DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 25 January 1917, Page 27

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

-<. “ f v ; (From our own correspondent.) January 22. 1 His Lordship the Bishop is to preside at the ceremonial opening on next Sunday of a newly-erected Catholic school at Morven, in the parish of Wannate. * : - . . ’ - ■ • ■ 1 . • . ' . ' . ; ; The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Mount Magdala, desire to express their deep gratitude, to the many friends of that great institution for Christmas gifts and donations for the benefit of the numerous inmates. - - # ■ ■ . At the Sacred Heart Orphanage in connection with the Mount Magdala Institute, four pupils of the. Sisters gained proficiency certificates in the recent examination by the inspector of the North Canterbury Board of Education. :U As announced in the Cathedral on Sunday last, the Catholic schools of the district will re-open for the new scholastic year, on Monday next, . January 29. This ■ subject was dwelt upon at length by his Lordship the Bishop, who discoursed eloquently on the advantages of. Catholic education, and impressed upon parents and guardians of children the utmost necessity of, and their absolute duty to, support our own schools. His Lordship expressed his desire, which was also that of the whole hierarchy of New Zealand, that all Catholic children should receive a sound religious training such as is to bo obtained at Catholic schools. As a main essential, every facility for this is afforded at our primary schools, which are fully and efficiently staffed by zealous, and thoroughly competent teachers of different religious Orders. Whenever possible advanced pupils should be given the opportunity of perfecting their education in Catholic secondary schools which for boys are established in various centres, and more adequately for girls at many of the convents. From a list of proficiency certificates announced as having been gained at Catholic schools in the North Canterbury educational district registered with the Education Department, I append the following: Marist Brothers’, Christchurch William Barnard, William Brittenden, Lawrence Cecil, Bay Clark, Leslie Cotter, Maurice Daly, Henry Foster, Harold Hamill, Cecil McArley, William Rodgers, Walter Stride, John Stanley, William Sutherland, Frank Banfield. Sacred Heart Girls’ College (Sisters of the Missions), Lower High street, Christchurch Flo. Cotter, Annie Joyce, Annie McDrury, Cecelia Naismith, Margaret O’Reilly, Madeline O’Brien, Luiore Wharton. St. Joseph’s School, Lower High street (Sisters of the Missions) — Kathleen Gibbs, Mary McAuliffe, Elsie Morrissey, Jessie Sharp. Sacred Heart School, Addington (Sisters of the Missions) — Arthur Mahoney, Daniel O’Connell, Eileen Mitchell, Agnes McNaughton, Catherine Ryan. The following gained proficiency certificates in country schools taught by the Sisters of the Missions:—Sacred Heart, AshburtonMay Pawson. St. Joseph’s, Ashburton—Frank Lennon, Joseph Lennon, Cornelius Ramsay, Maggie McTigue. Rangiora Convent Cecil Dix, Sylvester Devlin, Eileen Hawley, Monica South. Leeston Convent— Dierch, Agnes Gibbs, Nellie Holley. St. Joseph’s School, Kaikoura — Annie Burland. No. 17 Company (Marist Brothers) Senior Cadets, under Lieutenant Amos, officer commanding, assisted by Sergeant-Major Pound and Cadet Sergeant-Majors Isles and Wilson, held recently a few days’ training camp on Mr. McCarthy’s property at Halswell. Lieutenant R. A. Hawkins visited the camp and after a tour of inspection gave the lads a short lecture on camp sanitation. He said that on the whole everything was very satisfactory and that he was well pleased with all he had seen. He hoped in the near future i to be able to bring about a general camp for the senior cadets and to see No. 17 taking a prominent part. The camp was a pronounced success from every point of view, and the lads enjoyed their first experience under canvas. They entered -into the work of the camp with great enthusiasm and showed their keenness in a practical manner by making the gamp entirely

