Diocese of Christchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 10 December 1897, Page 19

Diocese of Christchurch.

(From our own correspondent.)

In the psrson of the late Mr. Bartholomew Taaffe, who died at his late residence, Wilson's Road, Opawa, on the 2."> th of October last, an old and well-known identity has passed away at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Taaffe, whose father is interred in the Abbey of Boyle, was born in the town of Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland, and was a cousin of Count Taaffe of Austria. The deceased arrived in Canterbury about twenty-eight years ago in the ship Blue Jacket, commanded by Captain White. Ever since his advent into this province he has been engaged in a number of avocations, which required the skill, foresight and practical good sense for which he was so remarkable. For several years he was the manager for the late Mr. William Wilson, nurseyman, at the White Rock Quarry, which the latter gentleman worked at Lowburn, North Canterbury. Afterwards, in company with his son, the late Mr. James Taaffe, who was the first president of the local branch of the H.A.8.C.5., he carried on a monumental works in this city. Mr. Taaffe has also superinteded the erection of several public buildings and other constructions as clerk of works and was engaged in this connection with the erection of the last addition to the Supreme Courthouse in Christchurch. He has also owned a farm, and of late years has done a large amount of business as a land agent. In this capacity he some time ago purchased an estate near the White Rock quarry at Lowburn for the late Dr. Prins. Mr. Taaffe, who was likewise admired for his macy amiable qualities, leaves to mourn his loss a wife, four married daughters and a large number of grand and great grand children. His widow, Mrs. Taaffe, is also a native of the North of Ireland, and has attained to the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. This venerable lady, who lives in Wilson's Road, Opawa, with her daughter, Mrs. M'Gilligan, relict of the late Mr. James M'Gilligan, unfortunately met, about 18 months ago, •with a serious accident, which has confined her to her bed ever since. But notwithstanding her great age and her other infirmities all her mental faculties remain unimpaired. Mr. Taaffe's other children are Mrs. Dobson, Mrs. Hopkins, and Mrs. Powell. The deceased was only for a little time before his. death in a delicate state of health. In his last illness he was attended by the Vicar-General, also by the Rev. Father Galerne, from whom he receiver! all the List rites ol holy Church. On the day of his iuneral, which was a large one, his remains were brought to the Pro-Cathedral, where the Rev. Father Galerne, who also officiated at the grave, said a Jlnjuu m Mass for the repose of his soul. Deceased \\a-> interred in the Linwood public cemetery. — 11. 1. P. In a letter dated 30th October last the London correspondent of a local paper sends the following new sof our Bishop :—": — " The Right Rev. Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch, New Zealand, is still sojourning in Ireland as the guest of the Manst Brothers at Leeson street, Dublin. He recently preached in the church ot St. Andrew, Westland Row. Dublin, lie delivered an eloquent and interesting sermon dealing with the history of the Ttoman Catholic Church in New Zealand. Bishop Griineb said that he came to speak to them of a people who were dear to him as his own life, because some of them had been confided to his charge by the Sovereign Pontiff. One hundred years ago New Zealand was a wilderness. It was ia.r and fertile and hea.thy it was true, but still it was a wilderness unknown to civilisation ; its inhabitants were wild savages, they were unceasingly at war with each other, and in the constant practice of deeds of cannibalism and other barbarous customs. " The se," continued the Bishop, r were the kind of people to whom the first missionaries went to preach the Gospel sixty years ago. The Church of England and some other sects- were before the Catholic Church in the field. It was not for him to judge their motives, but he had heard some of the natives say that some of the We-sleyans used to point to heaven with one hand and grab the poor natives' land with the other. A devoted band of Marist Fathers were the first Catholic missionaries. A band of devoted secular priests came atterwauls. and most devotedly helped in the evangelisation of this interesting colony. Sixty years ago in all New Zealand there was not a Catholic * chapel nor a resident priest. To-day, thanks be to God, there was ''one archbishop, three bishops, 10 i priests, between four and five hundred devoted Sisters, and a population of over K)0,0(>0 Catholics. In conclusion, appealing to his hearers for aid, Bishop Grime-i said when he became Bishop of the diocese he had financial diiliculties to contend with, but by dint of the strictest economy and very careful management they had lessened some of the most galling of the debts connected with the mission. They had one great difficulty, the school difficulty, which was far greater with them than it was in England and Scotland. They had to build their own schools to equip them and support them, and they did not get the lea^l recognition from the State, though they had at the same time to sup^ port the State schools which were scattered broadcast throughout

