GOLDEN JUBILEE OF REV. FATHER BELL, S.M.

New Zealand Tablet, 10 August 1911, Page 1518

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF REV. FATHER BELL, S.M.

* . (From our Christchurch correspondent.) The golden jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Father Charles Bell, S.M,, chaplain to the Magdalen Asylum, Mount Magdala, was celebrated there on last Thursday, August 3. Solemn High Mass was celebrated in the Convent . Chapel by the venerable jubilarian,' Rev.. Father Tubman, S.M., (Timaru) being deacon, and the Rev. Father Daull, S.M. A. (Lyttelton), subdeacon. There were also present the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell (Ashburton), Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., Rev. Fathers Hyland (Rangiora), Richards (Hawarden), Hoare, S.M., and Dignan, S.M. (St. Mary's Christchurch North), Quinn, S.M. (St. Bede's College), Drohan, M.S.H. (Darfield), McDonnell and Hanrahan (Cathedral). A sermon, relative to the sacred office of the priesthood, was preached by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault,.' S.M. After Mass the party were entertained by the children, who produced most artistically and greatly to the enjoyment of all ( The Challenge,' a play by the Rev. Father Kelly, S.J. At dinner the venerable jubilarian received the congratulations of all his fellow priests- who were present, and through them of those who were absent. The toast of Rev. Father Bell, with hopes of many more years of usefulness in the sacred ministry, wan proposed by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, and -duly honored. The Rev. Father Bell responded. Among gifts received by Father Bell in honor of the auspicious occasion, was a beautiful set of Breviaries from the priests and congregation. of Napier, where he labored for some years. The Rev. Father Bell was born on June 27 1836 and is thus in his 76th year. He was educated in 4 England at Sedgeley Park (a college now non-existent) and at St. Edmund's College, Ware, and fifty years ago (in 1861) was ordained to the priesthood by his Eminence the late Cardinal Wiseman, whose Cathedral Church at the time was St. Mary's, Moorfields, London He was professed in the Society of Mary on July 2 1890, prior to which as a secular priest he worked in the archdiocese of Westminster. On the return of his Lordship Bishop Grimes .to New Zealand '■ from one of his early visits to Europe, he was accompanied by Father Bell, who for some years afterwards was on the staff of the Cathedral clergy. This was during-the 7 U nu ■?! ffice t° f f Jicar General and Administrator of Christchurch of the late Very Rev. Father Cummings, S.M. Whilst at Barbadoes street/Father Bell greatly endeared himself to the congregation; the young

people,. and especially the young men, who became greatly attached to him through his influence and interest in the Catholic Literary Society. From here he was transfererd to the archdiocese of Wellington, performing devoted duty at Reefton,- Napier, and elsewhere. Returning in later years again to Christchurch he was stationed at St. Mary’s, Manchester street, and from there on the retirement of the late Dean Ginaty, S.M., he was appointed to Mount Magdala as chaplain.