Diocese of Chrjstchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 3, 14 May 1897, Page 27

Diocese of Chrjstchurch.

(From our own correspondent.)

At the request of his Worship the Mayor, a subscription list in aid of the Hawke's Bay Relief Fund was placed, by consent of the church officials, at the door of the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday. By notification from the pulpit, attention was directed to the list and the various congregations uiged to respond to ihe appeal as generously as their individual means permitted. The Rev. Father Marnane. S.M.. rector of St. Mary's, Manchester street, left in company with the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes for Sydney on a brief holiday. During his absence the Rev. Father Tubman, S.M., is to assist in the parochial duties.

It is pleasing to note the enthusiastic references made by the local daily papers to the valedictory functions arranged in connection with the departure of his Lordship the Bishop. The unanimous expression of goodwill towards his Lordship, and appreciative comment on his labours during his sojourn in the diocese as chief pastor of the Church, with a graceful allusion to his sympathy and assistance towards every movement having for its object the public well-being, is, indeed, well-timed and distinctly creditable. It must be extremely gratifying, not only to his Lordship and his devoted clergy, but also to the Catholic population, that in a career of comparatively short duration he should receive such cordial public recognition as that witnessed during the past few days, when men of every attainment and professed belief vied with one another in extending honour to him and sympathy to the cause he represents. The population throughout the diocese will receive with pleasurable satisfaction the intimation contained in his Lordship the Bishop's most recent pastoral letter, that the Redemptorist Fathers who, nearly four years ago, gave missions here, intend commencing at Advent another series. The fruits of their labours both here and elsewhere are abundantly apparent and undoubtedly the results of their forthcoming ministrations will be equally manifest. The Rev. Father Aubrey, S.M., formerly of St. Patrick's College, Blenheim, and more recently, Waimate, has been appointed to fill the vacancy of Rangiora caused by the lamented death of the Very Rev. Father O'Connor. In the report of the valedictory conversazione to the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes in the last issue of the Tablet, the amounts mentioned by his Lordship in his address as having been contributed for the construction of churches, schools, charitable institutions, etc., and their maintenance in the diocese of Christchurch, the fact was inadvertently omitted that it was for a period of less than ten years.