DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1908, Page 14

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) December 28 Owing to the indisposition of the Rev. Father Richards the Very Rev. Father Price,: Adrn.,, "after- celebrating an early Mass in the city, motored out to "Hawarden on Sun-' day last and celebrated Mass there. • A beautiful silver-mounted shield of very » artisti-j workmanship has been donated by Sir George Clifford to the local Marist Brothers' School to be awarded annually to the most successful student in doctrine. In conjunction with the shield his Lordship the Bishop, donated a gold niedal, which becomes the absolute property of the winner each year. The first to have his name engraved upon the shield and win this year's gold medal is John " McAloon. Besides the early Masses at S. Mary's Church, Christchurch North, on Christmas Day, which were all largely attended (many of the congregation approaching the Holy Table), there was Solemn High Mass at 11 o'clock. The Rev. Father Moloney, S.M., was celebrant, the Rev. Father Hoare, 5.M.,. deacon, and Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, S.M., V.G., subdeacon. A sermon appfopriate to occasion was preached by the Very Rev. Dean Ginaty. The sanctuary and altars were very tastefully adorned. On. last Thursday morning his Lordship Bishbp Grimes received a cablegram from London, announcing the death of the Mother Superior-General of the. Sisters of Nazareth. The late was about sixty-four years of age at the time of her death, and. had occunied the post as Superior of the. Order for nearly thirty years: ; She resided - at the Mother. Hotfse in Hammersmith, London; She took " the veil when she was very young, and had been a Sisterof Nazareth for nearly half a century. His Lordship the Bishop knew the late ; Mother-General, very well, 'an : acquaintance which was renewed by him when visiting the Mother House of the Order when last hi Londbi? R.I.P. Christmas Day was observed with the usual solemnity at the Cathedral. Early Masses were celebrated almost continuously from 6 to 9.30 o'clock, and attended by large numbers, very, many of whom approached the , Holy Table At 1L o clock there was Solemn Pontifical High Mass' His liordship the Bishop was celebrant, Very Yßev. Father assistant ■ priest^ '"Rev. Dr.- Kennedy :■■ deacon, Rev. Tather O^Hare^ subdeacon/ RevY Father Bell- I S.M., and Rev, Father McGrath, C.SS.R., -deacons at the throne, and Very Re< Father Price, «*A dm., master . "of ceremonies. His Lordship the Brshop addressed the congregation on the .day's- Gdspelalid .the: lbsson therein con- . Jf lll^''"^ * 0 ; conclusion of Mass the Bishop imparted '"'' the Papal and episcopal blessing. V music, . Weber'sMass in Q., capably -rendered by the choir, Mr T A ' Bunz being organist. :. Y. The. scheme, of floral arid foliaee decoration was very effective,' the high altar and sanctuafy being especjaUy. richly, adorned, whilst much tasteful attention was^bservabhß^the^ripjus side i chapels, notably ■'• those of the. Sacred Heart and Holy Relics; due" mainly tb the devoted efforts of Miss White." Oh the high altar and in the last-named chapel costly reliquaries containing the unique, odllectiori of holyrelics, ..with; which the Cathel?\u S f-Zlf 1 ? endow ed, were exposed to the veneration of' the faithful. In the evening there were Pbntifical aa V u\^ X^PH the Bishop officiated, attended by the Cathedral .clergy. The Rev. Father McGrath, U.bb.R., preached taking for his subject the lesson of Ch%!^°Z c Iu mB,I Ii lXld ' as conve ye d in the festival of Christmas. After the sermon as at the Offertory at High

Mass Novello's .. ' Adeste Fideles' was sung by the choir. , Prior to solemn Benediction" of the Blessed Sacrament hia' Lordship the' Bishop thanked the choir, the sanctuary boys, Altar Society, collectors, and all who had/been so devoted to the service of* the Church; pri the "occasion arid during tho year.-..;;-:.;.-' ';.,. _. Y.YY ..'■" Y^'""' ; "' ' : "' : ,;V -Y •/"•'"* : *■' o.v. ,;'-'■".■ With perfect holiday wbather, a pibasant. ride on 'tram cars, and an ideal losality , ; f pr .a sports; -gathering, the Catholic excursion on Boxing Day to . the Riccarton racecourse—kindly placed at- the service .of the promoters by the Canterbury Jockey / Club . iaanagement, together with the use of all the properties, thereon— was an unqualified success. The ; gathering was , very -laigp, and the ; ''enjoyriient of young and; old alike was 'well catered for and evidently appreciated. Popular music-was .".'provided '""on 'the lawn by Derry's Band, and? a piper in natibnaTjittire supplied melody to the; accompaniment of a cbritiriupus" pro cession of juvenile admirers. As secretary of the "generalcommittee, Mr. E. O'Connor, with his usual tact" arid judgment, managed the' details of the excursion in such a manner as to leave nothings to be desifedY The sport 8 ' committee, consisting of the following, conducted a sports 1 ....programme to the satisfaction of all : — President 7 , Mr.s Jas. Power ; liandicappers, Messrs. M.- O'Reilly,. ,.T.. v Aspellj \V. H. Hayward; starter, Mr. J. W. Cassin ;' judges, Messrs! -A. C. Nottingham,^ D. E. Denneh-yvL. Hickey ,• secretary, Mr. J. C. McAleer:. Side shows .arimgames^erided'grejatJy " to the amusement and interest of the gathbringY His Lordship, the Bishop was. present during the greater part of the^day, together with, the 'clergy of the city and visitors. A writer in the Lyttelton Times describes Christmas Day at. Nazareth House thus:— The children were feasted in a marquee erected in the grounds of the House, and the sight of their -feasting was" a thing to be remembered. The fifty-eight children, ranging in age from two -to fourteen years, were seated at three long tables decorated with flowers and greenery, and they had small leisure for conversation. The gentle voices of the Sisters could be hea^d^ almost continually as they spoke to the children arid te'each other, drawing attention to plates that were, almost cleared and would soon need replenishing, whispering cbaxihgly to tiny babes and reassuring .such as seemed by their expressions to doubt the reality of such a glad collection of good food. -In their own quarters the old women were also feasting. If they appeared less excited, and less keenly expectant their years alone must bear the blame of itthey had all sorts of food, that are. connected with the fitting celebration of the feast day. ' And, indeed, they seemed fully conscious of , the pleasures of it. Twelve sat to the fiieal, and three others, irivalids and Unable to leave their dormitory, were not forgotten. ' When the meal was ended, one old woman, acting as spokesman for all the rest, thanked God and called down His blessings on those good-hearted persons whose generosity had enabled them to enjoy themselves as they had done. She "was unstinted in her praise of the kindness^, and untiring, attention of .the Mother Superior and; of iho assisted her. The seven old men, one of whom is stone blind, also enjoyed" a most excellent Christmas dinner.- ; A Christmas 1 tree had been provided for the children and prizes were distributed in the evening.