DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 21 March 1912, Page 11

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

SILVER JUBILEE OF BISHOP GRIMES TWENTY-FIVE YEARS' WORK IN CANTERBURY In May next (says the Lyttelton Times) the Christchurch diocese of the Catholic Church will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary, and, by a happy coincidence, Bishop Grimes will celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his episcopate. The event, of course, is an important one from a Church point of view, as it marks a notable advance in social, religious, and philanthropic work in this part of the Dominion; but there are many people of all denominations and in all classes of society who will regard it as a fitting opportunity for congratulating Bishop Grimes on the success of his efforts since he came to Christchurch, at a time when the city had hardly emerged from its days of small things. During the twenty-five years that have 'passed he has taken an active and zealous part in public life, and in many ways has shown that he has the welfare of the city and the whole community at heart. The history of his career as occupant of the see is largely bound ' up with the history of Christchurch, and it is a record . of many achievements that have benefited the people. > ' - -i :.., Diocese of Christchurch Erected. . Prior to 1887 Christchurch was part of the Wellington diocese, but petitions had been sent to Rome asking the Holy Father to detach it from Wellington. The Holy See had decided to comply with the .request of, the petitioners, as the proposal was supported by the Most Rev. Dr. Redwood. According to rumor, indeed, as early as 1884, the present occupant of the see had been already appointed, when the Australian prelates, with the late Cardinal Moran at their head, requested the Pope to withhold the appointment until after the first Plenary, or National Council, to beheld x in Sydney in 1885. At that Council it was unanimously decided to petition the Apostolic See to erect an archdiocese or metropolitan see in New Zealand, and to create anew diocese, with Christchurch as its seat; and amongst the names submitted to the Holy Father was that of the present Bishop. On May 13, 1837, accordingly, Pope Leo XIII. raised the diocese, of Wellington to the rank of a metropolitan see. He named Dr. Redwood its first Archbishop, and Dr. Grimes, then rector of St. Mary's, Paignton, in Devonshire, first Bishop of the diocese of Christchurch. ;.;%■ Cardinal Manning had consented to consecrate the new prelate, but was taken ill a few days' before the function*, and Cardinal Vaughan, then Bishop of Salford, took his place, and performed the ceremony in the beautiful church of the Marist Fathers, St. Ann's, London. The Bishop of Christchurch was the first bishop consecrated by Cardinal Vaughan. The coconsecrators, or assistant prelates, were the Bishop of Southwark (the Right Rev. Dr. Butt) and the Bishop, of Emmaus (the Right Rev. Dr. Patterson), who also preached the consecration sermon. Among the laity present at the solemn and impressive function were Sir Charles Clifford, father of Sir George Clifford, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr., and Mrs. A. J.. White, with several members of their family, and Mr? and Mrs. Martin Kennedy; who then resided in Grey mouth. At a subsequent banquet" Sir Charles Clifford gave a very interesting description . of his early pioneer days in this country. •:.;■..■,.. Arrival of Bishop Grimes in New Zealand. ~ It was impossible for the new Bishop to leave Europe until December in the same year. He reached •Wellington at the end of January, 1888, and, accompanied by his Grace the Archbishop, the "late Dean Ginaty, and several other priests, arrived at Lyttelton in time to offer up the Adorable Sacrifice of the Mass on Candlemas day, February 2. On the evening of the same day he came on to Christchurch by a special train, was met by an immense gathering of priests and people, and was installed by the Metropolitan, Archbishop Redwood., Amongst those who met him were the late Bishop

