DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 30 October 1913, Page 26

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) ■ October 27. Mr. H. St. George, examiner for Trinity College, London, was engaged during the week at the convent centres of the city. The Rev. Father Wright, of Waihi, passed through Christchurch last week on his return, after spending ten weeks in Victoria visiting his parents. The art union in connection with the carnival in aid of the Cathedral fund will be drawn without fail on the evening of November 21, the closing day of the bazaar. All those who have tickets for disposal are requested to return blocks, accompanied with the amount received for tickets sold, by November 19 at the latest. To aid the furnishing fund of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sumner, an exceptionally attractive variety entertainment will be given in the local Town Hall on Thursday, November 27. Some of the best items given at the Oriental Carnival will be repeated as part of a well-arranged programme. The ladies of the Altar Society have the sale of tickets in hand, and are meeting with most encouraging success. The general committee of the Oriental Carnival, which is open in the Olympia Skating Rink on next Saturday, . in aid of the Cathedral fund, met on last Wednesday evening at the episcopal residence. The Very Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., who presided, stated that his Worship the Mayor had promised to open the carnival. A good deal of detail business was transacted. At the Marist Brothers' Schoolroom on the same evening, the M. 8.0.8. Association met to discuss matters affecting their own interests, and incidentally those of the carnival in which the association and the H.A.C.B. Society are taking a prominent . part, including the management of side shows, and principally the tug-of-war contests. In a letter to the Very Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., from Lyons, France, under date September 5, his Lordship Bishop Grimes stated that he had just visited the Convent of Notre Dame des Missions, at Deal, to see the Rev. Mother St. Philomena, late Mother Prioress of the convent in Christchurch, who has been an invalid for some time. He spent a few days in Paris, and proceeded to Lyons to transact diocesan business, and intended to spend part of October with friends near Florence, where he hoped to enjoy a rest, which so far he had been able to take but little. From Florence his Lordship was to go on to Rome (this, the cable informed us last week, had taken place, and his Lordship had an audience with the Holy Father). As previously announced the Bishop is to

join the Orsovaat Naples oh Saturday next. He will have as travelling companions the Rev. Father Casey, S.M., and Rev. Father Maurice Cronin, the latter coming to the Christchurch, diocese. The Mother Genera! of the Religious of the Sacred Heart and her comt>g,nion "will ioin the at Port Said. ?

In his discourse to the congregation in the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sumner, on last Sunday, the Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., spoke of a phase of Christian charity in religious matters too little practised;' by Catholics towards those outside the Church, many of whom were, where they were, through ignorance of the Church's teaching. A defence of Catholic teaching and convictions was praiseworthy when these were assailed, but good example on the part of Catholics, combined with a tolerant and tactful attitude, did far: more to win over innumerable Protestants, who lived lives of spiritual unrest and doubt, yearning for friendly advice, and the light that would lead them' into a haven of certainty and hope. Too often such were repelled, when seeking the truth, or even on the verge of conversion, by uncharitable abuse of the unsatisfying faith they held, instead of receiving the kindly help they looked for. A good book .invariably -.» provided food for reflection to non-Catholics, but an hour's interview with a Catholic priest would accomplish.more than months of argument wrongly applied. .— ■ i SUMNER CATHOLIC CHURCH. (From our Christchurch correspondent.) VSince the opening of the fine new Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, fronting Dry street, Sumner, much improvement has been effected -in the surroundings and in the completion of the beautiful interior. In regard to the latter, the rose window in the sanctuary end is placed in position. The central subject represents Our Lady Star of the Sea, the title also being shown, with the invocation, 'Pray for us.' Surrounding the central subject are vignettes on varied colored glass, representing saintly figures in attitudes of prayer and veneration, the circle being completed with a vase and floral tribute as the supporting vignette. A splendid marble high altar has been imported and placed in position, the original wooden one being removed to the chapel of the Blessed Virgin, and surmounted with a handsome statue of our Blessed Lady. Two beautiful windows in stained glass, representative of the Annunciation and of the Nativity adorn this chapel. A statue of the Sacred Heart, showing our Divine Lord with hands outstretched, and another of St. Joseph with the Divine Infant occupy the spaces where the body of the church opens out from the sanctuary. Under each of the supporting brackets are figures of angels showing bright shining shields with a cross as a centre. A chaste and artistically worked altar cover, with the words ' Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,' embroidered in gold letters, made by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Mount Magdala; candelabra for the altar, and other requisites, including carpets for the sanctuary and side chapel, and matting for the nave, have all been supplied. The grounds have been filled in with soil, levelled, laid down in grass, and paths formed. A substantial gate opens on to a wide asphalt pathway leading to the main entrance. • On the whole the church is fairly well furnished, and forms a striking feature in the centre of the pretty marine borough. Christchurch North His Grace Archbishop Redwood arrived from the West Coast on Wednesday evening, and was met at the station by the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., whose guest he was while here. On Thursday visits were paid to the Sisters of the Mission (Barbadoes street) and the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (Mt. Magdala). His Grace left for Timaru by the second express on Friday, and returned on Saturday evening to catch the steamer for Wellington.

