DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 16, 20 April 1905, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) April 17. In the Cathedral on Palm Sunday his Lordship the Bishop, attended by the Rev. Father O'Connell, presided at the solemn ceremonies. After blessing the palms, his Lordsbip addressed the congregation en the impressive significance of the ceremonial. Lady Plunket and party visited Nazareth House on last Monday afternoon. The visitors were received by his Lordlship Bishop Grimes and Rev. Mother De Pazzl, each lady of the party being presented by the Sisters with a handsome bouquet. An hour was spent in an inspection of the institution and in friendly converse with the aged inmates. Lady Plunket expressed much appreciation of the noble work in which the Sisters of Na<areth are engaged, the air of general comfort and contentment of their charges being an especially notable feature, whilst the provision made for the health and well being of those physically afflicted met with favorable comment. At the usual weekly , meeting of the Cathedral Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, held last Wednesday evening, representatives were present from St. Mary's Conference (Manchester street) and St. Joseph's Conference (Lyttelton). For the principal business) of the meeting — the formation of a Particular Council according to the rules governing the Society — the Very Rev. Vicar-General (spiritual director) presided. The election of officers for the Particular Council resulted as follows :— President, Bro. J. J. Wilson ; \ iec-presddetnt, Bro. G. C. Haywafd ; secretary, Bro. P. A. Young ; treasurer, Bro. J. McAdam. The rule above referred to provides that where two or more Conferences arc duly founded in a district and aggregated to the General Council in Paris., a Particlar Council should be formed, the principal functions of such a body being in the direction of furnishing all the necessary details and assi-tance in connection with the Society's extension. The most elaborate sacred concert under Catholic auspices yet attempted here was that given in the ( horal Hall on last Friday evening by the choir of St. Mary's -Church, Manchester street, assisted by some of our leading vocalists and instrumentalists. The first part of the programme opened with tihe ' Gloria ' from Mo art's Twelfth Mass. Miss M. McLaughlin sang Gounod's* ' A\e Matia ' (with violin obligato by Mr. E. Melitus) \ery effectively. The ' Bendtiictus ' and ' Hosanna in excelsis ' :was from Weber's Mass in G, the quartette consisting of Misses F. Gardner and N. Oafces, Messrs). A. H. Blake and R. Beveridge. Mr. H. E. Melitus played an aria by Call Bohm, and Miss Katie Pine sang ' O rest in the Lord ' (Mendelssohn) acceptably. In the ' Credo ' from Haydn's Imperial Mass the soloist was Miss G. Penlder. The chorus work in the Mass selections was decidedly above the a\erage, whilst an efficient orchestra aided very, materially. The second part of the programme was devoted to Rossini's ' St»abat Mater.' This beautiful work has been twice before produced by tne choir with varying success, the present being the first occasion on which it has been given publicly witjh a capable orchestra. The result of Friday night's performance was eminently successful, and reflectqd credit on the competent and painstaking conductor, Mr. W. H. Corrigan. The principal soloists were Mrs. Gower-Burns, Mrs. Earnest Barber, Mr. Chas. Read, Mr. H. Schwartz, Mr. G. Punchard, and Mr. Chas. Gioggin. Mrs. Gower-Burns, in the lovely ' Inflammatus,' sang exquisitely. Mr. C. Read sang the ' Cujus Aniirnam ' most effectively, and in response to* a recall repeated tihe number. Mrs. Earnest Barber's rtumber was also marked with perfect vocalisation, and the 'Pro Peccatis ' of Mr. C. Goggin secured the plaudits of the audience. The secretarial djuties arrd business management of the concert were discharged in an able manner by Mr Geo. H. Buah, who, together with the conductor and rrtusical director, Mr. W. H. Corrigan, are to be complimented on the success of the performance. Miss O'Brien and Mr. R. A. Home were accompanists.