DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 15, 12 April 1906, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) April 9. The concluding one, of several enjoyable tennis interclub contests, was played last week between the Catholic Club and the Tekoa Tennis Club, resulting in favor of the latter. The new building recently erected at Wools'ton and blessed for school purposes, is to be solemnly dedicated as a church by his Lordship the Bishop on Low Sunday. In connection with the Midland Railway extension, Mr. 11. Ca|ssidy, proprietor of the overland coach service, stales that, commencing on October 1, 'the journey to Chiistchurch will be accomplished in one day. Passengers will leave Greymouth at 7 a.m. for the Otira, and then drive to Broken River, and do the rest of the journey by train to Christchurch, where they will arrive at 10 p.m. At the Cathedral on Sunday last (Palm Sunday) his Lordship the Bishop, attended by the Rev. Fathers G atone ar.\ r l O'Connell,, blessed, and districted the palms just priior to the 11 o'clock Mass. In a brief discourse* his Lordship said we were crossing the threshold of Holy Week, a period fraught with events upon which the very Christian religion itself was founded. He urged a due and faithful observance of the solemnities attached to each of the days, together with an explanation of all that the special ceremonies signified. The Sisters of Nazareth, whilst extending their heart fedft wishes for a happy and holy Easter to all their new-<fourfil friends and benefactors, desire in an especial manner to cordially thank all wno have so generously and consistently assisted them, and -through them, their numerous charges, young and old, since their arrival in New Zealand, just about a year ago. By the ' lonic,' due in the Colony on April 24\ two additional Sisters of Nazareth are coming to reinforce the present staff. One of the new Sisters is an experienced teacher, and will assume charge of the large number of young children now in the institution. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Particular Council, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, was held at Lyttelton on last Tuesday evening. The Rev. Father Cooney attended as spiritual director, and there were present representatives of the various Conferences, the presidents of each reporting thereon. Correspondence from the Superior Council of Sydney was received and dealt with. In regard to the extention of the Society, the following motion was unanimously adopted : ' The Particular Council learn with the greatest satisfaction that steps in tfie direction of establishing a Confeience and Mission to Catholic Seamen at Wellington will be considered at the annual congress of the Federated Catholic Young Men's Societies, meeting .at Eastei; and that the president be asked to furnish the Christchurch delegates with all; (available information, together with reports, and a paper on the subject.' The Rev. Father O'Connell returned from the West Coast last week! and after Easter will visit the parishes of South Canterbury in the interests of the Cathedral fund. His visit to Westland was principally of an introductory nature. La+er en he intends again going to the Coast and conducting a thorough canvass of the district As a local paper puts it, this very enthusiastic collector will on that occasion descend even into the bowels of the earth to find the' faithful—and, incidentally, the needful. Father O'ConneH has so far worked the Lyttelton and Darfield parishes. Whilst in the latter district he visited the Midland Railway works at Broken vßiver,v ßiver, and, dressed in rough clothing, he explored all the tunnels so thoroughly that the debt extinction hwid was com si der ably augmented. Returning from the Coast, he celebrated Mass at the Otira for the wofkmen a\ that end pf the railway. Pc has many kind things 1o say of The people of Westland and their raHd advancement irt religious matters. Speaking of St. Patrick's Church at Greymouth, he says they are expecting shortly a very fine bell. It was to Lave been despatched from Antwerp on February 4, weierhs over IROO^, and cost £150. It is described as being excellent in tone and of the highest workmanship. It was cast orieirially for tEe Liege Exhibition of 1905, and received the certificate of honor. The bell was manufactured by the same firm- that made the peal of bells for the Chn'stchuvch Cathedral, which of itself is sufficient guarantee that it is of the "best workman ship.