DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 13, 29 March 1906, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) March 26. The clergy of North Canterbury assembled on last Tuesday at Akaroa fur the quarterly theological conference. The congregation of St. Mary's, Manchester street, are arranging a four-days' sale of work, beginning on Easter Monday in Aletxandia Hall. On one of the evenings the art union of the Madden paintings will be drawn. As the wholo enterprise is in aid of a fund for liquidating the parochial liabilities it is sincerely hoped the efforts of the promoters will be rewarded fully up to expectations. The Rev. Mother of Nazareth House has received the plans of the projected, new institution from the architects. The plans, whlcE show a magmiieein building, spacious and practically fire-proof, are to be sent immediately to the Mot'her-Ueneral in Loncion'ior approval. If acceptable, a start will be made in the erection of the permanent Nazareth House on the f.ne bite recently acquired at Sydenham, without delay. The first annual meeting of St. Joseph's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent do Paul and Mission to' Catholic 'Seamen, Lyttelton, was held on Sunday evening. The Rev. Father Cooney (spiritual dnector) was present, and also a full attendance of members. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted, and a considerable amount of business transacted. The report showed that good work had been accomplished during* the year. There is always a great need for Catholic papers and periodicals for distribution. His Lordship the Bishop returned during the week from -Westland. Speakiing in the Cathedral on Sunday he feelingly referred to the sericus illness of the Very Rev. Dean Martin, to whom he made a special visit, and on whose behalf he solicited the prayers of the faithful* Doan Martin (the Eishop continued) is Snow the oldest priest in the diocese, which owes so much to his untiring energy and zeal in the cause of ieli«-ion. In the early days of settlement on the coast and in Otago, Father Martin's name was <a household word, travelling as he did far and wide, carrying on his back the necessaries for celebrating the Ilolv Sacrifice, c-ndur-ing untold privations, whilst exercising his apostolic missicn on the goldfields and to a scattered population in districts of generous distances.