DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 9 November 1911, Page 2246

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) -November 6. His Lordship the Bishop will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Cathedral on Sunday, December 17. His Lordship the Bishop left on Monday evening to take part in the solemn opening of St. Mary's Scholasticate at Greenmeadows, Hawke's Bay. His Lordship was accompanied by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial) and several of the clergy who are going north for the same purpose. Masses were celebrated in the Cathedral on the Feast of All Saints at 6, 7.30, and 9 o'clock with devotions in the evening, there being good congregations on each occasion. The Masses and devotions on the feast of All Souls were also largely attended. In noticing the new stained-glass window over the front entrances of the Cathedral in last week's Tablet, I should have stated that the artist on his own accord had, in the lower part, separate from the subject illustrations, placed a portrait of the Bishop in honor of the jubilee of the first episcopal head of the diocese, and not the actual words denoting that event. With the influx of visitors to the city for Carnival week the congregations at the Cathedral and St. Mary's Church (Christchurch North) were very considerably augmented on last Sunday. There was exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral from the 11 o'clock Mass, and the usual procession in the evening, followed by Solemn Benediction, given by his Lordship the Bishop, attended by the Rev. Fathers Richards and Hanrahan. Among the representatives of confraternities in the procession was the Blessed Chanel division of the archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament: There was a crowded congregation. An interesting letter has been received by his Lordship Bishop Grimes from the Bishop of Fiji, Right Rev. Dr. Vidal, S.M., wherein he states that the Government of the colony have appointed the Sisters of the Third Order of Mary to take charge of the leper station on the island of Makongai. This Order of devoted Sisters has for many years been of great service in the Vicariate-Apostolic. Their head-quarters are at Suva, and among the members is a good percentage of nativeborn religious. . Their duties have been the education of the children, and the exercise of an' elevating influence on the inhabitants of the group of islands, and with the best possible results. In the, exacting position in which they have now been placed, the Bishop says he has every reason to believe they will do an immense deal of good. "' With reference to the Papal distinctions conferred upon his Lordship Bishop Grimes as stated in last week's Tablet, which I have every reason to believe will occasion the deepest satisfaction wherever his Lordship

is known, I have it on the highest authority that it was the Bishop’s intention to reserve any notification regarding it until the actual jubilee celebration was in progress. However, as this most pleasing intelligence is now published, although somewhat anticipating his Lordship’s desire in the matter, some additional particulars relating to the honors conferred, for which I am indebted to one who is thoroughly conversant with the procedure in this particular, may be now fittingly mentioned. - Assistant Bishops at the Pontifical Throne are those prelates who belong to the Papal Chapel (‘ Capella Pontificia ’) and hold towards the Pope mUch the same relations as Cathedral Canons do to their Bishop. At solemn Papal functions they are vested with cope and mitre and surround the throne of the Pope, while other bishops are not privileged to be in his immediate vicinity. To this College of Assistants belong (ex officio) all Patriarchs, and those Archbishops and Bishops “to whom the Pope has granted the privilege by brief. The Holy Father has so granted it to our Bishop on the eve of the jubilee of the erection of the diocese of Christchurch and of the nomination of its first Bishop. In the presence of the Sovereign Pontiff, the Assistant Bishops rank immediately after the Cardinals. Amongst the privileges of their Order is that of wearing Roman purple silk robes and of celebrating the Sacrifice of the Mass in any private oratory on any day of the year except Good Friday. Assistant Bishops are always created Counts of the Apostolic Palace, and they belong to the Pontifical family.

The Rev. Father Cooney, pastor of Lyttelton, returned to the Dominion on Wednesday, arriving at Wellington by the Athenic. He came on to Lyttelton by the Maori on Thursday, and is to be entertained at a welcome-home social on Monday. In an interview with a. representative of the Lyttelton Times he stated that he felt much improved in health by his ten months’ sojourn in the Old Land. lie said that he left Wellington by the lonic on January 24, and reached Monte Video in February. Here he spent two days in visiting the many sites of the city. Later he spent a week in Buenos Ayres, and was greatly impressed by the wonderful city, which gave many visible signs of prosperity, notwithstanding that the population consisted largely of foreigners. It was a magnificent country, going ahead by leaps and bounds, and the city' itself fully justified being termed the Paris of the South. He was greatly impressed with the fine tramway system, and thought it the finest he had seen. The city had palatial hotels and magnificent buildings, which impressed a visitor considerably. None of the boulevardes of Paris could compare with the Avemda de Mojo of Buenos Ayres. A call was also made at Bio de Janiero, and there again he found prosperity on all sides. During his stay he visited the magnificent theatre, known generally as the finest in the world. From Rio he proceeded to London, where he spent a few days. Father Cooney, then set . out for a two months’ tour of the Continent, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Holland, and Belgiumbojjig visited, and a very pleasing time was spent. In April, while in Rome, Father Cooney had an audience with the Pope. * After his return to London he visited Ireland, the land of his birth. Speaking of the conditions, he stated that he was greatly impressed with the marked change of life there. The housing was being modernised, and the people, more especially the rural population, were much better clothed. The faimer appeared to be contented now that he had land of his own. In regard to the life in the great cities, there was still much to be done for the betterment of conditions, for many of the poorer class were far from being comfortable. Yet, after an absence of fifteen years, he had come to the conclusion that the people of Ireland were, on the whole, much more progressive than previously. While at Dublin he visited the great Horse Show, and also witnessed the King’s entry into the city. Everywhere the Sovereign went the Irish people gave him a right royal reception, marked with unbounded enthusiasm, and there was no doubt that the present King had made many friends in the land. Returning” to England, on his homeward journey, Father Cooney saw some of the labor troubles, and lie stated

that at the present time there was a general feeling of unrest in the Old Country between the employer and the worker. He left London on September 15, and had a most enjoyable trip home. JLyttelton and Akaroa- .-■'".- (From an occasional correspondent.) —: : The following is the list of candidates presented by the Sisters of Mercy, Lyttelton ; and r Akaroa, at the recent examinations in practical music, conducted, under the auspices of Trinity College, London, by Mr. Charles Schilsky: Professional Examination.—Florence Henaghan, M. F. McElry. Local Centre.—-Senior Advanced: Clarice Bell, 74, Local Centre.—lntermediate: Mary Kotlowski, honors Gwennie Haylock, 76; Vera Ryan, 72; Nora Le Lievre (violin), 67. . >' Junior.—Madge Whitehead, 81 (honors) Lily Hammond, 75 ; Millicent Kennedy (violin), 85 (honors); Isabel Sinclair, 72 ; Elsie Keegan, 72 ; Mollie Mcßeddie, 6G. Preparatory. Minnie Gemmell, . 75; Con Mazey (violin), 75; Rachel Osborne, 72; Rosina Halliday (violin), 71; Frances Carrell (violin), 67; Mary O'Reilly, 67.