DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 5, 29 January 1903, Page 20

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent ) January 26. The Sacred Heart Convent High school, of the Sisters of the Mission, and all the parish schools re-open to-day (Monday) alter the Christmas \acation. At the recent univeisity examination Miss Gertrude Smith, pupil of the Sisters of Mercy, Colombo street, passed the medical preliminary examination. The following pupils of the Sacred Heart school, Barbadoes street, taught by the Sisters of the Missions, passed the recent matriculation examination : — Miss Lixzie Brick, Miss Mary Gabriel O'Connor, and Miss Rose Hynes. The many friends of the Sisteis of Our Lady of Missions throughout the Colony will be sorry to learn that the Rev. Mother Theresa. Mother Provincial of the Order, has been for several months in\alided at the local Monastery of the Sacred Heart. Among recent institutions here is a ladies' fire bi igade team, numbering about a dozen members, who have made their appearance in manual exercise at several popular gatherings, establishing a very creditable record There are several such companies in Austiulia, we are told but 1 this is the first, so far as isvk'nown, in this Colony. Speaking in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday the Very Rev. Dean Foley exhorted his hearers to spare no efforts to make the St. Patrick's Day celebration a successful function Apart from the day itself, one which e\eiv patriotic Irish man and woman and those who are of Irish descent should always observe with faith and lo\e, the object of this year's gathering is to aid in the establishment of an institution, one nobler and moie necessary it would be impossible to conceive Addressing the Pro-Cathedral congregation morning and o\cnmg on Sunday last the Very Re\ . Dean Folev earnestly appealed on behalf of the cathedral. Ho referred to the magnificent dimensions externally, already a prominent feature of the city's architecture, nnd also the solid and artistic nature- of the interior work. He stated how much the Bishop depended on the faithful discharge of promised subscriptions to not only continue but complete the noble structure, and also on the generosity of the people in contributing the weekly sum of sixpence, exhorting them to be always prepared for the visit of the collectors, and instanced what splendid results ha\e accrued from the regular and systematic payment of small sums in materially aiding m the erection of the cathedrals in Sydney and Melbourne.

A special meeting of the Christchurch Catholic Club was held on Tuesday evening, when the attention of members was occupied with matters relating to the „, Catholic Magazine,' a quarterly publication issued in Wellington heretofore in the interests of the local Young Men s Association, but now, by resolution passed at the annual conference of the federated Catholic societies, to become the organ of the federation. The Rev. Father McDonnell presided, and after the arranging of a few details, Mr. J. Khaniey was elected to the position of subeditor for the Christchurch centre. The delegates who attended the conference in Wellington expressed themsel\es in most appreciative terms of their visit to the Epn-pir-p City, and the hospitable treatment they received at the hands of the executive there, especially mentioning Messrs Fit/gibbon and McKeowen, who did everything possible to make their stay a particularly enjoyable one. At the close of the retreat in the Monastery of the Sacred Heart, Barbadoes street, nine Sisters were professed religious of Our Lady of Missions, and five others made their perpetual vows, an event which only takes place after a Sister has been 10 years in the Order. The Very Rev. Vicar-General (in the unavoidable absence of his Lordship the Bishop through indisposition) presided, there being also present the Very Rev. Father (Jinaty, Rev. Father McCarthy, CM., Rev. 'Father O'Donnell, Rev. Father McDonnell, and Rev. Father O'Connell Sisters have been sent from the novitiate to reinforce e\c>ry convent of the Order in the Colony. The St. Patrick's Day celebration committee met on last Friday evening. Among those present was the Very Rev. Dean Foley, who explained that owing to indisposition his Lordship the Bishop was unable to attend. Mr W. Hoban presided. The secretary (Mr. E. O'Connor) stated that 4000 tickets nt 1 /- and 2/- had been procured for the concert, and many had already been placed, and that those who required seats reserved could do so ori payment of an additional sixpence. Mr. P. Bourke had again consented to fill the office of treasurer, and the Canterbury Hall has been secured for the celebration. A meeting of the ladies' committee is convened for next Tuesday, and Messrs. E. O'Connor and R. O. Duncan were appointed a delegation to attend same. Mr. M. Malaquin was appointed assistant-secretary, and the following a concert sub-committee : — Messrs. R Hayward A Gundersen, W. H. Corrigan, G. R. Hart, R. Beveridge' 11. O. Duncan, and J. Mac Lean Dunn. An adjournment was then made for a fortnight.