self-supporting, each boy contributing to the,,cost: of conducting it. The . cadets expressed their thanks to the Defence authorities -for their • kind assistance in the form of supplying camp equipment and rifles. Also to ; Mr. McCarthy, who not only placed .his property at their disposal, but t did all he could to make the boys’ Seay. as comfortable and as pleasant as possible. " On the Sunday whilst -in camp - the : cadets paraded and marched to St. Agnes’ Church,, Halswell,- where they were addressed by the Rev. Father Murphy, B'A., and nearly all approached the Holy Table. - >.■ Encouraged by their success in promoting a ‘Garden Party ’- last summer in aid of the funds controlled by the Cathedral School Committee, the members ventured upon a similar undertaking this year for a like object, with the gratifying result that the fete, which eventuated on last Saturday afternoon and evening, realised a net profit of . over £2OO. This handsome augmentation of its funds will enable the committee to discharge all its liabilities and commence the New Year with .a surplus of £l5O, an amount added to each Sunday by an average penny collection of £7. , In ideal-summer weather the attendance during the afternoon was good, but in the cool of the evening the beautiful grounds were quite thronged. ' His Lordship the Bishop and clergy were present at intervals, and all entered into the spirit of the gathering in a manner that left little doubt of success. In the evening the grounds and approaches were electrically illuminated most effectively by Mr. Wedderspoon, and throughout the afternoon and evening Derry’s Band played selections. A number of. remunerative side-shows were controlled by members of St. Patrick’s branch H.A.C.B. Society, headed by Mr. W. Rodgers, and proved a continual source of interest and amusement. On a raised platform a piano (kindly lent by Messrs. Milner and Thompson) was placed,, and vocal and musical selections were given by members of the Lyric Orchestra and concert party, Mr. Kirk being accompanist. Entertaining ‘ turns ’ were also given by Mr. Du Gay, which proved very popular. A large tent was furnished for refreshment purposes, and meals were served. This was controlled by the members of St. Matthew’s (ladies’) branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, headed by Mrs. Tasker and Miss Brophy. It was in constant occupation, and did a thriving business. Other successful stalls were in charge of the following: ——Mrs. W. Brittenden and Misses Cronin ; produce—Mrs. J. O’Brien and Mrs. Neilson ; ice creams and soft drinks— F. Green and Mrs. W. Mahar ; sweets Mrs. J. Foley. Numerous young ladies occupied their time and talents in ‘ scouting ’ among the crowd and extracting by numerous devices all the small change available; but in every instance equivalent value was given. The committee, with its - energetic secretary (Mr. P. A. O’Connell), deserve to be complimented on the completeness and unqualified success of the enterprise and enjoyment afforded. Following on the recent annual retreat of the Marist Brothers, the following changes in the teaching staff have been effected : Brothers Eusebius and Fidelis have been transferred to Thorndon and Tasman street (Wellington) respectively, and Brother Anastasius to Wanganui, and are replaced in Christchurch by Brother Emilian from Tasman street, Brother Luke from Thorndon (Wellington), and Brother Leo from Invercargill. The Rev. Father Langly, C.SS.R., preached an impressive discourse in the Cathedral at Vespers on last Sunday evening on the necessity of unremitting prayer and its efficacy, based on the text, ‘ Ask, and you shall receive.’ The following pupils of the Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Lower High street (Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions) were successful in obtaining certificates for shorthand from_Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., Melbourne: —Theoretical—Kathleen ? Hay don, Kitty Murphy, Gwitha Young, Veronica Berry, Ida Bradford, Edna Lagan* Pauline Flood, Frances Gibb, Rita Anderson, Kathleen Healey, Lila O’Malley. The first three names are in order of merit, First-class speed—?

: 140 words per minute, May O’DonoghueVloo, Gloria Reade; 80, Kathleen Haydon, Veronica Berry, Rita Anderson, and Frances Gibb; 70, Edna Lagan, Ida Bradford. The college will re-open on January 29. / •' " ' • t Temuka (From our own correspondent.) The annual retreat for the clergy of the diocese being, concluded, the local clergy returned to Temuka on Saturday. Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M. (Marist Missioner) and Father Cullen' also arrived. The latter preached in St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday evening. The following pupils of the two convent schools in the parish gained proficiency certificates in the recent examinations: —St. Joseph’s, Kerry town —Cecilia Fitzgerald, Ellen Foley, and Agnes Sullivan. St. Joseph’s, Temuka—R. Quinn and Mary Falska. Parishioners learned with regret of the death of Rev. Father Lezer, S.M., which took place at Greeumeadows during the week. Though only a short time here he was well known and took a great interest in parochial work. More especially will he be remembered by the members of the old Catholic Club, into the working of which he entered heart and soul, and it was not known of him to miss a single meeting. Always present, he was every ready to assist members and instruct them in the art of public speaking. His services were also in much demand as judge of all the club’s oratorical competitions, and, having travelled much, he on many occasions delighted members with lectures on the many places he had visited. He was much missed when leaving Temuka, and now he has gone to his eternal reward. —R.I.P.