Lyttelton

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 32, 10 August 1905, Page 19

Lyttelton

(From our Christchurch correspondent.)

On Sunday last his Lordship the Right Rev.? Dr Grimes made a pastoral visitation of the Lyttelton parish. The Bishop celebrated the first Mass at eight o clock, attended by the Rev. Father Cooney, and directly before the second Mass at 11 o'clock conducted the visitation ceremonies. A Missa Cantata was sung by the pastor of St. Joseph's, the Rev. Father Cooney, his Lordship being present on the throne. The Bishop preached at the first Mass on the, Say's Gospel, and a£ the second on the nature an^- purpose of au episcopal visitation. The music of the Mass was renaereif exceedingly well by a full choir. In the evening ther* was Rosary, sermon by the Bishop, and Benediction ot the Blessed Sacrament. The church was very tastefully decorated by the Sisters of Mercy, and there were crowded congregations at the Masses and the evening devotions. During the afternoon his Lordship visited the Sunday school, and had" a few kinfl and enqouraginc words to say to the teachers and children of the Christian Doctrine classes. The Bishop also attended the usual meeting of the Children of Mary Confraternity After the evening devotions his Lordship 'attended a meeting of St. Joseph's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, when he was presented with a report detailing the aims, objects, and results of the mission among seamen. Among those present were twentyfive men off various vessels in port. The Bishop expressed himself in encouraging terms of the Mission to Seamen, and in appreciation of the good work already accomplished. ' Whilst at Lyttelton on Sunday I had the privilege of accompanying the brothers of St. Joseph's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on their usual Suniday rounds of the various vessels lying at the wharves, in <juest of merrfbers of the faith, and in execution of a phase of practical Christianity which is already fruitful in good results, and which might with advantage be extended to all our chief ports.- On almost' every ocean-going vessel a fair percentage of the shin's company are Catholics. Some of these need no stimvlus to attend the Church services, and their religious duties ; many others, however, through stress of circumstances neglect of opportunities, and a multitude of causes, have allowed the lamp of faith to burn very low, although it is cheering to find that there are very few instances where it has been reduced to the r-omti of extinction. Poor J&ck has few friends and many enemies, but invariably possesses a goodness of heart which can only be fathomed by kindly and tactful treatment. The Vincentians' self-imposed task on Sunday morning, like all preceding ones, was after attending early Mass, to go through the shipping, and so well have they mastered any appioient diffidence, pardonable no doubt at first in approaching a large party of men, that an air of confidence and success appears to accompany them. Some times! with an introduction, often without, the question is asked that all may hear : • How many Catholics are here? ' I'm one,' comes the answer, almost instantly I m another, ' and so the word goes round until perhaps twenty or more are enumerated. Then one is selected to give in the names, and all are requested respectfully to get ready and ' line up,;> at a time which is fixed for attendance at Mass. Thus the work goes on until all Ihe vessels are visited and the Catholics enrolled. At a later stage, either on the wharves or at the Church entrance, the men are met and their attendance recorded. A second visit is undertaken during the afternoon, when those who have not assisted at Mass are urged to attend the evening devotions, and each is given a Catholic paper or booklet. Strangers, or some of them, are at .^first puzzled at all the trouble taken in their regard. The number whose attendance was recorded at the eleven o'clock Mass on Sunday was twenty, this being a fair average for each Sunday. Among the vessels' visited were the direct liners, ' lonic,' ' Tiongariro,' and ' Kaioara,' and the barque ' Dunblane. 1 On this latter vessel, which carries a crew of sixteen men, nine were found to be Catholics. Five of these were natives* of Mauritius, the remainder Irish and French. Treasured among the possessions of the Mauritians'werd booklets given by the Catholic Seamen's Mission at Port Melbourne, and bearing the stamp of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, thus furnishing good proof of Father May's devoted services to seamen. In an interview with Ihe energetic secretary of the Mission at Lyttelton, Mr. C. Delacy, I learnt' that up to the present this year 200 Catholic seafaring men ha;ve been met, 40 vessels have been visited, and ofer 450 papers booklets, periodicals, etc., distributed. Several ' have

been brought to a sense of their religious duty, and others have taken the pledge. The members have received letters posited at different ports from seamen who were benefited, expressive of sincere gratitude for. kindness extended to them while here.