Diocese of Dunedin.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 23 April 1897, Page 18

Diocese of Dunedin.

HOLY WEEK. All the ceremonies prescribed for Holy Week were duly carried out at St. Joseph's Cathedral, and the various Offices and Masses were largely attended throughout the week. The ceremonies com* menced on Wednesday evening with the office of Tencbiw which was also sung on Thursday and Friday evenings, the Most Rev. Dr. Verdon presiding on each occasion. The cantors were the Very Rev. Dean Mackay, Very Rev. Father O'Leary and Very Rev. Father O'Neill, and they were assisted by a large number of the priests of the diocese. On Holy Thursday High Mass was celebrated by his Lordship the Bishop at 7 a.m., at which Mass the blessing of the holy oils took place. After Tench r^e in the evening the Very Rev. Dean Mackay preached an impressive and devotional sermon on the Blessed Eucharist, viewing it especially in its aspect as the great sin offering under the New Law. During all the day on Holy Thursday there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, special hours for adoration being appointed for the different sections of the various confraternities. At ten o'clock on Good Friday morning the Mass of the Pre-sanctified was celebrated, his Lordship the Bishop, a&sisted by a number of priests, being the celebrant. The Gospel of th 6 day, describing the condemnation and Passion of our Saviour, which as rendered in the Catholic Church forms a most powerful appeal to the religious feelings, was sung by Very Rev. Dean Mackay and Rev. Fathers Ryan and Duffy. The Very Rev. Father O'Leary occupied the pulpit and preached an earnest, powerful and practical discourse on the Passion of our Divine Lord. The altar of repose was beautifully decorated with a profusion of flowers and candles, affording a striking contrast to the high altar which was stripped of its ornaments and covered with the draperies of mourning. On Holy Saturday Mass was celebrated by his Lordship the Bishop at 7 a.m , the celebration being preceded by the ceremony of the lighting of the tire and the blessing of the paschal candle and the font. On Easter Sunday Masses were celebrated as usual at 7.30. a.m. and at i) o'clock, and at both Masses the congregations approached the Sacrament in very large numbers. The church was also crowded at 1 1 o'clock when Pontifical High Mass was celebrated. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, Rev. Father Murphy, deacon ; Rev. Father Maloney, sub-deacon and Rev. Father Ryan, assistant priest. The pulpit was occupied by the Rev. Father Murphy who preached an earnest sermon on the Resurrection. The music for the occasion was Mozart's Twelfth Mass, which was splendidly rendered by the Cathedral choir, assisted by an efficient orchestra under Mr. A. T. Nottingham. The solo parts were taken by Miss R. Blaney (soprano), Miss K. Blaney (alto), Messrs. E. Eagar and P. Carolin (tenor), and Mr. James Jago (bass).

Mr. Vallis presided at the organ and Mr. W. T. Ward acted aa conductor. It was a somewhat ambitious undertaking to produce the whole of the Twelfth Mass with a comparatively small choir, but the effort was in the highest degree successful and a general opinion has been expressed that finer music has never been heard in the Cathedral than was rendered on this occasion. At Vespers in the evening the Cathedral was again crowded to the doors, a large number not being able to even obtain standing room. Bishop Verdon occupied the pulpit and preached a powerful discourse on the Resurrection. Mr. Jago sang Faure's " Les Raineaux as an offertory.