DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 6 October 1910, Page 1616

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) October 3. His Lordship the Bishop has received a cablegram from the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., stating that he had a pleasant voyage to Sydney, and was feeling much improved in health. The Rev. Father Melu, S.M., of Otaki, is at present engaged in his periodical visitation of the different Maori settlements of Canterbury, including Kaiapoi and Little River, and later on Kaikoura. His Lordship the Bishop intends making an episcopal visitation at Lincoln on October 23, and on the following Sunday at Leeston, including Southbridge. A visitation of the parishes of Darfield, Hawarden, and Rangiora will follow in rotation in the interval before Christmas. There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral from the 11 o'clock Mass until after Vespers on Sunday. In the evening his Lordship continued his discourses on the subject of Confession in the presence of a very large congregation. He, with telling lucidity, answered a number of objections sent in by non-Catholics who, unless wilfully dense, can have few remaining doubts on the subject. There was afterwards the usual procession and Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Marist Brothers' School Cadets paraded in strong force on Sunday, and marched to the 11 o'clock Mass in the Cathedral. His Lordship, in addressing them, said that on their first public appearance they were complimented by the representative of his Most Gracious Majesty the King, and on this their second appearance he (the Bishop) could compliment them on their allegiance and loyalty to the King of Kings by attending in their numbers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Cadets again attended at Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the afternoon. On last Thursday evening the Rev. Fathers O'Connell, S.M., and McCarthy, S.M., opened a mission in St. Michael's Church, Hornby; and the Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M., one at St. Joseph's Church, Papanui. On Saturday Father Kimbell left for Timaru to conduct retreats, and was replaced by Father O'Connell. On next Sunday the Marist Fathers will open missions simultaneously at Fairlie, Albury, and Pleasant Point. They will be engaged in South Canterbury till the middle of November, when they will go to the archdiocese of Wellington to conduct retreats. Towards the close of this year the Rev. Father O'Connell goes to Tasmania, and a little later will be joined by the other Missionary Fathers; and, at the invitation of his Grace Archbishop Delany, they will be engaged for the greater part of next year conducting missions and retreats throughout the island archdiocese. The Mission services at St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, by the Marist Missionary _ Fathers attracted large bodies of men to the various exercises, the earnestness and eloquence of the preachers proving a manifest power for good. On last Monday evening the subject of ' Faith' was dealt with in a particularly fine discourse by the Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., at the conclusion of which there was renewal of baptismal vows. On Tuesday evening the Rev. Father Kimbell, S.M., spoke impressively on the ' Vice of Intemperance. The mission was closed on Wednesday evening by the Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., who preached a splendid discourse on ' Perseverance.' Taking for his text, 'Be thou faithful unto the end, and I will give thee a crown of life' (Revelation ii., 10). The preacher dwelt exhaustively on the means of perseverance and on the good resolutions taken during the mission. The Papal blessing was imparted, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The mission has been the most successful ever given in St. Mary's. The fact that for twenty-five days and nights the church was crowded speaks volumes for the zealous Missionary Fathers, and the appreciation the people of St. Mary's hold them in. Morning after morning latterly the mission attracted between 300 and 400 men for ten consecutive mornings, and a church full of men attended each night. The Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, V.G., before the conclusion of the mission expressed, on his own behalf and on that of the clergy and people, gratitude for the good Fathers' unsparing labors in what had been a very arduous and trying mission. He prayed God to bless their labors and to grant them an abundant harvest in whatever field they might be called to work. In the church on Wednesday evening the Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., spoke feelingly of the missionaries' deep indebtedness to the venerable Dean Ginaty's exceeding kindness and encouragement. He had never been once absent from any of the services fact alone, apart from his help and hospitality, which had won their enduring appreciation. Father O'Connell thanked, too, most cordially the resident clergy, choir, Altar Society, church officers, and all who had assisted the mission so generously. At various times during the mission to men at St. Mary's Church, Christchurch North, and at some length in his concluding sermon on last Wednesday evening, the Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., spoke on the subject of the f Lay Apostolate,' urging a greatly increased membership of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an institution very dear to the Missionary Fathers, who were impressed with its usefulness and immense possibilities for good, the ex-