Harper, Dean Harper, Sir.C. C. Bowen, Sir Westby Perceval, and Messrs. H. H. Xoughiiah; J. Barrett, G. o'Malley,'M. Ryan, P. Henly, ; the ; late Mr. E. O'Connor, and other,prominent residents. On his arrival in the city he found that the Catholic Church, now the Girls' Parochial School in Lower High street, was served by three zealous priests, who had to minister not only to all the Catholics of the city, but also to those in the outlying districts of Addington, Halswell, Hornby, Papanui, Woolston, Sumner, and New Brighton, besides visiting the two prisons, the mental hospital, and other institutions in the city. . , r _ : ' After a short stay in Christchurch, Bishop Grimes began the visitation of his diocese, comprising the whole of Canterbury, Westland, and a portion of the province of Nelson, and'the Chatham Islands, and since then he has visited the whole diocese eleven or twelve times, preaching and ministering in every church, convent and chapel within its boundaries. Mors than onr.e, he has penetrated South Westland -to Jackson's Bay, where, in 1901, he had a terrible experience on the Jane Douglas. With four priests, he was for nearly a week obliged to seek shelter in the old Jane at Open Bay Island. - It was .thought'throughout New Zealand and - Australia that the vessel, will all aboard, was lost. When Bishop Grimes at last landed and reached"the post and telephone office he received many congratulatory messages and telegrams, amongst "others from * the King, who was then -visiting New Zealand as the Duke of ,Yo : r&; Lord Ranfuriy, Mr, R. J. Seddon (then the Premier), and 'Sir Joseph Ward. Among the ' strange incidents in connection with ; that adventure was" the I fact that the Bishop was enabled to read his own obituary in. a provincial journal sent to him by one of his priests. He had not been many years in the diocese 'Before' he saw the need of establishing another parish in Christchurch. He cut off a large part from the pro-cathedral, parish and formed an independent 'one; in Manchester street, now known as St. Mary's parish. ' ~'",."?' • ■ During the last quarter of a century great : progress ! has been made in church and in school matters in the Catholic diocese, while the number of priests has doubled itself. There are now sixty churches, ten teaching Brothers of the Marist Order, six different Orders -of nuns with 240 : Sisters, nine boarding or high schools, and twenty-six primary schools, attended by over 3000 children. In addition, there is the institute'known as Mount Magdala with an. industrial and preservation school containing over 250 inmates; a home for the infirm of T both sexes, conducted by the Sisters of Nazareth, who attend to the wants of ninety aged persons, some of them blind, others paralysed or otherwise helpless, and nearly 100 orphans. A high school'for boys has been opened recently on the Ferry'road, r and is known as St. Bede's Collegiate School; and a missionary residence, with four missionaries, has been established at. Temuka. ' , •■";,', ;.;■-.-. Increase of Churches and Schools. _ Since the erection of the diocese in 1887, new parishes have been established at Fairlie, Akaroa, Leeston, Darfield, Hawarden, and Christchurch North, 7 and in addition to the magnificent cathedral in the; city, churches have been built or enlarged at/Manchester street, Timaru, Waimate, Waiau Doaviis, Makikihi, St." Andrews, Hakateramea, Fairlie, Albany, the Cave, the Hinds, Rakaia, Methven, Hornby, New Brighton, Woolston, Leeston, Darfield, Springfield, Coalgate, Rangiora, Hawarden, Cheviot, Hanmer, Waiau, Greymouth, Blackball, Rimu, Ahaura, Barrytown, Dunollie, Kanieri, and Waitangi. New-schools .have been'erected or enlarged in Christchurch North, Christchurch South, Addington, Halswell, Lyttelton, • Akaroa, Rangiora, Darfield, Leeston, Temuka, Timaru, Waimate, Kumara, Greymouth, Brunnerton, Dunollie, Hokitika, Kanieri, Ross, and Rimu. Presbyteries have been built, secured, or greatly enlarged in Christchurch, Lyttelton, Akaroa, Darfield, Hawarden, Leeston, Lincoln, Greymouth, Hokitika, Ross, Ahaura, Ashburton, Temuka, Timaru, and Waimate; new convents have been erected in Colombo street, Christchurch, Mount,; Magdala, Sydenham, Lyttelton,: Akaroa, Rangiora, Darfield, \ Kumara, - and Ross; Catholic Clubs have been /opened in Christchurch -

Ashburton, Temuka, t Timaru, Waimate, < Greymouth, and^Hokitika; and domestic chapels have I been erectedin the convents in Christchurch Timaru, Temuka, Waimate, and at Mount Magdala. The expenditure for the erection or enlarging of these ecclesiastical; or scholastic properties has reached large proportions. Without taking into account what is daily required for their upkeep, the church and scholastic properties in Christchurch; alone have cost £170,000 since 1887. The Bishop's First Visit to Westland. His first visit to Westland was in May, 1888. For some time before there had been incessant rains on the Coast. The newspapers said that they hoped the new Bishop would have a little weather, otherwise he would; have a poor opinion of their country. Mr. Hugh Cassidy drove him from Springfield to the Bealey, where - he -was warmly greeted by Mr. J. O'Maliey and his family. He started the next morning about daybreak, and drove a little beyond, the Otira, where he was met -by" crowds that came from the Coast to receive him. Dean Carewis' the only survivor of the priests then on the Coast; and Dean Regnauit was, on the occasion of the visit to Hokitika, transferred to Waimate, where he laboured for nearly twenty-five years. Dean Martin was then in J charge of Hokitika. He, and the priests at Ross, Kumara, and Ahaura, with its eight churches, have since gone to their eternal reward. Bishop Grimes spent over six weeks in Westland. During the whole of that time he had splendid .weather, which was called 'Bishop's weather,' and some good stories are told in regard to the coincidence -of the. Bishop's visits and the absence of rain on the wet West Coast. Among those of the laity who came out to welcome him on the Coast were Mr. Martin Kennedy, Mr. Felix Campbell, Messrs. Griffin, Sheedy, Mandl, and quite a number nonCatholics. Everywhere he met with the most cordial and hospitable reception, and the miners used to make holiday during his visits. ~ >~_ ' Twenty-five Years' Progress. Since he has been Bishop of Christchurch, it has been his duty to bless and open the splendid convent of the Good Shepherd at Mount Magdala, which has done good for the 5 whole of the Dominion. He has also had the consolation of bringing the Sisters of Nazareth into Christchurch, where they are now favorably known by all members of the community. He has taken part in the election of three bishops, consecrated one, been co-consecrator for another, buried three, has ordained several priests, and professed many a religious. He opened the College of St. Bede twelve months ago last January, and has watched over its steady progress, and he has brought the Sisters of Mercy into Christchurch, where they are doing great work in regard to the education of the children. - ' '"'-■' •_•--'-:;.-.- The erection of the stately cathedral in Barbadoes street is an important event in the history of the Catholic Church and of the city. In this great work Bishop Grimes made many sacrifices and displayed untiring energy. In 1897, he went to Europe, where people thought that he was seeking enjoyment amongst the cities of the Old World. As a matter of fact, while he travelled through Italy, England, Ireland, France, and Belgium, he preached, lectured, and appealed to friends and acquaintances on behalf of the Cathedral that was to be. On his return journey, he spoke no fewer than nine times in one day in a New York church, and obtained there £IOO. He also appealed to several churches in Canada. He was so successful that he returned to Christchurch with £3OOO as the nucleus of the Cathedral fund. Two .years later, in 1899, it was unanimously decided at a representative meeting that a cathedral should be- built, and that it should be on the site of the old pro-cathedral. Courage and confidence were given by the enthusiasm of the people. Some gave £IOOO each, others a thousand guineas, others' sums from £IOO to £500; Very few in the diocese gave less than a guinea. Many gave the savings of ; a" lifetime.' Stories, are told" of the sacrifices that, were made. On one occasion, the Bishop was approached by a man who said ,-that he - and his wife had decided to make some T sacrifice for the work. His wife would go without a; new bonnet she had promised herself, and would t give the guinea to the fund, and he himself would gladly

