DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 4, 28 January 1904, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) January 25. The Rev. Fathers Mangan and Murray, C.SS.R., are on the West Uoast conducting retreats. The Very Rev Father O'Farrell, C.SS.R., has left for the north. At the Sacred Heart Monastery, Barbadoes street, on Tuesday last seven novices received the holy habit in the Order of Our Lady of Missions. His Lordship the Bishop preached and conducted the ceremony. A large number of the clergy were also present. The following changes among the diocesan clergy will be given effect to immediately : The Rev. Father G-al-laisigoes to Reefton from St. Mary's, Manchester street, the Rev. Father S. Mahony from Hokitika to the cathedral ; Rev. Father Aubry from Waimate to Hokitika , and Rev. Father O'Connor to Waimate. The other recently ordained young priests, Fathers Graham and Vcnning, join the college teaching staff. The Rev. D. O'Hallahan, pastor of Kumara, has obtained twelve months' leave of absence and intends leaving at an early date on an extensive tour through America and Europe, including a sojourn in Ireland. The Rev. Father has spent twenty years without a break on the mission in New Zealand, the greater part in Westland, laboring zealously and with marked success. His holiday is well deserved, and the hope will be widely expressed that he will return in renewed health and vigor to engage in his sacred calling for many years to come. The Rev. A. McDonnell, who has been temporarily relieving at Kumara during the last few months, will assume charge of the parish until Father O'Hallahan's return. The executive committee of the Christchurch Catholic Club met last week, when, amongst other business transacted, was a decision to apply the rule regulating m regard to members that are unfinancial. One member was elected, and every member of the executna undertook to procure a new member each for the club by the next meeting. The secretary was instructed to write a letter of thanks to Mr. Muller, secretary of the Federated Catholic Societies, for a full report of the recent Conference proceedings, and to the Ashburton Club for the many kindnesses extended to the Christchurch delegates at the Conference held at Ashburton. The delegates (Messrs. J. Shanley and M O'Reilly) were accorded a vote of thanks for the services rendered by them at the Conference. Several members were also heartily thanked for their action in arranging at short notice a suitable entertainment for the Wellington delegates during their stay in this city. The Very Rev. Father Keogh expressed his pleasure at making the acquaintance of the ' old boys.' All the Fathers took the liveliest interest in all who had gone through their course at the college. Regarding the Old Boys' Association, it now numbered 150 active members, who had met three times in the college and twico outside since its formation. He trusted in time to see branches established in different centres, working in their separate sphere but with a federation df interests. The Sunday after Easter was fixed for a general annual meeting, which, as regards place, should be transferable. Such a -Club, composed of ex-students representing many professions, could furnish a valuable advertisement for the college. Notwithstanding the exertion undergone by him to be there that evening, he was very pleased to attend and would come at any time to help them to establish a Club on the lines indicated. A musical programme was carried on at intervals, consisting of— Songs, ' The mandalay ' and ' The warrior "bold,' Mr. F. Evans ; violin solo, Mr. R. Loughnan : sorigs, ' Island ol dreams ' and ' Anchored,' Mr, J. R. Hayward ; • The song that will live for ever,' "*4

?^ J ' Stanley ; and • Sailing,' Mr. J. Lafferty. Nice light refreshments were also provided. On last Wednesday evening, in the Catholic clubrooms, Barbadoes street, there was a reunion of the exstudents of St. Patrick's College resident in and around Christchurch for the purpose of meeting and entertaining the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., the present Rector, -during his visit to this city. Besides the giuest of the evening, the clergy in attendance were the Rev. Father Regnault (Waimate), Rev. Father Marnane (St. Mary's), Rev. Father May, of Melbourne (a visitor at St. Mary's), Rev. Fathers O'Connell and Graham (both of the latter being ex-students). Among the old boys present were Mr, A. J. Malley (vice-presi-dent of St. Patrick's Old Boys' Association), Messrs. J. R. Hayward, F. O'Brien, P. O'Connor, F. Evans, D. Holland, J. McGee, O'Malley (2), R. Loughnan, and J. LaSerty. Mr. A. J. Malley, in welcoming the Very, Rev. Father Keogh to the gathering, said that all having spent many happy days at the college together, it was natural they should feel desirous of renewing old acquaintances and also seeking new ones. They were thus anxious to meet the Very Rev. Rector, under whose able direction St. Patrick's was doing such a splendid work, to express to him their appreciation of the manner infrwhich he carried out the onerous duties of his position, and to mark their deep sense of the useful time they themselves passed in the early career of the institution. Owing to many being engaged in harvesting and other farming operations, it was very difficult to get a large gathering together, so that apologies were received for non-attendance from many odd pupils in the province. He need not emphasise the fact of the pleasure it gave all to make the acquaintance of the Very Rev. Father Keogh, whom he knew to have put himself about considerably to be present that evening, having travellled all day in a slow train' from the south for the occasion. In conclusion he trusted that gathering would act as a stimulus to the formation of something definite here in regard to a strong branch of the Old Boys' Association.