DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 23, 8 June 1899, Page 6

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) June 5. Preparations are bf'ng made for an operatic concert and dram-itic e.,t rtainment to be held on the 2'lih, at which the art unioq in aid of the Pro-Cathedral parish funds will be drawn. The pri7f-, numerous and valuibl.*, are now displayed in St. Aloysius Hall, and may be inspected at any time on application to the Vicargeneral The closing scenes of the recent Early History Carnival in the Opera House were performed on Monday. May 2\). when the goons rcii uning over were, at nnd-dav. submitted for «ale by auction. In the evening a very large audience assembled at an excellent entertainment, contriiiut d to by leading vo.rilists and instrumentalists of the city, the in st popular items, selected from the carnival programme, being also rep> ati d. At the close of the concert the Rev. I' thu- M.irn n<>, imrn the stage, pub. l ly expre-s.-d his thank-fulne-s to all who had helped in the event ju--t terminating so success 'ully. Altho gh tne balance-sheet has not yet been presented the profits of the carnival, ele'ir of all expenses, exceed £500. The art union w;ip drawn at the close of the entcit-iinment. On Thursday last, the Jet-st of Corpus Christi. Masses were celebrated in the Pro-Cathodial at six. seven, and nine o'clock, and in the evening there weie Vespers, sermon, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacr.ui ent. On Sui.d y within the octave of the feast, the paLronal one ot the l'r, - 'a'hidral. the church was tastefully decoKitcd with banner-, Mmn.,^, *cc. the sanctuary, high and side altar-. p:t -mting a t>lc.-iiu aspect v ith a profusion of choice flowers, pot plants and landles, eit'ec'hely airangul. At three o'clock in ihe ai-iiimon a procc -ion, con-i--ting of the various confraternities, the < hi'dren, and member^ of the congregation, took place n the aljuning convent grounds, in which a pretty altar had been ere^ti d. The monstrance was borne by the Very Rev. Vicar-gentral. supported by ihe Rev. Fathers Coffiy and Richards, under a canopy earned by lour Marist Brother-, the whole affording a devout and rnpo-ing- speefaclc. After B. ne-iiction in the open air the pi\ice--u<!i return, d to the church, where Benediction was again given. A •-, rmcn suitable to the occasion was preached by the Very Rev. Vicar -gt neral. The weather was b< autilully fine, in fact, the only really sunshiny day for several weeks.