follow her example, and give to the cathedral the sum he had set aside; for a new suit of - clothes,: and others announced that . they intended to give --"to, the temple of the Almighty a large portion of the wealth'He had bountifully, bestowed upon them. During one of his visits to Westland he, with the late Archpriest Le Menant des Chesnais, preached a fortnight's mission in Greymouth.; With Father Goggan, : for ; a time, and later on two occasions, he gave missions with the late Dean Foley in Westland and Canterbury, going into even the remotest ;.' districts. : Whenever the people wished to give them any remuneration : for their services, they asked that it should be given r to the Cathedral fund. It was not very long before the generosity shown .accumulated a large sum, and preparations were made for laying the foundation-stone. It was laid by the venerable Archbishop Carr of Melbourne, who; with - several other ; prelates, came specially for the occasion. His Grace also came for the solemn opening, which is regarded as an epoch-making event in the history of the diocese. The ceremony was unique in Australasia. There were eight Bishops present, besides his Excellency . : the Governor, i Mr. R. J. Seddon (then Prime Minister), -and Sir Joseph Ward (the- present Prime Minister). : Archbishop Carr : was again present at the anniversary; opening; and opened-one of the beautiful side chapels. The Bishop of Ballarat preached a most appropriate sermon, and spoke in glowing terms of the beauties of the magnificent -temple." , ' ■■■ . '-;;;.,; Visits to Rome.;:. - Bishop Grimes had four audiences \ : with k the late Pope Leo XIII., whom he saw at least six times, once when he;consecrated; the present.-' Cardinal Archbishop of Naples. His Holiness urged and encouraged the Bishop to; undertake the great work of building the Cathedral. He had two audiences with Pius ; X. During his last audience he gave , His Holiness a; : large rich album with photographic views '-. of the Cathedral. His■ Holiness seemed to be enraptured with it. He gave a generous donation towards the Cathedral, promised an autograph .letter thanking and : congratulating; all for the magnificent structure, and sent the Bishop a reliquary, and told the Bishop that he felt sure that with such a faithful, generous, noble-hearted people, the debt on the Cathedral would, soon be "a thing of the past. The letter was received and is treasured, and also the handsome reliquary and the chalice presented by Pope Leo XIII. Bishop Grimes, has known four Cardinal-Archbishops of Westminster, his native archdiocese. He was confirmed by Cardinal Wiseman, and was well acquainted with his three successors—Cardinal Manning, Cardinal Vaughan, and the present Cardinal Bourne. He is on the best terms with the Catholic: Hierarchy of Australia, especially Archbishop Carr, of; Melbourne, who has .always been graciously kind to the people of the Christchurch diocese. As stated before, Bishop Grimes has never refrained from taking a citizen's part in affairs ', that touch the welfare of the community. He has always felt that patriotism is imposed upon bishop and priest, as well as upon laymen, and that, in addition, -it is their duty to inculcate a public spirit in the hearts of all who, come under their charge. The interest taken in the approaching -event is shown. by ; the fact that the Bishop has already received, hearty congratulations from Rome, England, Ireland, France, America, Australia, Tasmania; "and the Pacific Islands, as well as from many parts of New Zealand.- " „ \; J "' " - .