DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 16 December 1915, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) December 13. The Rev. Father James Hanrahan, recently returned from the Home country, has been placed in charge of the parochial district of Ahaura, Westland, and the Rev. Father T. Hanrahan, lately ordained, is attached to the Cathedral.

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception over seventy children made their First Communion at -the Cathedral, and were afterwards entertained to breakfast by the Sisters of the Missions. In the afternoon all attended at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the convent chapel.

With an apparently zealous desire of c getting in 'early,’ the Dominion Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society, at its annual meeting held last week, elected the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, Bishop-elect of Christchurch, a vice-president, in succession to the late Bishop Grimes, who , held office for a number of years. A resolution was also passed expressive of the loss sustained by the whole community in the death of Bishop Grimes.

Representatives of various organisations were present at the adjourned meeting held in the Hibernian Hall to formulate a workable scheme in connection with the Catholic Social Study Guild. The Rev. Father Long presided, the Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A., and Rev. Brother Calixtus (Principal of the Marist Brothers’ School) were also in attendances The project being deemed sufficiently advanced, it was decided to

meet again on next Wednesday evening in the Catholic Clubrooms to elect an executive committee* Bro. Jus. Curry (president) occupied the chair at the usual fortnightly meeting of St. Patrick’s branch of the H.A.C.B. Society. It was decided to give the use of the hall to the newly-formed Catholic branch of the Red Cross Society as a workroom and for meeting purposes. Bros. Grimes and O’Brien were appointed to attend the meeting of the Canterbury Friendly Societies on the 11th inst., -in.regard to the matter of running a Friendly Societies’ Queen at the forthcoming Carnival. It was decided to make the usual donation of two guineas to the Mount Magdala Christmas festival fund. On behalf of the society, Rev. Father Long presented the Hibernian gold medal, which is donated annually to the Marist Brothers’ Boys’ School, to Rev. Brother Calixtus. A very creditable essay on ‘ The aims and objects of the Hibernian Society,’ the subject set at a recent competition held at the Marist Brothers’ School, written by Master Jack Wilson, was read.

A successful social was given in the Alexandra Hall on last Tuesday evening in aid of the Catholic branch of the Red Cross Society’s funds. There was a , large attendance, a number of the clergy being among those present. In progressive euchre the first prize (ladies’), a handsome set of ear-rings, presented by Mrs. J. C. Palmer (president), was won by Miss M. Nelson, and the first prize (gentlemen's), a case of silver-backed clothes brushes, presented by Lady Clifford (patroness), by Mr. Theel Keld. The second prizes, contributed by Mrs. J. S. Barra tt, were allotted to Mrs. Hannafin and Rev. Father Quinn. The committee desire to thank Mrs. W. Cronin and the musical party associated with her for their enjoyable contributions, and also Mrs. F. Green for promoting the social, and the ladies associated with her in arranging and carrying out the details. The executive committee of the branch sincerely thank the Cathedral confraternity of .the Diocesan Ladies of Charity for a- donation of £1 Is, and Mr. H. H. Loughnan for £l.

- Nurse Rose Fanning, one of the New Zealand nurses stationed at the No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Abbassia, Egypt, writes of her experiences. She says: ‘ Our boys in hospital are very happy, and so cheerful. At times the wards are more like schools, for the boys are never so happy as when playing tricks on one another, but it will be a world of cripples after the war. The English women here are very good to the boys. They cannot do too much for them. They bring all kinds of dainties to the sick ones, and entertain at their homes those able to walk. The Palace Hotel, which indeed is a vast and beautiful building, more like a palace than an hotel, has been transformed into No. 1 Australian Hospital. It is a wonderful place, and contains hundreds of rooms. Lately we have moved to a larger home, so that there is now room for everybody. Last week I went up to Alexandria, and stayed a night on the Maheno. The staff all look very well.’

By rotation, the general meeting of all conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the circumscription of the Particular Council of Christchurch was held on last Thursday (in honor of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) at Ozanam Lodge, Manchester street. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., presided, and there was a large attendance. Excellent reports were received from the various conferences and also from the confraternities of Diocesan Ladies of Charity. Circulars from the Superior Council of Sydney were read, including , the report of a most interesting and instructive address by his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate to an exceedingly large , assembly of Brothers of the society in Sydney. In the course of his address, the Very Rev. Dean Hills expressed his pleasure at, the fine meeting, and gave much helpful advice for the guidance of all present. The spiritual welfare of those assisted by the society (he. said) was of as great importance as the material, and thus by entering fully into the spirit of the society' the • members would ’be

