DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1916, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) December 11. His Lordship the Bishop has quite a list of engagements for this week in connection with school entertainments and prize distributions prior to the Christmas vacation, beginning at the Sacred Heart Convent, Timaru, on Tuesday.

Resuming his instructive lecturettes on notable Catholic laymen to the men’s division of the archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, the spiritual director (Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A.), in the Cathedral on last Tuesday evening, spoke most interestingly on the life and good works of Frederic Ozanam, founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and incidentally advocated the society as an ideal one, to which his hearers should become associated.

His Lordship the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Cathedral on Friday last (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) to the exceptionally large number of 375 candidates (boys and girls). On Sunday afternoon, after the devotions and outdoor procession of the Blessed Sacrament, 37 adults (mainly recent converts) also received the sacred rite at the hands of his Lordship. Members of the Cathedral clergy attended the Bishop in the impressive

ceremonial. The total number confirmed on the two occasions was thus 412. / ■ Encouraged by the conspicuous financial success, as .well ' as the ; pleasurable effects, of the last ‘ garden party ’ given under its auspices, the Cathedral School Committee are getting busy in promoting another similar event the date of which is fixed for Saturday, January 20, in the spacious grounds . enclosing the Cathedral and 'episcopal residence, which are now looking exceptionally beautiful. The afternoon and evening are to be devoted to the object, and at intervals Derry’s Brass Band, one of our best local musical combinations, will perform selections. With an extensive re-building programme mapped out for the immediate future, the school committee is in need of all the assistance it is possible to offer, and in this regard its confidence in the generosity of the parishioners (whose interest in Catholic education is strongly in evidence) is certain not to be misplaced. Very genuine sorrow is felt by the many friends and acquaintances of the late Mr. J. W. Kennedy, whose demise was announced in the last issue of the Tablet , and appreciation of the graceful tribute to his memory which also appeared in that journal to which he was so sincerely devoted. In his earlier years he was well known in this city, principally in his active membership of the Catholic Literary Society in its most brilliant days, under the presidency of the late Mr. W. B. Masked. The late Mr. Kennedy, during his long term of office as sub-editor of the Tablet , was a real friend to correspondents, ever vigilant lest by some mischance one should drift into the ‘ shoals and quicksands,’ an ever-present danger, and a by no means impossible achievement, were watchful guidance lacking.—R.l.P. The Christchurch Catholic Club on last Wednesday evening entertained its lady friends to an enjoyable •‘social.’ The president (Mr. J. R. Hayward) welcomed the guests, and the following contributed to the programme:— solos, Misses M. G. O’Connor and Nottingham, Messrs. A. MacDonald and B. Renneli ; instrumental quartet, Misses Ward (piano and violin), Mr. H. 11. Loughnan (’cello), and Mr. Ward (violin) recitations, Misses A. Donnell and M. Higgins, Messrs. F. McDonald and F. Rowe; ’cello solo, Mr. A. C. Nottingham. Miss K. O’Connor and Mr. P. C. Angarde accompanied. Refreshments were served, "and during the interval a guessing competition from clues was instituted, the objects being the names of two books and two songs, all four being correctly guessed by Miss M. Canavan, who was handed the prize by the Rev. Father Murphy. Advantage w-as taken of the presence of his Lordship the Bishop to present him with a cheque for £l4, representing the result of the club’s recent concert to aid the funds of the Cathedral School Committee. In expressing. his grateful acceptance of the cheque on behalf of the committee his Lordship warmly commended the loyalty of the club members and their evident willingness to at all times assist in promoting the interests of religion and Catholic education. Very cordially thanking those who had contributed to the evening’s entertainment, which had been most enjoyable, his Lordship complimented the club on its command of such talent, which in point of numbers and efficiency would be difficult to surpass. On Sunday afternoon last (Sunday Within the Octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) the open-air procession of the Blessed Sacrament (transferred for weather reasons from the Feast of Corpus Christ was held in the grounds of the Cathedral and episcopal residence, and thence through those of the adjoining Convent of the Sacred Heart. Devotions were commenced in the Cathedral ,at 3 o’clock. The procession was formed of many sections, and reverently wended its way along the drives and avenues to the centre of 'the grounds, where Benediction was given. Reforming, the convent grounds were entered and traversed, all . finally assembling on the spacious lawn of the convent before a second altar from which Benediction was given a second time. Finally the procession again entered the Cathedral for the closing impres-

sive ceremonial. The day .was calm and excessively I, • ~, . -1.;.,. . . J sultry, conditions, combined . with the ■ surroundings,that were ideal for the occasion. Some thousands of all ages participated in what was the most imposing spectacle yet .witnessed here. ' Inscribed streamers, archways,■'banners,' and bannerettes were to be seen in all directions, whilst the processional ! ways in the convent grounds were prettily festooned and garlanded in an elaborate manner. The altars, too, were tastefully adorned, that at the convent being uniquely featured by having two little girls so placed as to represent adoring angels. His Lordship the Bishop officiated, with the Very Rev. Father Graham, S.M., M.A., and Rev. Father O’Hare as deacon and subdeacon respectively. The Rev. Father Murphy, B.A.,"was master of ceremonies, the clergy of the Cathedral and St. Mary’s Church assisting in the sanctuary. At the conclusion of . the ceremony his Lordship the. Bishop spoke in grateful terms of that afternoon’s splendid manifestation of faith, and very cordially thanked the many devoted workers whose excellent and effective preparations had so enhanced the really magnificent pageant in honor of our Divine Lord in the Blessed Eucharist.