DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 24 March 1910, Page 454

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) March 19. The third and last week of the mission in the Cathedral, conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers, has been remarkable for consistently large congregations and most edifying, manifestations of religious fervor. The missionaries have completely won the hearts of the people, and their devoted ministrations in this city will be an abiding memory. The Feast of St. Patrick was observed with due solemnity in the Cathedral. There was Solemn High Mass at 9 o'clock. The Very Rev. Father Hunt, C.SS.R., was celebrant, the Rev. Father Lynch, C.SS.R., deacon, the Rev. Dr. Kennedy subdeacon, and Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., master of ceremonies. Under Mr. A. J. Biinz at the organ,• the choir sang the music of the Mass. The occasional sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Whelan, C.SS.R., who, from the text ' Going therefore teach ye all nations' (St. Matthew xxviii., 19), delivered a particularly fine panegyric of the Apostle of Ireland. This command (he said) was given to the Apostles of old during those memorable days the Church will soon commemorate. The first Apostles passed away but others succeeded them, and so on through the centuries the Divine mandate was ever observed and the Gospel message conveyed to the uttermost parts of the earth. In due time, among others illustrious in the annals of the Church, came forth St. Patrick, first as the humble priest, then Bishop and missionary. In impressively eloquent terms the preacher traced the life and labors of that great Apostle, who, following the Divine injunction, came to Ireland. Brilliantly endowed with the spirit of the Church, with heroic sacrifice, and amid difficulties and hardships patiently endured, he converted the whole country, which, nourished with his glowing love, his sanctity and knowledge, became the glorious garden of the Church of God. The feast of St. Patrick is universally celebrated, and why? - It is because of the gift of faith inherited from the Apostle of Ireland, that faith implanted by our Lord and Saviour in the hearts of the Apostles, for which they suffered martyrdom to gain heaven, our eternal home. It is too, the exile's return for this gift of faith, that there, is such deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin displayed everywhere among the Irish people. It is not necessary to go to the halls of Tara for examples of the faith so treasured by the Irish people. The churches throughout Ireland are thronged to this day, and here the Cathedral has been thronged throughout the mission, and why? Because of the faith, nourished by the Blessed Sacrament, and by love of the Blessed Virgin and St. Patrick. Greymouth (From an occasional correspondent.) On Wednesday, March 9, his Excellency the Governor visited the Marist Brothers' School. The pupils sang the ,' Minstrel Boy,' which pleased his Excellency very much. Master Norman Knell then read the following address: ' Your Excellency,—We, the Catholic boys of Greymouth, consider ourselves highly honored in receiving a visit from such a distinguished visitor. Although we are young, we can appreciate your sterling qualities and your broad-minded statesmanship. We are proud that our Governor is an Irishman, a scion of the illustrious Plunket family. During your term of office you have endeared yourself, your Excellency, not only to the older people of our fair Dominion, but in a special manner to the younger generation by your kindly disposition in visiting the schools and by the great interest you have taken in educational matters and in everything that makes for the happiness of

the people. That you may long be spared in health and happiness to assist in the councils of the great British Empire is the earnest prayer of the boys of the Catholic school, Grey mouth. His Excellency thanked the boys for the hearty reception they gave him and for the kind address read. He exhorted them to be loyal to their country as their forefathers were loyal, and reminded them of the sacrifices their Ohurcn and their parents were making on their behalf. xt x- The , proceedings concluded with the singing of the len Anthem and three ringing cheers for his ExcelOn Wednesday, March 9, the pupils of the Greymouth Convent School assembled in St. Patrick's Schoolroom to welcome his Excellency the Governor. The room was tastefully decorated with scrolls, flowers, and evergreens, while outside the flag of New Zealand waved' proudly in the breeze.. At 11.30 a.m. the distinguished visitor drove to m ™ covent \ accompanied by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. I.E. Coates), Mr. A. R. Guinness, M.P., and about twenty other gentlemen representing the various boards of the district. o , f Very ? ev Dean Carew > sM and Rev. F. McCarthy, b.M., conducted the party to the school, where a cordial welcome was accorded to the Governor. The following short programme was then rendered by the pupils: —' Song of welcome' (chorus) address, Miss Lily O'Donnell All hail, Zealandia ! (chorus) recitation, ' A dreadful mistake,' Miss Nellie Kilgour; song, ' How I became an LL.D.,' Miss Kathleen Hannan. ' ,-> The following is the text of the address * May it please your Excellency,Assembled here to-day, we, the pupils of the Convent School, Greymouth, beg to tender to your Excellency a very hearty welcome and to express our grateful sense of the high honor you have conferred on us by paying this, your first, visit to our school. This happy day on wnich your Excellency has thus honored us will ever be regarded as a ' red-letter' day in the annals of our school. As this is also a farewell visit, your Excellency will allow us to mingle with our welcome a deep and sincere regret. During your six years' stay in the Dominion your Excellency has taken the keenest interest in the educational and other matters that tend to the uplifting and the betterment of the people. No wonder, then, that the news of your intended departure has been received with such deep and widespread regret. Again thanking you for your kindness in visiting us, and praying that God's choicest blessings may fall on your Excellency, Lady Plunket, and family. We remain, your Excellency's respectful and devoted children,The pupils of the Convent School, Greymouth.' His Excellency, in replying, was enthusiastically received. He said he had enjoyed the entertainment immensely. The happy, pleasant faces he saw that morning would linger long in his memory, and when he returned to Ireland, his dear native land, he would tell the people at Home how well cared for and how happy the children of Irish parents are in this Dominion. His Excellency then went on to explain the duties of the Governor as the representative of his Majesty the King, and he strongly exhorted the pupils to be loyal and patriotic citizens. He knew that patriotism was taught them by their teachers, and he could wish that it should occupy a place in their estimation second only to religion. His Excellency assured the girls that if they were faithful to the religious teaching of those in charge of them they would surely grow up good women —models to all others in the Dominion. The singing of ' God save the King' brought the pleasant function to a close. After a short visit to the Convent Infant School, where the little boys gave three hearty cheers for his Excellency, and where a song was sung in his honor, the Governor and party were conducted by Very Rev. Dean Carew to the Marist Brothers' School.