-The" mission for men conducted by the Marist Missionary Fathers during the past week was brought to a close last evening. The attendance at all the exercises was most gratifying. At the daily Masses there were large numbers of communicants. On Sunday morning at the 7 o'clock Mass, the celebrant being Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., a most edifying sight was the general Communion of men, about 300 approaching the Holy Table. In the evening Father O'Connell, S.M., preached an eloquent sermon on the Blessed Eucharist, and urged on all the necessity of x frequent Holy Communion. After the sermon the procession took place in which the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society took part. The renewal of Baptismal vows, followed by the Papal % Benediction, brought to a close one of the most successful missions given in St. Mary's. The inauguration of the men's and women's branches of the arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament took place yesterday, when large numbers presented themselves for enrolment. A mission was opened at Hornby yesterday morning by the Rev. Father Herring, S.M., and crowded congregations attended both morning and evening.

Communion Breakfast.

Immediately after the 7 o'clock Mass a Communion breakfast was held in St. Mary's Schoolroom, when about 300 were present. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., presided. The Ladies of Charity and Children of Mary waited at the different tables. The following toasts were honored: The first was ' The Pope and the King,' The Bishop and clergy,' was proposed by Dr. A. B. O'Brien, who said that the members of the Catholic clergy were men specially chosen by vocation and severe training for- the priesthood. The Catholic laity recognised that their priests were God's chosen apostles, and this was one of the sources of love and respect which existed between priests and people. In the absence of his Lordship the Bishop, the Very Rev. Dean Hills, V.G., responded, and referred to the excellent work of the mission. He was sure that his Lordship, would have rejoiced to have been with them that day. Mr. H. H. Loughnan proposed the ' Missioners,' and said that he hoped that the good result of their labors would be permanent. He referred to the arduous na l ure of mission work, which made ' young men old.'

Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., in responding, said that the Missioners endeavoured to lift the people tip and make them realise the responsibilities of life. He expressed pleasure at revisiting St. Mary's after an absence of three years, and seeing many of the pioneers who had done such valiant work, and for "whom he always felt a great respect. Father O'Conneli then proposed the toast of ' Kindred societies'— namely, the Hibernian Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Catholic Club. He urged all present to join these societies, as by doing so they would be benefited both spiritually and temporally.

Mr. Sloan (president of the Hibernian Society), in responding, welcomed the idea of a St. Mary's branch, and referred', to the splendid work t that , Father O'Connell had done in helping in the formation, of new branches throughout Australasia. Mr. F. C. Delany (president of the local .conference of the, St. Vincent de Paul Society) urged all. to become active members, and assist in the helping of those distressedmaterially or spiritually. The principles, left by their founder, Frederic Ozanam, were faith, charity, and humility, and the practice of these would help them to carry out the good resolutions made at the mission.

Mr. J. Devonport replied for the Catholic Club and urged accession to its membership, instancing the Catholic training such clubs gave young men. The ' Catholic Federation' was proposed by Mr. J. Gorman, who pointed out the urgent need of all Catholics to join this organisation. . He referred to the splendid work which had been done in Germany, America, England, and Australia by the Catholic Federation in meeting attacks on the Church, and obtaining justice for Catholics. The Federation was not a political body except where politics attacked religion. Mr. W. ward, jun., president of the Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation, who responded, gave many instances of good work already done by the Federation. •'■

The toast of ' The press, religious and secular,' was proposed by Mr. A. J. Malley and responded to by Mr. Hoban. Both gentlemen made special reference to the N.Z. Tablet, and expressed the desire to see that paper in every Catholic home. The toast of ' The ladies,' proposed by Mr. A. P. De La Cour, and responded to by Mr. G. Hayward, enabled the speakers to comment upon the willingness of the ladies of the parish to assist in any good work in which their services were required. A special meed of praise is due to the work of the energetic secretary ('Mr. T. H. Cape-Williamson, of the St. Vincent de Paul Society), under whose auspices the breakfast was held.