tension and support of which they everywhere urged upon their hearers, and in many places with most successful results. Every Catholic man, too, he said, who valued his spiritual and economic advancement should join the H.A.C.B. Society as an enduring safeguard to his own interests as well, as to that of rising generations. In connection with the close of the mission there was Solemn Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, on last Thursday morning for the repose of the souls of the deceased priests and people of the parish. The clergy who had been connected with the parish, but who have passed away, were the Ven. Archpriest Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., the founder and first pastor of the parish, the Very Rev. Father Marnane, S.M., the first assistant priest and second pastor, and Rev. Father Malone, S.M., some years assistant to the late Father Marnane. Ashburton (From our own correspondent.) October 3. The pupils of the local convent school acquitted themselves remarkably well in the competition carried out under the auspices of the local Empire Celebration Committee for pupils attending all primary schools in the Ashburton county.' The competitions took the form of an essay for both boys and girls on the subject, 'Why do we celebrate Empire Day a In the competition for girls Miss Madge Walsh (convent) secured second place; whilst Masters R. Lennon and P. Hanrahan, both convent pupils, were placed first and second in the competition for boys. The Catholic Young Men's Club held their annual meeting in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening last. Mr. D. McDonnell occupied the chair. The report and balance sheet were presented, showing the club to be in a highly prosperous condition. The club has a credit cash balance of about £lO, while the assets border on £75. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President, Rev. Father O'Hare; vice-president, Mr. T. M. Brophy; treasurer, Mr. E. Hanrahan; secretary, Mr. J. Lennon; librarian, Mr. J. McCormick; auditors, Messrs. F. L. Brophy and M. J. Burgess; council— D. McDonnell, J. F. Pritchard, S. Madden, J. O'Grady, F. Hanrahan. Hokitika (From our own correspondent.) September 26. The usual fortnightly euchre tournament of St. Mary's Club was held on Wednesday evening. Mr. Simmonds won tbe gentleman's prize, and generously donated it as a prize for the nest tournament. Miss A. Leamy won the lady's prize. The return card tournament between the Fire Brigade and St. Mary's Club eventuated on Thursday, 22nd inst., the brigade again winning by 46 games to 39. Light refreshments were supplied at the conclusion of the play. Superintendent Thompson expressed the great pleasure it gave the brigade to entertain the visitors, and the president, on behalf of the club, suitably replied. The St. Mary's School football team, who entered for the schools' championship of Westland, have up to the present put up a splendid performance. They have played four matches. That against Ross they won by 26 points to nil; against 'Arahura they won by 8 to 3; against Rimu they won by 57 to nil; and against Victoria High School they won by 9 to nil. There is no doubt but that they will win the championship, which they richly deserve. The following are the results of the examination in the Theory of Music in connection with Trinity College, London, held at St. Mary's Catholic School, Hokitika, .on June 11, 1910:Senior (advanced division)Ruby E. Dorrington, 100 (honors). Intermediate (upper division)Marie Jones, 92 (honors); Matilda Soence, 88 (honors); Joyce Michel,. 87 (honors). Intermediate (lower division)—Mary Devauey, 72; Katie Mitchell, 70. Junior (lower division) — Alice Stopf 97 (honors); Vida McClure, 94 (honors); Hester Wogan, 89 (honors); Nora Crowe, 84 (honors); Johanna Murphy, 81 (honors). Preparatory division — Cron, 100 (honors); May Cron, 83 (honors). The candidates » were all pupils of the local convent. A ceremony of reception took place at St. Mary's Church on Saturday morning, September 24, the young ladies received into the Order of Our Lady of Mercy being Miss May Sullivan (in religion Sister Mary Mercedes), Miss Una Suliivan (Sister Mary Chanel), and Miss Violet Wright (Sister Mary Ignatius). The two first-mentioned are daughters of Mr. John Sullivan, of Hokitika, and the lastnamed is a daughter of Mr. William' Wright, of Arthurstown. The ceremony was witnessed by a large congregation of relatives and friends. The clergy present were the Very Rev. Dean Carew (Greymouth), Rev. Father Clancy (Hokitika), Rev. Father Taylor (Greymouth), Rev. Father O'Connor (Ross). Rev. Father Taylor was celebrant of the Mass, and the ceremony of reception was performed by the Very Rev. Dean Carew, assisted by the clergy previously mentioned, The incidental music was rendered by the

nuns’ choir. The occasional sermon was preached by the ‘lev. Father Clancy, and was based on the text, ‘ The earth, 0 Lord, is full of Thy mercy’ (Psalm cxviii., 64).