Kaikoura

New Zealand Tablet, 30 July 1908, Page 19

Kaikoura

(From an Occasional Correspondent.) On Sunday, July 19, the Very Rev. Father Chine, C.SS.R., completed a week's mission at Kaikoura. From every point of view the mission was eminently successful. The preaching was worthy of the highest praise. The missioncr's voice is rich, melodious, and audible even in whispers. His delivery is excellent. The matter of his discourses, whether doctrinal or moral, is always admirable, and the beautiful anecdotes introduced at intervals added much to the force of argument and gave practical illustration of the views set forth. The gifted preacher never failed to hold his audience spellbound from beginning to close of his instructions at Mass and his sermons at the evening services. The first discourse at 10 o'clock Mass on Sunday, 12th, was a masterpiece and a guarantee of success. The preacher took as his text ' The Master calleth for thee,' and his words so impressed the congregation that they went away full of joy and praise, determined also to attend throughout the mission. The treatment of ' Faith 'to an overflowing congregation on Sunday evening was admirable, and many nonCatholics were scattered through .the church. ' Mortal Sin ' was dealt with on Monday evening, and ' Confession ' on Tuesday. ' The Eternal Truths ' — Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven — formed the subject of the preacher's able discourse on Wednesday. The doctrine of the ' Blessed Sacrament ' was very clearly and convincingly built up from the sixth chapter of St. John, the words of institution at the Last Supper, and the well-known teaching of St. Paul in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. ' The Sacred Heart ' was the topic on Friday. Saturday evening's sermon was devoted to ' Our Lady, the Mother of God. ' On Sunday the appropriate sermon for the conclusion was on ' Perseverance.' The church was literally packed from the altar rails to the door. At the close of an elegant and touching discourse, the VeryRev. Preacher paid an eloquent tribute to the faithful for their admirable attendance even under very trying circumstances. The weather was far from favorable, sometimes very wet and chilling. In spite of all, there were splendid congregations. He also in very graceful terms thanked the Sisters of the Mission for their care of the altar, the decorations whereof being beyond all praise and different each evening. The choir also, for its excellent and unfailing services, came in for well-merited praise. Nor were the altar-boys forgotten. His references to the local pastor were of too complimentary a kind to bring forward here. Father Golden told the congregation he was full of gratitude to God, who had sent so zealous a missioncr to Kaikoura. Father Clune left by Tuesday's coach for Blenheim, en route for Wellington, carrying with him the blessings of a grateful people for his magnificent services to them. Even nonCatholics thanked him publicly.