DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 21, 22 May 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

May 19

At Vespers in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday Mr R Beveridge gave a fine rendering of the polo 'Thou art passing hi nee,' Miss Funston presiding at the organ.

Refering to subjects worthy of the prayers of the congregation the Very Rev. Dean r^oley, speaking in the Pro-(Jathedrai on Sunday. mentioned the dreadful disaster at Martinique, an 1 the late Archbishops Corrigan and Eyre, of New York and Glasgow respectively both of whom during life ruled their d oases wi-ely and well.

Mr Pender came to Chrstohurch at th<> end ot the week, and to-day (Monday) he is to be presented with a silver casket containing, it is expected, ab r mt 250 sovereigns by his friends of Canterbury in recognition of his 40 years of unblemished service in the Colony, many of which were spent in this province. The Hon. CO. Bowen, M L.C., is to make the presentation, and the Mayor presides at the gathering of subscribers which is to take place at the City Council Chambers.

At the half-past nine o'clock Mass in the Pro-Pathedral on Sunday about 50 girls and 40 boys made their First Communion. The Very Rev. Dean Foley was celebrant of the Mass, The girls were appropriately attired in white, with veils and wreaths, and were in charge of their teachers, the Sisters of the Mission. The boys wore white sashes, and were under the direction of the Marist Brothers. After Mass the children were entertained at breakfast. laid in the boys' schoolroom, and were visited during their repasi by the Bishop and clergy. Members of the congregation provided the necessaries, and the duties of preparing and arranging the breakfast and waiting on the young people were, with their usual kindliness in church matters, undertaken by Mrs Scratz, Miss Rose White, and Misses Kearney (2).

On Sunday last, the Feast of Pentecost, Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in the Pro-Cathedral at 11 o'clock by his Lordship the Bishop. The Very Rev Dean Foley was deacon, Rev. Father McDonnell sub-deacon, and Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., assistant priest. The music was Beethoven's Ma*s in C, the ' Veni Creator ' being sung at the Offertory. There were Pontifical Vespers in the evening, at which the Bishop officiated, the assistant clergy being the same as in the morning. The Very Rev. Dean Foley preached on the ' Holy Spirit, 1 and just prior to the Benediotion of the Blessed Sacrament the children, who in the morning made their First Communion, renewed their baptismal vows and were consecrated to our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph, a ceremony which was strikingly impressive, the demeanor of the children being most edifying. The Acts or Consecration were recited by two little girls in a clear and intelligent manner.

The Catholic community heard with feelings of great regret that the Rev. Father Galerne bad left on a short noticefor distant Fiji, a diocese for which, I understand, he vas educated and ordained to the priesthood. Father Galerne was one of the first students ordained at Meanee Seminary, ar:d almost immediately after h>s ordinatim was appointed to Reel ton, and subsequently to the Pro-Cathedral. Chiwtchurcb. F.om here he went to Fiji to enter upon a missionary career, one al way 4 dear to his heart, but unfortunately his pomewhat dihcate constitution could not stand the climate and be was obliged to rrtutn to New Zealand, taking up the d~u<y o." a- -Maii t pri^t at Trniuki \ ;\^r on he was atrain appointed to ihe Pro Cathedr.d parit-h, whole, as in all other places he lias b. en hudiouoi, he has labored diligently avd well. Aa chaplain at the h< spital and other institutions, work in which he took an espi cial delight, his genial presence and kindly ministrations will be sadly nnsred. Whilst kc nly feeling his severance from us we sincerely hope health and strength will be vouchsafed him so that for many years he may be enabled to exercise hiseacred ministry among the natives of the isles of the'southern seas.