Christchurch North

New Zealand Tablet, 24 September 1914, Page 35

Christchurch North

September 21. The Rev. Father Moloney, S.M. (Wanganui) and the Rev. Father Bowden, S.M. (Leeston) were visitors at St. Mary’s Presbytery during the week. On Sunday, at the 7 o’clock Mass, the members of the Children of Mary, Ladies of Charity, and St. Vincent de Paul Society received Holy Communion, which was offered up for the repose of the soul of our late Holy Father Pius X. After the 11 o’clock Mass* there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and in the evening the usual procession 'took place, when torches, as now prescribed, were carried for the first time. The Rev. Father James Tymons, S.M., preached a most impressive sermon on the ‘ Existence of God.’ to a very large congregation. Another of the many parish improvements effected by the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., is the installation of the electric light both in the church and presbytery, which was switched on for the first time last night, and was generally appreciated. Apart from the advantage of a better light, the cost of lighting will be reduced to one quarter of the former price by gas. „„ : . Bluff . ; At the annual spring show held last week, the convent school children gained prizes in each section in

which they entered exhibits, as-follow;Freehand drawing, Mona Lister, Ist. Handwriting Standards 111. and IV.: May Conway, 1; Mary King, 3. Standards V. and VI.: Holly Smith, 2; May Conway, 3. Buttonhole bouquets— Lister, 1. Ladies’ dress sprays— Dolly Smith, 1; Mona Lister, 2; Mary Kelly, 3. As this is the first year the children have entered into competition with other schools, the results arc considered very creditable. Remuera . (From our own correspondent.) September 21. Last Sunday, the Feast of our Lady of Sorrows, was a day of special devotion in the parish. Large congregations attended the three Masses, and at the first Mass there were some hundreds of communicants, including a number of small children, who approached the altar rails for the first time. The children had been prepared by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and they presented a beautiful spectacle as they walked two by two up the aisles towards the altar. Beautiful and appropriate music and hymns were rendered by the children during Mass. The First Communicants were later entertained at breakfast at the convent. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed ( at the 11 o’clock Mass and remained exposed until evening devotions, the parishioners, Children of Mary, and school children, taking their turns as guards of honor to the Blessed Sacrament all the afternoon. In the evening a sermon on the text, ‘I am the Bread of Life,’ was preached by Rev. Father Doyle, who dwelt on the different phases of the Blessed Sacrament, and pointed out how Christ by His Sacramental Presence asserts openly and vividly 11 is royal sovereignty in this world. Father Doyle spoke also of the amazing manner in which Christ in this Sacrament places Himself on our own level of matter and sense, and how He offers those who approach His Holy Table His friendship. In conclusion, he suggested that we should learn something of Christ’s own humility before the Sacrament,, which is Himself. We should humble ourselves in the very dust before Him Who, not only in Jerusalem two thousand years ago, but to-day, and in these cities in which we live, comes to seek and save our souls. Hamilton (From an occasional correspondent.) Very Rev. Dean Darby gave a very interesting lecture on Belgium to the members of St. Mary’s Club at the clubrooms on Friday evening last. The lecture, by comparisons, easily, made the audience understand the size, physical features, and population of this very interesting country. I s history for the past 100 years was briefly reviewed, and showed how Belgium had fared under French rule, Dutch rule, and self-govern-ment. In many ways, the speaker said, Belgium was very democratic, and most progressive; and one could easily trace an analogy in progressive legislation between Belgium and New Zealand. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer concluded a most interesting address. >