Diocese of Christchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 23 April 1897, Page 19

Diocese of Christchurch.

HOLY WEEK.

ST. MARY'S,

(From our own correspondent.)

At the Pro-Cathedral Holy Week was celebrated in accordance with I the Roman ritual in the most solemn, manner. The service of Tenehrco was performed every evening. The Right Rev. Dr. Grimes presided. The Vicar-General and the Rev. Father Galerne were the cantors, and a number of the diocesan clergy assisted at the touching and solemn offices. On Holy Thursday morning the service was conducted by the Bishop, who duly consecrated the holy oils, and in the evening an eloquent discourse on the Holy Eucharist was delivered by the Rev. Father Ginaty. On the morning of Good Friday the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified was celebrated at nine o'clock by the Bishop, the assistant priests being the Vicar-General and the Rev. Fathers O'Donnell and Tracey. On Good Friday also the Bishop preached an impressive sermon on ■' The Passion of our Lord," and in the evening the Rev. Father Foley of Lincoln preached on the same subject. On Holy Saturday the solemn liturgies enjoined by the Church were performed with the utmost solemnity. On Easter Sunday the sacred edifice was crowded -with worshippers from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pontifical High Mass was sung by the Bishop, and at the end of the august rite he fervently wished all those present, in the name of the Catholic Church, a happy Easter. On the occasion Gounod's " Messe Solemnelle " was well rendered with a full choir. The soprano solos were fully sustained by Miss Hayward and Mrs. J. P. Kelly, and the bass were well executed by Messrs Cunningham and Hayward. Mr. C. Read sang the tenor solos, also those in the " Sanctus" in a very nice manner, and the choruses were sung with precision and were evenly balanced. A well-rendered item both as to the singing and the playing was Mascheroni's '• Aye Maria," which was rendered by Mrs. E. T. Robinson, with a violin obligato by Miss Freda Marsden. Miss Funston presided at the organ, and the conductor was Mr. George Cronin. At Pontifical Vespers in the evening Mrs. Robinson gave a charming rendering of Gounod's '• There is a green hill far away." and the choir sang a beautiful "O Salutaris" by Haydn. Mr. C. Read (bass) and Mr. D. Roche (tenor) executed in a powerful manner Rossi's "Tantum Ergo." There was a very large congregation present, and after Vespers the bishop preacheda splendid sermon on the " Resurrection." The sacred edifice was beautifully embellished for the august solemnities of the day with festoons, evergreens, flags and banners, and much praise it. due to Messrs Petersen Bros, for the active and able part which they took in these decorations.

At 7 and 9.30. a.m. on Easter Sunday Masses were celebrated by the Rev. Fathers Malone and Marnane. At 11 a.m. High Ma-s was celebrated with all the ritual. Th>> "Gloria"' from Mozart's first Mass and Weber's Mass in G. were finely sung by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. H. Ros^iter, with full orchestral and organ accompaniment. Mrs. W. Cronin was organist. The principal solos were artistically taken by Mibs Moir and Miss Lucy Ryan. Misses Maud Hewson and Oaks (alto). Mr. A. H. Blake (tenor) and Messrs W. A. Inkson and L. Blake (bash) also sang tolos. During the offertory Miss Moir sang Gounod"s '■ Aye Maria " with violin obligato by Mr. E. J. Painter. There was a large congregation present, and the Rev. Father Marnane preached an impressive sermon on the " Resurrection." The high altar was beautifully decorated with ferns and chrysanthemums, and the side altars were nicely adorned by the ladies of the Altar Society. In the evening there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and a sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Malone. Mi.ss Lucy Ryan gave the *■ Aye Maria " from Cavalleria Rusticana in a very pleasing manner.