DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 22 December 1904, Page 19

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

December 19. The Rev. Father O'Brien, C.SS.R., Is to commence a mis&icxn at Halswell to-day (Monday). A mistsiidn is to to commenced at Akaroa on Christmas Day, probably by the Rev. Father Stack, C.SS.R.

Liaist week; a large number of the police and detective forces" met at the police station to say gpoil-'bye to Sergeant P. Ryan, who has been transferred to Dunedin. Sergelamt Bipurlke presided, amd on bahalf of his aomrafles presented to Sergeant Ryan a gladstone bag and an ,umbrell!a, both bearing silver plates inscribed witih a message of esiteem and farewell, arid a gold and emerald Mooch for Mrs. Rya-n. Sergieant Bourke g&ve expression to the regret felt by members of the force in artd around the city at their having lost a valued comrade and a trusted friend, and assuroJ their guest of their sincere wishes for his prosperity ki his new district. Sergeant Ryajn thankeld his colleagues £or their presents and their goad wishes, Speaking of his owtn regret at haviing to leave a district with which very mlany 'haip,py memories were associated.

D,uring the course of his address at 1 the Sacred Heart High Soho-ol prize distribution Bishop Grimes spoke as follows on the Bible-in-schools agitation : There had been siome remarks made recently with regard to ihe Bible-ip-schools, and it had been s-aid— ' Look at the Catholics. What they are doing is the thin edge of the wedge.' He denied this, and he asked why 'did not tihbse wlhfo maide the statement do what the Catholics were doing, and make the sacrifices they were making in the interest of their children. They gave them an dduaation whidh not only fitted them for any position they migjht be called upon to ocoupy in this world, b;ut also fitted them for the next. Catholics put their halntds in their pockets and paid for w<hat other 'parents 3ihould give tiheir children, not what they relied instead upon the State to give them. It was also made a cry that Catholics had «o love for the Bible. Why, it was due to the Catholic mon>ks of the middle ages that they had the Bible. They had spent years in translating and transcribing the manuscripts, suoh as were to be see/nip.n ip. the British Museum 'and elsewhere. r flhey as Catholics loved and reverenced the Bible, and regarded it aa a divinely inspired book, and tiiere was nothing in the statements which had been made to the contrary.

The greatest interest has been maintained thPowghQut the week in the mission at the Pro-Cathedral by the Redemiptorist Fathers. On Wednesday evening the service was especially in honor of the Blessed Sacrametnt,, whem tihe Rev. Father O'Brien preached a fine discourse on the Real Presence. On Sunday evening the missiion was solemnly closed, whe!n prvobably one of the largest Qangregatians ever gathered withih the walls of the church assembled. On the text, ' What sQi'all I reader u,nt<o the Lord for all He hath rendered unto me,' the Rev. Father O'Brien discoursed impressively a-nd in a maiuner as to leave a lasting remembrance on all ,present. A wondrous spectacle via,s presented when, with lighted candles, the vast concourse renewed their baptismal vows. After imparting the Papal blessing, the preadher feelingly referred to the extreme kintdness anji assistance extended towards tihe missi'dners by his LJotfd&hip the Biabop, the Very Rev. Vicar-General, and the clergy of the parish. His Lordship the Bishop eJtpress^d the deep debt of gratitude they were l Under after Almighty God to the apostoliC sions of St. APpMonsius LiguiOiTi for the time of sluch a'bMridant grace.