DIOCESE OF CHRISTOHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5, 1 February 1900, Page 6

DIOCESE OF CHRISTOHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

January 20.

By the Talune for Melbourne, on Friday, seven Sisters of Our Lady of M'ssions left < n route for Perth, Western Australia, to found a house of tho Order, the second in that colony.

The high schools of the Sisters of the Missions, Barbadoea street, and of the Sisters of Mercy. Colombo street, re-open to-day (Monday) after the Christmas vacation, and the parochial schools in the several centres re-open to-morrow.

At the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Barbadoe.s street, seven aspirants received the holy habit of the Religious of Our Lady of Missions on Saturday, the 20th, at the termination of the retreat : and on Monday, the 22nd, eleven candidates made their profession. The ceremonies were presided over by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., there being present also the ReV. Fathers Aubry, Marnane, Crotty. and Richards.

Prefacing his sermon at High Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday, his Lord«hin the Bishop referred to the advent of the notorious Mattery* to this CoLmy, and of the;r possible visit to this city. He gave some very wholesome advice to Catholics as to the attitude they should observe towaids the unhappy pair, and paid a most generous tribute to the X.Z. T^hlet authorities for the timely and scathing exposure of the wretched adventurers and their nefarious practices. He urged his hearers to possess themselves of copies of the Tablet and other literature which would inform them on the matter, and to make good use of it.

There was a large attendance at the ordinary meeting of the St. Patrick's Branch (No. S2) H.A.C.B. Society held on last Monday evening, the chair being occupied by Bro. J. McCormick (president). The proposal to employ a paid organiser created a considerable amount of discussion, it being ultimately decided to hold a special meeting on Friday evening to further consider the matter, and also the busine-'h sheet of the District annual meeting, to be held in Auckland at the end of next month. An adjournment was male during th^ evening to present a P.P. collar to Bro. G. E. Dobbs. The presentation was made by the president, supported by several of the members, all of whom spoke in the highest terms of the recipient.

(>n Sunday, at all the Masses and Vespers in the Pro-Cathedral, a collection was made in aid of the Patriotic Fund. His Lordship the Bihhop celebrated the seven o'clock Mass, and briefly alluded to the object of the day's collections. At the 0.-50 o'clock Mass the celebrant, the Very Rev. Vicar-General, urged a generous response on the part of the congregation, remarking that whatever individual opinions may be held about this, or in tact, any war, which entailed a vast sacrifice of human life, with a consequent increasing number of widows and orphans, everyone must admire the s u lf-imposed hardship, courage, and devotion of those, from amongst us, who, in the bloom of their manhood, had risked their lives in defence of the interests of their Motherland. At the High Mass, celebrated by the Rev. Father Galenic S.M., his Lordship the Bishop preached. In the evening- th^re were Pontifical Vespers at which his Lordship the Bishop officiated, beintr assisted by the Very Vev. Dean Foley, S.M., as deacon, the V< ry Rev. Dean C.irew, S M , sub-deacon, Very Rev. F.ithei Le Menantdes Cnesiitiis, assit>tj,nt-prk'-<t, Rev. Fathers Bowers and Richards, masters of ceremonies, and the Rev. Father Galerne, S.M., who sang the response. Au impressive discour.se, on a text *elpcti d :rom the Epistle of the dny, was delivered by the Very Rev. Father M -Euroe, CM., to a crowded congregation. After the sermon the Bishop imparted the Episcopal blessing, and gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

(Dioraan X< ir.\ eontinvttl on page 19.)