DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 11 May 1899, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) May 8. At a meeting last week of the Anglican Cathedral Completion Committee the chairman, Bishop Julius, in addressing the meeting, said that the executive had been pat to shuttle by their Roman Catholic brethren, having in mind presumably the splendid result of the re-ent appeal in the l'ro-Cathtdral for subscriptions towards the erection or the new cathedral. Considering the number of well-to-do members of the Anglican community, and the rich and profitable endowments at their disposal, together with their comparative fieedom irom the lncreusiuir deuiai us fur educational and church extension purpo es, -which iheir numerically weaker nnrt financially poorer Catholic neighbours ehteilully comply with, the sum total of their tfforts lor the object advocated by their Bishop is distinctly disappointing. The Very Rev. Father Le jtfenant de Chesnais, Vicar-General, was in Leeston on Sunday lust establishing the confraternity of the Children of Mary. On the return of his Lordship the Bishop from the West Coabt he will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the ProCathedral, for which preparation is now beinsr made. On Sunday last, as is customary on the first Sunday of the month, there was exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament from High Mass in the Pro-Cathedral till Vespers. At Vespers the Rev. Father Crotty preached a very fine discourse on the Blessed Sacrament to a crowded congregation, after which the usual procession took place, joined in by the various confraternities. With characteristic enterprise the Catholics of St. Mary's have ■well in hand elaborate preparations for the carnival which is to be opened by his Worship the Mayor in the Opera House on Monday next, the 13th inst., to provide fund? towards liquidating the debt existing on the parish. The committee have styled the event the 'Early History Carnival,' in anticipation of the jubilee festivities which will be in progress next year in celebration of Canterbury's first half century, dating, of course, from the arrival of the first of four now historical ships conveying the pilgrims of the province. It may be noted, however, that, according to Brett's Early History of the Catholic Church in JS'ew Zealand, two other pilgrims, not as pioneers of civilisation only but as those of love and duty, in the persons of the saintly Bishop Pompallier and his no less devoted companion, the late Very Rev. Father O"Reily of loving and revered memory, set foot as early as the year 1844 in Canterbury. This was the first known visit of a priest to the province. The month of May at the Marist Brothers' School was opened on the Ist inst. in a very devotional manner. The Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., delivered a short but instructive and interesting address. The instructions last week were given by the Rev. Brother Mark, M.A., who is now on a periodical visitation to the various communities throughout the Colony. The Rev. Brother is director of the Marist Brothers' School, Wellington, and has, by his many years of zealous labour, won the love and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.