HOLY WEEK IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 1, 26 April 1889, Page 19

HOLY WEEK IN DUNEDIN.

Very large congregations attended the Holy Week Services in St. Joseph's Cathedral. In addition to the clergy of the Cathedral there were present the Yen. Archdeacon Coleman, Administrator of the Diocese, Very Rev. P. O'Leary, Rev. W. Burke, Rev. J. O'Neill, Rev. N. Vereker, and Rev. J. A. Sheeny of Hobart, who happened to be in Dunedin at the time. Father O'Leary presided at the Tenebraa office of Wednesday evening, Archdeacon Coleman at the Tenebraa of Thursday and Friday. A number of strangers were present. All were much impressed with the Bolemn office, and especially with the pathetic music of the Lamentations. A sanctuary choir, composed of men and boys of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, sang in harmooy, the " Jerusalem," " Bcnedictus." and " Miserere." On Holy Thursday there was a High Mass at 8 a.m. Rev. P. O'Leary was celebrant, Rev. N.iVereker deacon, Rev. P. O'Donnell subdeacon, and Rev. J. O'Neill master of ceremonies. At the conclusion of the mass there was a procession to the altar of repose, which had been prepared by one of the Dominican nuns, and which in beauty surpassed even those of former years. Rjv. Father Sheehy preached on Holy Thursday evening. Members of the various religious societies of the Sacred Heart, of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Children of Mary, and members of the congregation generally, visited the Church during the day. Watch was kept during the night by the men of the Holy Family.

On Good Friday the Mass of the Presanctified was celebrated at 11 a.m., Rev. Father O'Neill being celebrant, with Rev. Fathers Vereker and O'Donuell deacon and sub-aeacon respectively. The seimon on the Passion was preached by the Rev. Father Daly, S.J., who delivered a most impressive discourse, in which practical lessons \r >re strikingly deiived from devotional contemplations. Iv referring to the evil publications common at the day. the rev. preacher took occasion to recommend Oatho'ics to support their own Press, and. more especially the N.Z Tablet, of which he spoke in very high terms .

On Easter Sunday High Mass was celebratel at 11 a.m. An orchestra, under Mr. Schacht, rendered Mozart's " Twelfth Mass " in its entirety, the Offertory being Haydn's •' Hymn to the Emperor " (brings only). Tbe other selections were Webbe's Easter anthem, '• Haec Dies" (morning and evening;) ; Bubler's "O Salutans " ; " Kirchenlied," given as a solo by Mr. Schacht ; Wcbbe'a " I'antum Ergo in a' ; the exit voluntary being the march from '• Athalie." Miss Horan official ed at the organ. The choir was un ier Mr. W. T. Ward, honorary conductor, who used for the first time a very handsome gold-mounted baton, presented by th 2 Re/. Father Lynch, administntor at the cathedial. The baton 19 made of honeysuckle, b aii'it'ull/ carved and handsomely mounted in gold. With it was !» yin a handsome c j .se made of rimu wool, with a border of libbon wood, tlip case being lin»d with sa in. On the gold mounting in the centre is the following inscription :—": — " Mr. W. T. Ward, choirmaster, St. Joseph 'B Cathedral. Ltoti Rev. P. Lynch, Adm , Easter, 188'J " On the mounting on the top of the baton is the inscription :—": — " Sit lau-i ph na, tit sonora, xit jiwunda, sit decora." The a' tendances at all U c ceieraonies thiougtiout the week were large.

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