the land. Thousands of his flock were descendants of Irish emigrants, and it was in their name that he confidently appealed to them to help him in the great work of saving souls, to help him to bring priests to that far-away land, and to build temples more worthy of the Most High. His own Pro-Cathedral was a wooden structure erected fifty years ago, at the beginning of the mission. It now showed signs of approaching decay, and yet every Sunday it was crowded. During the past week the children's mission, conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers from Ballarat — Fathers Hegarty, Mangan and Bingham — has been in full progress at the Pro-Cathedral. Over one thousand children have attended the services. The words of the devoted missionaries who have addressed the juveniles seemed to send a thrill of delight and devotion into the minds of their youthful listeners. Indeed the children's mission has been a thorough success, and a very happy result is reasonably expected. The mission was brought to a close on Sunday afternoon last by a very large and affecting procession around the convent grounds. Appropriate banners were carried by the children, suitable hymns were sung, and a congregation of 3,000 people followed the children. The missionary Fathers, with the Vicar-General, and the local clergy, conducted the procession which was followed by the renewal of baptismal vows and the Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At the !) a.m. Mass, 150 boys and girls made their First Communion. The girls with their white dresses and wreaths and the boys with their white sashes and red rosettes, made an effective picture as they approached the altar. The Vicar-General said the Mass and gave Holy Communion to the children. After Mass the children were conducted to the Marist Brothers' Schoolroom, where they were served with an excellent breakfast by the ladies of the Altar Society. Special credit is due to Mesdames Stratz, Morkane, and the Misses Morkane. Kearney and other ladies for their services on the occasion. The Vicar-General, supported by Sir George and Lady Clifford, presided. Sir George Clifford, after breakfast, addressed a few very appropriate words to the children, saying that the scene touched him deeply and reminded him of his early days. To his mind nothing was so beautiful as the First Communion day of a Catholic child. He believed that if they lived up to the tenets that their faith taught them, and frequently received the treasure that morning first bestowed upon them, their career in life and in eternity would be a glorious one. There was one secret for the realisation of this, and it could be attained by the youngest child present ; that secret was good example. He congratulated them on the happy event of the day, and said that he trusted the Catholic manhood and womanhood of this Colony would give glory to God and promote the interest of the Catholic Church of New Zealand. The Vicar-General thanked Sir George Clifford, as the principal lay representative of the Catholic Church of the diocese, and also Lady Clifford, for their presence. At 1 1 a.m. there was a large congregation, and Solemn High Mass was sung for the first time by the Rev. John Aloysius O'Connell, S M , who was ordained by his Grace Archbishop Redwood on the feast of St. Andrew, November 30, at Meanee, Hawke's Bay. The deacon and subdeacon were respectively Fathers Galerne and Rafferty. and the assistant priest was the Vicar-General. The Rev. Father Bim>ham, CSS It., preached an eloquent sermon on the dignity of the priesthood. After Mass, according to Catholic custom, a large number of the congregation presented themselves to receive the bit-suing of the newly-ordained priest. In the evening the Pro-Cathedral was crowded to its utmost capacity, men ha-\ ing to be accommodated even in the sanctuary. Father Hegarty, C. Ste.lt . preached a practical sermon on the importance of salvation, taking for his text : " What shall it profit a man if lie gain the whole world and lose his own soul ? " (Matt, xvi., 2G.) The sermon, which was listened to with rapt attention, was followed by the lienediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The mission, which will be for the adults, will be continued at the I'ro-Cathedral for the next three weeks and will be concluded on Christmas Day. Last week the Rev. Father Barry, C.SS.R.. conducted a spiritual retreat tor the nuns at Mount Magdala. On Monday last Father Bingham began a retreat of eight days for the penitents.