DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 30 January 1908, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From otir'own correspondent.) January- 27. The Rev. Father Lowham,, C.SS.R., preached at -the" Cathedral on Sunday evening, the subject of - his.- discourse being Eternity. During the recent clergy retreat the Rev. Father Morrell, M.S.H., officiated at St. Mary's, Manchester' street, in the absence of the local priests. The Marisfc Brothers of the Spwth. Islnnd are- at v present engaged in their annual retreat, whjch is being conducted by the Rev. Father -I owham, C.SS.R. A meeting of the St. Patrick's Day- oelebtation committee is convened for next Thursday evening to arrange for the annual national entertainment in. aid of Nazareth House. Among . the successful candidates in the recent matriculation examination was Mit-s Mary Molloy, a pupil of the Sisters of Mercy, St; Mary's Convent, Colombo street. In view of "the re-opening of the Catholic schools, the Rev. Father O'Connell, at the Catthcdral on Sunday, spoke forcibly on the subject, and.. on the duty of parents in the interests of their children. "^ The general efficiency of the Cat-hole schools was plainly shown and proved, not on their own testimony alone, but on that of those most competent to form.- an opinion — the~ Inspectors of public schools. At St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, on Sunday a summary of the fifteenth annual report of the local Conference, Society of St. Vincent de- Paul, was given for the information of the congregation. The Conference records sincere than'..s to the priests and people of St. Mary's for kind assistance, friendly-ad-vice, and the means to enable much good work to be accomplished*. A contribution ■ was thainikfvHy -received from the Hyman Mar^s Trust, and coal to the value of £10 from> a prominent member of ' the congregation, which being distributed enabled fourteen poor families to pass through last winter in comparative comfort. The Conference was represented en the mayoral coal and blanket fund committee, and thus secured a fair proportion of these, necessaries for desening cases. A Ladies' Association in connection with the_. Conference was formed during the year. A toys' club, , with promising results, was ?lso formed, and the Conference itself was strengthened by the addition of several energetic active members. The receipts, including credit balance from last year, amounted to £3-6 16s, and the expenditure to £30 2s 6d, leaving a crelit balance in hand of £.5 13s Sd.