benefiting, themselves-as well as all others they came in contact with. ,-A meeting of Catholic men, fully representative of all parts of the city and suburbs; was' held on last Sunday afternoon- in the Hibernian Hall, convened for the object of forming a men's section of the recently established Catholic branch of the Red Cross Society. Among those present were the Rev. Father Long Mrs. J. C. Palmer (president),, and Mrs. Herbert (secretary) of the branch. Mr. M. Grimes was voted to the chair, and, after . stating the object of the meeting, called on Mrs. Palmer to indicate what the ladies desired should be done. Mrs. Palmer outlined the position. She had (she said) been associated with the work of the Red Cross Society from the very beginning of the war, and was struck bythe fact that, while returns were being continually made by all other denominations, the Catholics as a body were making no show whatever, but, as individuals, were contributing in common with others. To remove this reproach, the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., promptly acceded to her request to organise the Catholic community as a distinct unit. This decision was markedly successful, and resulted in the formation of a branch consisting of women only, with, a membership of 57. These were all engaged in sewing, but means were required for the purpose of procuring material. In this regard it was realised that the men should also be organised, and thus aid very materially in canvassing and collecting, as well as individually contributing. Henceforth' all parcels from Catholic sources would be branded as such, so that our boys at the" front would know that their co-religionists were doing their share for them, and any surplus funds would be sent in such a way that Catholic boys would directly benefit. A motion was unanimously passed, constituting all present (about twenty-five) a general committee, with power to add to their numbers. It was decided to ask the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., to fill the position of president, and an executive committee of six others was elected as follows:Vice-chairman, Mr. M. Grimes; lion, treasurer, Mr. M. Garty; lion, 'secretary, Mr. F. C. Del any : members of executive Messrs. A. J. Malley, F. Glackin, and J. J. Wilson. A number of those present signified their willingness to act as collectors, and it was arranged that the combined executive committees (women and men) meet on next Sunday afternoon to map out districts for canvassing purposes. Apologies for absence were received from Sir Geo. Clifford and several others. Ashburton (From our own correspondent.) Private W. J. Lennon, of the "9th New Zealand Reinforcements, prior to the termination of his final leave from Trentliam, was made the recipient of two presentations by his many friends. At a social gathering, held at the residence of his parents, Private Lennon was presented with a set of razors from -the assembled friends, while at a gathering given in his honor at the residence of his late employer (Mr. L. McGuinness), Private Lennon received a _ substantial cheque from Mr. McGuinness and a wristlet watch from his many friends in the district. Both presentations were accompanied by eulogistic references to the recipient's sterling worth and character, to" which he feelingly replied.

In connection with the Society of Science, Letters, and Art, of Kensington, W., London, the following pupils of the Ashburton Convent were eminently successful in gaining first-class certificates with honors in the following subjects—viz., English literature, French, mathematics, English history, domestic science, and theory of music —Senior Division O’Sullivan. Junior —Dorothy Brown (prize), Ray Brown, Ella. Langley. Preliminary DivisionNelli© Brophy (prize), May Lennon, Mary Langley, Mary Hanrahan,

Nellie Sheehan, Mary Cuneen, Barbara Hurley, Elsie .Ward. : , _ _ _ - : ' '' ; 7 ' To fittingly mark the occasion of the return to Ashburton of our esteemed fellow-Catholic townsman, Mr. P. Hanrahan, sen., along with his two sons—the Rev. Fathers James and Thomas Hanrahan, — a sojourn of some months in the Old. Country, a welcome-home social was tendered them on Tuesday of last week. The gathering was a large 1 and representative one, amongst those present being a visitor from the North Island, in the person of the Rev. Father McManus. The Rev. Father O'Donnell presided over the gathering. In welcoming home the guests of the evening, the rev. chairman paid high tribute to the many good qualities of their guests. The Rev. Fathers Thomas and James Hanrahan he had known from childhood, and it was certainly a source of pride and pleasure for him to find them now in the ranks of the priests of the diocese. On behalf of the Catholic community, Father O'Donnell extended a hearty welcome home to Mr. Hanrahan and. his two sons. A feeling response to the welcome given was made by the respective guests. During the evening " progressive euchre was played, the prize-winners being Mrs. D. Fitzgerald and Mr. R. Nealon. A musical programme was gone through as follows: Pianoforte solos, Mrs. D. Crowe and Miss Quigley j violin solos (2), Miss E. Cull en; songs, Mrs. F. Hanrahan, Rev. Fathers T. and J. Hanrahan. Supper was handed round by the ladies, and a most pleasing and enjoyable function terminated with the singing of ' Auld lang syne ' and ' God save the King.' Timaru (From our own correspondent.) December 13. The pupils of the girls' primary school are giving a concert on Tuesday evening next in their hall, Craigie avenue. The proceeds are to be devoted to the prize fund. On Thursday afternoon last, the Children of Mary were the guests of the Rev. Mother at a garden party, which was held in the convent grounds. The day was beautifully fine, and croquet and other games were indulged in for some time on the lawns, after which a dainty afternoon tea was dispensed Tinder the shade of the trees. An entertainment was then given in the large reception room by the pupils of the boarding school, and a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was spent.

The local branch of the Hibernian Society met on Monday evening in their hall, Brown street. The president (Bro. Hyland) presided, and there was a very

large attendance of members;: including the . Very Rev. Dean Tubman (chaplain) and the Rev. Father 'Ainsworth. A large amount of ' business was dealt with. Thirty-five new candidates were proposed for membership and twelve new members were elected and'initiated, this very satisfactory position being due to the. efforts of the Rev. Father Ainsworth, who during the recent mission impressed on the men the necessity of belonging to a friendly society. Before the close of the meeting the president thanked the Rev. Father Ainsworth for his splendid efforts on behalf of the branch, and asked him to accept an enlarged photograph of the ‘ Communion group/ as a small token of the members’ appreciation. . Very Rev. Dean Tubman thanked him, and complimented him on his successful appeal to the men to join the society. A large number of members also spoke of the good that the Rev. Father had done, amongst others .being Bro. William Doyle, of the Nelson branch, who testified to the zeal Father Ainsworth had always shown in the cause of Hibernianism whilst in that district. Father Ainsworth, who was received with applause, thanked the members for their gift, and gave a most interesting address on the -objects and aims of the society, and in conclusion wished the branch a most successful future.