DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 4, 24 January 1907, Page 13

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

January 21. A large new convent for . the ' Sisters of Mercy is * approaching completion at AKaroa. N All the Catholic schools of the district re-open on Monday next. - • - The Rev. Father O'Hare, an aididition to the diocesan clergy, arrived during' -the week. He was for fourteen years on the mission in England., A Sunday-school is now established at Sumner. It is conducted by Mjiss Pender. - *•* The Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., Provincial, and Very Rev. Father O'Farrell, C.SS.R., who is to conduct the diocesan clergy retreat, will reach Christchurch on Tuesday. Mr. J. -T. Donovan, the Irish Nationalist delegate, has written the following note in the visitors' book of the Tourist Department's Court at the Exhibition : ' New Zealand is uniquely interesting, and 1, as a visitor, have been charmed.' Among other entertainments provided by the Christohuroh Catholic Club for recent visiting members of the Federated Catholic Young Men's Societies to this city, ,was a picnic to Governor's Bay,- which was, greatly enjoyed^ by a large party of associates and their lady friends.' The attendance at the Exhibition is keeping . up amazingly, and Visitors to the city appear as'numerous as ever. A Press Association telegram" from Hokitika states that in a speech the Governor referred to certain derogatory attacks that had appeared in some newspapers on the Exhibition. His Excellency remarked that having seen Exhibitions^jn Paris, Glasgow, Dublin, and elsewhere, he could speak with some authority on the subject, and he * gave it as his opinion that the New -Zealand International- Exhibition was one of the very finest he had seen, and wasln every .way a credit to the Colony. He strongly advised ■everyone not to miss the' chance of seeing it,.

At the quarterly meeting of the St. Patrick's branch,"- No. 82, H.A.C.B. Society, there was a fair- attendance, and the icceipts for the evening amounted to £69 3s sd. One member was initiated, making ten for the 'quarter. Sick pay (£7 16s 8d) was passed for payment, making a total ' of £53 8s 4«d for the quarter and- a total of £106' 0s il-d for the year 1906: It was -reported by the president that thje drive organised in honor of Bro. Devlin, M.P., National President

of the Order in Ireland, had been most successful, and

that their reception at Mount Magdala had been a • most fitting one. He also reported that the visiting brethren from Wellington, Greymouth, Westport, Dunedin, and Waimatie had appreciated very - much sv twenty-five mile drive around the- city and suburbs. A 'hearty vote of thanks was accorded to. the secretary, Bro. F. J. Doolan, ' for his capable assistance at various functions during the past-quarter. The half-yearly meeting of the branch was held in

"the Hibernian Hall on, Monday, January 14, when the following officers "were elected for the ensuing term;: PresF Went/ Bro. M. -Dineen"; vice-presitfent, BroT T. Tender ; secretory, .Bro. F: J. D'oblan ; - Bro. -.L,. Haughey ; warden, Bro. G. Gill ; guardian, Bro.'J.'M. Cummings ; assistant' secretary, Bib. G. "Nee ; sick "visitors, -JBros.. Nee and Cummings ; auditors, Bros. M. Garty and R. P. O'Shauglwiessy ; delegate to triennial meeting, -Bro. G. J. Sellars ; delegates to management committee, Bros. J. McCormick, P.P., and P. McDonnell, P.P. ,• delegates to benevolent committee, Bros,. -Sellars, McCormicl', aud Doolan. A. meeting of the committee' in connection with the approaching carnival in aid of the Cathedral fund was Held on Sunday afternoon.- The Rev,. Father O'Connell presided, and the attendance was satisfactory. The secretary (Mfc. E. O'Connor) outlined the work done by the executive commit tee, tftnee last meeting, Father O'Connell' appealed to all present, the ladies especially, to do all possible to ' ensure" the. success of the venture, on 'the result of which the Bishop- had' -built great hopes. He announced that His -Majesty's Theatre had been secured, covering the dates from August 12 to 24, which included the " Grand National week, and that the .services of Signer J3oraoni had been obtained for the production of entertainments — primarily , a renewal of the Spanish Columbian Festival recently given in Dunedin so successfully both from the artistic and financial ' view-points. Stalls were promised (he said) from the H.A.C.B. Society, the St. Vincent de PauL Society, and ihe Children of Mary, the Addington and St. Mary's (Manchester street) congregations, and several energetic private ladies. He had also hopes of others from Wools ton and Sumner,- and from the > Catholic Club" and friends. St. Mary's, Manchester- Street. The first week of- the ~ mission by the /Redemptorist Fathers, njojw toi progress, has been very largely attended. "On last Sunday afte.noon the—^women's mis--sion" was closed, having 'proved (as the v Rev. Father Bannon express^' it in his address) a glorious success.* On Sunday' evening the mission to men was commenced and will be- continued' throughout the week, together with a,- mission to. the children. On next (Sunday a mission will be opened at St. Michael's Church, Hornby, and on the Sunday following at St. Joseph's Church, Papanui. The Rev. Father Marnane is due to -arrive- in the Colony at Auckland on the 25th inst. on his return lo St. Mary's. -J" Mr. J. T. Donovan, Irish Parliamentary envoy, was among recent visitors at the, presbytery, where he was fittingly entertained by the Rev. Father Hickson. A fine tennis court has been laid put in the grounds of the presbytery, and has proved a source of great attraction to the younger parishioners. ' •' , . The interior of St. Mary's Church, always, most'devotional' in appearance, has recently, through the' kind - benefactions of members of the congregation, 'been... materially enriched and greatly improved. Among the . most costly gifts is that of a beautiful' sanctuary carpet. The congregation of St. Mary's has very considerably increased of late, and on some occasions the accommodation is taxed to its, utmost.