DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 14, 7 April 1904, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) April 4. The Rev Fathers Roney, S J , and Madden were recent visitors at the episcopal residence. The two beautifully sculptured figures of angels suppoiting the great stone cross, surmounting the facade of the new Cathedral, arc now m position and present a st nking appearance Some Aery beautiful and costly lace for the high altar has been given by Miss White and was used on Eastei Sunday in the Pro-Cathedral. This is but one of many similar ac ts of generosity on this lady's part. \t the last meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education a list of the Catholic schools to be visited anid examined was received from the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V G., and submitted to the inspectors to make the necessary arrangements. Ali Hhe des'iie of the English selection committee and with the sanction and approval of Mr M. O'Brien, which was sent by cable, his son, Dr. Arthur O'Brien is, if no imforseen circumstances sihould arise, certain to be included in the British football team Avhich is to visit tihe colonies during this season. Every effort was made to have Dr. McEvedy, his college companion, also

included in the team, but these have proved unaw ailing. At the Pro-Cathedral on Easter Sunday Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, the Very Rev. Vicar-General assistant priest, Rev. Fathers Mahony and O'Connell deacon, and subdeacon respectively. The Bishop preached briefly on the Gospel of frhe day, and afterwards imjparted the Papal blessing. The music was G-ounod's ' Mesee Splennelle.' Mr. H. H. Loughnan conducted and Miss Katie Young was at the organ. The soloists were Mrs. A. Mead, Miss Pender, Messrs. Loughnan and J. R. Hayward. At Uie Offeil/ory Mrs. Mead sang a charming ' Aye Maria.' The church was most effectively decorated, palms, ferns, wreaths, and festoons of greenery being used to the best advantage, whilst banners, bannerets, Shields, etc., judiciously distributed, lent additional charm. The tastefiul adornment of the church, sanctuary, high and side altars, was due to Miss White and assistants and ladies of the Altar Society. In the evening the church was crowded to excess for Solemn Pontifical Vespers. The Bishop preached on tihe ' Resurrection,' and afterwards officiated at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. After t)he sermon Miss Pender sang Cherubini's ' Aye Maria.'

On last Monday evening in St. Mary's School Hall, Manchester street, the choir of St. Mary's Church, conducted by Mr. W. H. Corrigan, and as&istod by a Urge number of vacalists and instrumentalists, gave probably the finest performance of Rossini's ' Stabat Mater ' yet heard in this city. The orcliestia w.is \rry complete and comprised the best talent procurable. The production of the ' Staibat Mater ' was preceded by a sacred concert. The following was the programme — Chiorus, ' Gloria ' (Mozart), First Movement, 12th Mass; duet, ' A,Ve Maria ' (Ricci), Mrs. C. M. Brooke and Miss Wood , song, ' Man of Sorrows ' (Adams), Rev. Father S. Mahony ; song, ' The heavenly song ' (Gray), Miss McLtaughlin ; song, ' The light of the World ' (Glover), Mrs. Pratt ; song, 'In the cathedral ' (De Chataett'), Mr Ohas. Read ; song, ' O Divine Redeemer ' (GouiniQd), Miss Hamnsnrann ; Intermezzo (Mascagni), Mrs. F. O'Brien ; song, ' Nazareth ' (Gounod), Mr E. McNamjaja. The accompanists were Miss Katie Young and Mr. G. R. Fleming. The parts in the ' Stabat Mater ' were allotted as follows : — Chorus and quartet, ' Stabat Mater Dolorosa, 1 Misses L. Cameron, N. Slattery, Messrs. A. H. Blake, and E. McNamara ; air, ' C,u jus Animam,' Mr. Chas. Read ; tfuet, ' Quis est Homo,' Mxs. C. M. Brooke and Miss L. Cameron ; air, ' Pro Peccatis,' Mr. C Goggin ; chorus and recitative, ' Eia Mater,' Mr. J. Hynes ; quartet, ' Sancta Mater,' Misses F Gardiner, L. Cazneron, Messrs 11. Schwartz an 4E. McNamara ; cavatina, ' Fac ut Portem,' Miss L Cameron*; air and chorus, ' Inflammatus, 1 Mrs C j\l Brooke , quartet, ' Quando Corpus,' Misses L. Cameion, N. Slattory, Messrs. H Schwartz and E McNamara , chorus, ' In Sem'piterna Saecula.'

The ceremonies of Holy 'TVeek which commenced in the Pro-Cathedral on Wednesday night were attended by nearly tihe whole of the clergy of Canterhui y, nil taking part each evening in the solemn office of Tenebrae At nine o'clock on Holy Thursday t.hcro v, as Pontifical Hiph Mass Tlis Lordship the Bishop w c is celebrant, the Very Rev Vicar-General a-ssistanl pncsl, the Very Rev. Deans Foley and O'Donnell deacons at the throne, Rev Fathers Tubrnan and Price deacon and subdeaoon respectively of the Mass 1 In the evening a sermon o\n the Blessed Bucharest was preached hy Ihe Very Rev. Vicar-General. Watches were kept throughout the night before the altar of repose by the men of the congregation, members of the Hibernian Society, Catholic Club and. confraternities. On Good Friday morning there was Adoration of the Cross, singing of the Passion, and Mass of the Presanctified The deacons of tihe Passion were the Very Rev Dean Bowers, Rev Fat/hers Richards and MaJhony , deacons at the throne, Very Rev. Dean Foley an>d Very Rev Father Ginaty , deacon and subdeacon of the Mass, Rev Fathers Price and Hyland ; master of ceremonies, Rev Father O'Co'nnell There was the usual collection for Ihe holy places in Palestine. In the afternoon ihere we-re Stations of the Cross and veneration of a relic of the true cross. After Tenehrae in the evening a sermon on the ' Passion ' was pi cached by the Rev Father Mahonv. Very large congregations were the ofder of the day On Saturday morning there was Pontifical High Mass, celebrated hy his Lordship the Bishop the Very Rev. Vicar-General was assistant priest, Rev. Fathers Maliony and Coonev deacon and sub-deacon respectively, and Rev. Father Richards cantor.