DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 27 April 1916, Page 22

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent. \ : April 24. .. At St. Benedict’s the usual "devotions' of Holy Week’ took place. On Friday evening Rev. Father Murphy preached on the ‘ Passion.’ "’ r d i ; - i

The Hibernian delegates from both islands continue to arrive for the district meeting to be held tomorrow, at which important business is to be transacted. /

: . The . Holy Week services at the Cathedral comprised the Office of Tenebrse on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. High Mass .was sung on Holy Thursday morning, after which there was a procession, of the - Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, which was tastefully decorated. Throughout the day and all night the faithful kept watch. . .Very Rev; Chancellor Holbrook preached a fine sermon on the ‘ Blessed Eucharist.’ On Good Friday the Mass of the Presanctified was celebrated, before which every member of the large congregation approached the altar rails to venerate the Cross, In the afternoon there was the devotion of the Stations of the Cross. In the evening Rev. Father O’Doherty, Cambridge, preached on the ‘ Passion.’

Rev. Father Carran, of Ponsonby, delivered a most interesting lecture on ‘ Lourdes ’ to the Holy Family Confraternity on Tuesday evening. He showed from the history of the Church that God on many occasions manifested His powers and will by performing some wonderful miracles. He referred' to many specific instances, the result of which tended to an awakening and revival of the faith. So it was with Lourdes, and the beneficent designs of God were there in abundance, the evidence of which was indisputable and irrefutable. Father Carran concluded with an exhortation to all to practise devotion to the Blessed Virgin, who, in the hour of our tribulation, would console and comfort us. The Holy Family Confraternity, under Father Taylor’s zealous administration, is increasing in membership. Owing to the war, many of its members had left, still at the last meeting 120 members attended.

At all churches of the city large congregations attended 1 the Easter Sunday services. The number of communicants was very large at the early Masses. High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Taylor at the Cathedral, Rev. Fathers Dunphy and Murphy being deacon and subdeacon respectively. ' Rev; Father Murphy, on behalf of his Lordship the Bishop, thanked the choir. Sisters of Mercy and their assistants, and collectors, all of whom had consistently performed their respective duties. - In the evening the church was' crowded, when Very Rev. Chancellor . Holbrook preached a splendid sermon on the day’s 1, festival. The choir rendered exceptionally/ well the ; musical portion, particularly Lambillotte’s ‘ TantuhL Ergo.’ , The high altar was magnificently decorated. • The choirassembled‘at the presbytery' after Benediction,/ where Rev. Father j; Murphy oil. behalf of the choir , and; friends, . mad© a presentation to Mrs. Hiscocks, wife of the conductor, .as sh§ is, after thirty years’ service, retiring. ;. . Rev.. Father Murphy.-paid a warm . tribute to the . invaluable - and constant services of Mrs. . His-, cocks, who ; was an example. to all concerned in the performance of her duties. ; - Very Rev. . Chancellor Holbrook also : gave similar testimony. - -, Messrs.. Egan and Clarke spoke on behalf of the choir, Mr. M. J. Sheahanfor the laity, all of whom referred in eulogistic ; terms to Mrs. Hiscocks’ great services. Mr. F. Hiscocks replied 'on behalf of Mrs. Hiscocks, and • thanked the several speakers for. their kindly remarks, and the donors ■ for their splendid present; which would be always treasured as a memento .. of the , happy years spent in the ' Cathedral choir. ‘ The toast of ' the recipient was then honored by the assemblage.

Hamilton

(By telegraph, from an occasional correspondent.)

April 25.

Holy Week brought renewed spiritual life to the Church of . Our Lady of the > Rosary and to . the parish of Hamilton. . Special services, beginning ... at. 7.30 p.m., were arranged foru Wednesday, Thursday, r and Friday evenings. On Holy Thursday morning at 6.30 o’clock Solemn High Mass was sung by ' Yery Rev. Dean Darby, Rev. Fathers O’Doherty and Duffy being deacon and subdeacon respectively. Over 300 persons received Holy Communion. On Good Friday morning the' Mass of the Presanctified was said-, and the ‘ Passion ’ was sung by Very Rev. Dean Darby and Rev. Fathers Edge and Duffy. On Holy Thursday night and Good Friday ; morning Rev. Father O’Doherty (Cambridge) preached, and on , Good Friday night Rev. Father Edge (Huntly) preached. Both preachers delivered impressive discourses. The Holy. Saturday services began at 6.30 a.m.

Easter Sunday witnessed a record number at Holy Communion at all the Masses. Rev. Father Lynch, of Te Awamutu assisted at Hamilton, Cambridge, and Huntly. The parish-of Hamilton is deeply grateful to the visiting priests for their generous assistance during the Holy Week services, which were materially helped by the singing of the convent children.