsomely-designed candlesticks were arranged in rich profusion, lue vestments used by the priest at the Mass were of the richest material, and the most gorgeous workmanship, in keeping with the splendour of the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord, and the ceremonies appropriate to tlie stacred rite w-ere carried out with impressive solemnity. The members of St. Mary's Choir assisted by a few friends, under the conductcrship of Mi*. Holden, rendered in finished style the beautiful music of Haydn^ No. 1 Mass in B flat. The instrumental parts were in dbarge of Mrs. Lloyd (organist) and Mr. Beck (leader of orchestra). After the midnight Mass the members of the Choir and friends were entertained by the Very Rev. Dean Kirk in the presbytery at a Christmas breakfast. At'B o'clock Mass was again celebrated, and a large number received Holy Communion. At 10.30 o'clock Mass the midnight music was repeated, and in the evening solemn High Vespers were sung, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At this service Zingarelli's "Laudate" was sung, the solo parts being rendered by Mr. Gellatly. The Very Rev. Dean Kirk preached at midnight, and also at tho 12.30 o'clcck Mass to very large congregations. An attractive feature of the Christmas decorations is "the Crib," or representation of our Infant Saviour in the stable at Bethlehem. The figures of the Infant Je'Jus and of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph are very good, and when lighted up at night the" "Crib" looks quite pretty. The Christmas music will be rej>eated on Sunday next, both morning and evening.