ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 14, 6 April 1899, Page 4

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent),

• March ISI. The performance of Rossini's ' Stabat Mat^r ' by St. Mary of the Angels' choir on Sunday evening was a very creditable one. The church was crowded, and many had to be content with standing room. The work was given in its entirety, the soloists being Mrs. F. J. Oakes. Miss Amy Ross, Messrs. Mozar ami Law. Mrs. Oakos gave a fine rendering of the principal soprano solo, the ' Inflammatus.' Miss Amy Ross sang tho contralto solos correctly and with devotion. ' Cujus animarn,' one of the finest numbers of the work, was sung by Mr. Mozar in a finished nvmner. Mr. Laws, on whom fell the heavy bass solos, was also very successful. The choruses were creditably performed undtr the able conductorship of Mr. F. J. Oakes. The Rev. Father Ainsworth congratulated the conductor and choir on the success achieved, and expressed the hope that at some not far distant date tho work might be repeated. As an Offertory, Herr Lehman, leader of the orchestra, played a violin solo, RafFa ' Cavatina in A.' After the concert, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given by the Yen. Arclide -con Devoy, S.M., V.G., assisted by the Rev. Father Kimbell and Rev. Father Maloney. The music was exceptionally good, and comprised Newsham's ' O Salutaris ' as a chorus, unaccompanied, and Oakes' ' Tantum Ergo,' and ' Adorernus." The • Hallelujah ' chorus from the ' Messiah ' was played at the conclusion of th- service

On Saturday his Grace the Archbishop visit a d Stratford for the purpose of blessing the convent recently erected there. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Power, and a sermon on the feast of the day — the Annunciation — was preached by his Grace. At the blessing of the convent his Grace congratulated the Catholics of the district on the generous manner in which they had always responded when asked to provide funds for church purposes. He hoped and prayed that God would bless their work anil lhat the ■work done by the scholars in the convent would give satisfaction to all concerned. Before the Benediction, Mr. W. (i. Malone, on behalf of the parishioners, read an address of wt Iconic, congratulating him on the occurrence of his silver jubilee. The address also contained reference to the growth of the district, and urged the necessity for appointing a parish priest at Stratford. His Grace expressed himself greatly pleased with the good work done by the people of the town, but asked them to have patience a little longer, and as soon as a priest was available their wants would be attended to.

On Palm Sunday the foundation-stone of a church at Inglewood was laid by his Grace the Archbishcp. In the evening he was presented with an address from the Catholics of New Plymouth. In reply, his Grace thanked them for their kindness, and said he was very grateful for their very touching address. They 1 had congratulated him on the progri fs of religious mutters in the district, but it was due less to his own zeal tliun b> the zeal and v devotedness of their clergy, and in tins connection no better example could be cited than that of their reacted parish priest, tho Very Rev. Dean McKenna.

A retrett wa« preached, during the week, to the students of St. Patrick's College by the Very Rev. Father Lewis S.M., administrator of Thorndon Parish. It was opened on Monday with the Roeary, Sermon and Benediction, and continued on Tuesday, closing with Mass on Wednesday, at which all the boys received Holy Communion irom his Grace the Archbishop. Despite the many demands which his parochial work entails, Father Lewis displayed a zeal on behalf of the students which they highly appreciated.

Owing to there being no cathedral at present in Wellington, his Grace conducted the Holy Week services in St. Joseph's Church. The office of Tetiebrce was commenctd on Wednesday, when the Rev. Father O'Shea delivered an impressive sermon on confession. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by thy Archbishop on Thursday morning. He was assisted by the Rev. Father Hills as deacon, and and Rev. Father Kimbell, sub-deacon. After Mass the Blessed Sacrament was conveyed to the Altar oi" Repo&e. In the evening the Rev. Father Ainsworth preached a fine sermon on the institution of the Blessed Sacrament. He treated his subject from the standpoints of Scripture, tradition and reason. The accommodation which the large church provides was altogether inadequate for the enormous congregation at Mass of the Pre-Sanctified on Good Friday. Prior to the Adoration of the Cross, his Grace delivered an instruction on the thoughts with which the minds of the congregation should be filled, when approaching the altar. At the Mass, the Passion was sung by the Rev. Fathers Mahoney (narrator), Hills (the rabble), and Ainsworth (Christ). The church was again filled at the Stations of the Cross in the afternoon and at the office of Tencbrcc in the evening when the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy preached on the Crucifixion.

It is worthy of note that Thursday last was the first occasion on which his Grace Archbishop Redwood has blessed the Holy Oils out of his own cathedral.

A meeting was held on Saturday last, when it was decided to form a tennis club, in connection with St. Marys' Convent ' Old Pupils" Association. Mrs, T, G. McCarthy was elected president, and Miss OConnor, secretary.

The Mother Superioress of St. Mary's Convent is spending her Easter holidays at the branch house, in Blenheim,