DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 11, 14 March 1907, Page 15

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) March 11. The Rev. Father Marnane, pastor of St. Mary's, Manchester street, is expected tci return this week from his twelve-months' tour to the Old Land, and is to be entertained at a welcome reception in the Art Gallery by his parisMoraers en Wednesday evening. * Regarding the power of- the press,' said Ms Lordship Bishop Grimes during his discourse on Sunday evening, * the Holy Father Pope Pius X. " stated to him that "no nobler mission than that of the journalist is in the world to-day. My predecessors have blessed the sword, I prefer to bless the pen of Ohi-istian writers." ' In a communication received by the president of the Particular Council of the Ohristohurch Society of St. Vincent de Paul from the Hon. L. F. Heydon, president of the Superior Council of the Society- in Sydney, who is now at Rotorua, where it is his intention to remain until March 17, the wiUer states that he intends to 'be in Wellington on March 23 and 24, in Christchuroh on March 26, and in Dunedin on April 14. The St. Patrick's Day celebration committee has spared no effort to secure the very best available talent for the national, cancer t on Moniiay Evening next, and the result has enabled tlfe presentation of a programme equal, if not superior, to any previous ones. Tickets of admission have been arranged at prices that will ensure His Majesty's Theatre being crowded on the occasion- The whole procqods will be, as usual, devoted to the aid of Nazareth House— that great institute of charity which appeals to every class of the community, and which has dene, and is doing, so much to lessen the sum of human misery in our midst. The Exhibition still maintains its hold on the public as a pleasure resort and centre of attraction. Early this week, with present indications, will see the attendance reach a million and . a half. The official closing time is now fixed for April 15, but between • now amd then several important gatherings, including the great fire-brigades' demonstration, are to' take place. The pet animals' show last Friday proved very attractive. Among the speakers on the occasion was his Lordship Bishop Grimes, who stated that- the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (under the auspices of which the show was organised) had done a great deal of good work, thus enabling 'him to testify from personal observation in many lands recently visited that the animals of Christcburoh, the horses especially, could not be surpassed, anywhere in the old countries. This result he attributed in a great measure to tlhe watchfulness and efforts of the society, which he regretted, "however, did not receive gTeate"r encouragement from the public. On last Wednesday the Catholic school! children of L/eeston-, accompanied by their parents and teachers, visited the Exhibition, to the number of about seventy-five. Special trams conveyed the excursionists to the Exhibition, where the children were the guests of the Rev. Father Mahony at the various side shows. Rev. "Father Ahem, of Darfield, was also of the party. At Vesners in the Hathcdral on Sunday his Lordship the Bishop preached to a large congregation, the subject of his discourse being mainly an account of his recent visit to the Apostolic See and audfences with the Holy Father. TaMng for his text the 22nd verse of the *117 th psalm, wn-ds (said his Lordship) that vividly came home to him as he stood before the august Pontiff, one who never dared to 'believe be

would fee elected supreme head of the Church on earth. His Lords-hip then gave a striking word picture of the one who, from the simple curate, passed through the , whole course of ecclesiastical offices until he attained his present exalted position. In eloquent terms he described the origin and gave a history of the Papacy. The little corner in Judea from where, over 19 . centuries ago, the poor unlettered workman received the command to go and conquer the world he (the Bishop) recently visited. Three centuries of martyrdom was the answer to the message borne, but eventually the world was conquered, as now exemplified by the power of the Papacy, a power" wielded by no other monarch.. He -described the Holy Father as -being most ' unassuming, simple, and of dignified bearing, his most striking features being intense humility, -sincerity, and framkiness, 'as 1 well as gentle humor. His Lorddhip referred to the splendid portrait of the Holy Father presented to him, and upon which his Holiness inscribed his blessing to the diocese. He also gave a translation from the Latin, in which it is written. fine picture, handsomely framed, was on view.X In conclusion, the Bishop gratefully thanked all who had- labored so assiduously on behalf of the Cathedral during his absence, and intimated that the Rev. Father O'Con-n-ell would visit the West Coast immediately after Easter and recommence - his collecting mission in connection with the debt extinction fund.