CATHOLIC CEREMONIES IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 23 May 1890, Page 13

CATHOLIC CEREMONIES IN SYDNEY.

(Freeman's Journal, May 10.)

Thk celebration of the feast of St. Paul of the Cross at the Passionist Fathers' Church, Marnckville, on Sunday last, lacked no feature of solemnity or impressivenees. Although the rain interfered with the attendance of visitors from the city, the church was filled at the 11 o'clock Macs. A number of members of the city and suburban branches of the Hibernian Society, with their officers, were present in regalia, and the bright; green and gold gave a pictureacue appearance to the fine body of mm. The Rev. j. J. Byrne, Administrator of St. Mary'a Cathedral, was the celebrant of the Mass, Father Marcellus, C.P., the deacon ; and Father Gartland, sub-deacon. The ceremonies were conducted by the Very Rev. Alphonsus O'Neill, C.P., Rector of St. Bridget's Retreat, and the Very Rev. P. Slattery, Superior of the Franciscans, and the Very Rev. Dr. O'Brien, Rector of St. John's Univeisity College, asEiated in the sanctuary. The sanctuary was elegantly decorated in honour of the saint, whose pictuie forms the altar piece, and the statues of the Blessed Virgin and the Sacred Heart on the side altars were gracefully decked with pietty flowers and brilliantly illuminated. The Very Rev. Dr. O'Brien preached the discourse of the day. a Bingularly felicitous and impressive one, in which the characteristics of the founder of the Passionist Order were, wiih the lessons of his life, set forth with admirable clearness and force. Special arrangements were made in regard to the music, and the choir for the occasion had the aid of an orchestra led by Herr Pecho'sch. The Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus of Mozart's 12th and the Credo and Agnus ;Dai of Haydn No. 3, were sung, the solos being taken by Madame Pechotsch, Miss Cawley, Mr. Macauley, Mr. T. O'Sullivan, and Mr. J. M'Namarra. At the Gradule, Mr. J. Lemmone, the eminent flautist, played the beautiful prayer cf Ganboldi, and at the Offertory Madame Pechot6ch sang Gounod's " Ava Maria " with violin obligato by Herr Pecbotacb. Zmgarelli's " Laudate " whs given at the end of the Mas?. Mr. A. Macauley conducted, and Mr. Fred. Crofc presided at the organ. In the evening Weia's "O Salmans" wag sung by Mr. M'Namarra, and Croft's " Tantum Ergo "by the choir. The evening sermon was preached by the Very Rev. Father Boyle, Superior of the VinceDtians.

After High Mass the Passioniet Fathers tntertained a number of the principal parishioners and several visitors. The visitors included the Hod. D. O Connor, Poßtrnaster-General, the Very Rev. P. Le Rennettl, 8.M., C ty Alderman Hart, Mr. P. B. Larkin, and Mr. E. O'Farrell, and the clergy who had assisted in the church. The Marist Fathers at Villa Maria held their triduum in honour of Blessed Peter Chanel, the proto-martyr of Oceania, on last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the 2nd, 3rd. and 4th of May— the dates fixed for the celebrations at Lyons in France. On each of the three days there was a solemn High Mass celebrated, on Friday by one of the Manst Fathers, on Saturday by the Venerable Archpriest Sheeny, 0.5.8., and on Sunday by his Grace Archbishop Navarre, of New Guinea. Most appropriate and eloquent sermons were preached during the tnduum, tn] Fii<lay evening by 'the Rev. Father Barry, 0.8.8 , on Saturday evening by the Very Rev. Dr. O'Brien, Rector of St. John's College, on Sunday morning by the Right Rev. Dr. Higgin9, Auxiliary Bishop, and Sunday evening by the Very Rev. Father Ryan, S.J., Rector of St. Ignatius' College,

Riverview. The congregation listened with deep attention to the lessons of sanctity which the orators drew from the life of the Messed martyr. The pretty little church was, for the joyous occasion, beautifully decorated with garlands of evergreens and flowers around the pillars, and with graceful folds of red and yellow suspended in festoons on each side, from the gallery to the pillars at the entrance of the side chapels. A drapery of crimson with ferns and pplms formed the background to a throne, npon which was placed in a niche of artificial flowers a very fine statue of the Blessed Chanel, and some precious lelics of the Holy Martyr. The sanctuary with its red drapery, the high altar with its many glittering lights and flowers, and the niche of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its decorations for the month of May. presented at night a brilliant spectacle. The priests of Villa Maria showed to their people that their church could yet be made more beautiful. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, during the triduum the church was crowded with a devoted and prayerful congregation, and, what must have been still more gratifying to the Mariat Fathers, a very large number of the faithful received Holy Communion during the three days, especially on Sunday.