DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 4 October 1917, Page 19

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) October 1. Mr. A. J. Bunz, conductor of the Cathedral choir, has resumed duty after a recent illness. Rev. Father Cronin (Darfield) being indisposed, is at present an inmate of Lewisham Hospital. Rev. Brother Denis, Provincial of the Marist Brothers, has returned from a trip to the Islands. A commencement has been made in the erection of the new Catholic school at Woolston. £750 is the contract price. From Sunday next the evening devotions at St. Mary's Church will commence at 7 o'clock instead of as heretofore at 6.30. On next Sunday evening the Rev. Father O'Sullivan, C.SS.R., will begin the annual week's retreat for both divisions of the archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament at the Cathedral. The Rev. Father O'Hare, who is in charge of the Addington portion of the Cathedral parish, has arranged for the celebration regularly on Sundays of Mass in the Sunny side Mental Hospital. Rev. Father Delany, Rector St. Patrick's, South Dunedin, was a visitor to Christchurch during the week. He was the welcome guest of his Lordship Dr. Brodie, with whom at Manly he was a class mate. Rev. Father Hanrahan recently gave an illustrated lecture on "Pompeii and Rome" to the members of the Catholic Club. The lecture was very interesting, and certainly deserving of a much better attendance of club members. The Government Inspector at his examination visit to St. Mary's Convent of Mercy was loud in his praise of the teachers and their pupils. The need of early improvement in the accommodation of the parish school—now being undertaken, —was emphasised. A circular from his Lordship the Bishop appointing the first Sunday in October as a day of national prayer was read on Sunday last at St. Mary's Church. In conformity" therewith there will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and special prayers for peace and the intentions of our Holy Father the Pope. The recent social held in the Art Gallery under the auspices of the Children of Mary of St. Mary's parish, realised the handsome sum of £67. This goes to the church improvement fund, and the clergy express their thanks to the sodality, as well as to the members of the Hibernian Society for their very successful efforts. The Rev. Mother at Nazareth House desires to express her sincere appreciation of the excellent service rendered the institution on last Saturday afternoon by a body of volunteers from the Hibernian Society. Alterations to outbuildings that will prove of material benefit to the home were carried out under the able supervision of Messrs. James Power and W. Rodger Rev. Father (Chaplain) Murphy returned with the hospital ship and addressed the women's division of the Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament on Tuesday evening last, on his travels, and the state of the Church in the different places he had visited. It is understood that Father Murphy is to be attached to Featherston Camp. The annual meeting of St. Mary's Tennis Club was held on Sunday, September 23. The Rev. Father Roche, S.M., presided, and there was a good attendance. ' The statement of accounts showed a credit balance of £8 9s Id. Thanks were recorded in the report to the Rev. Father Hoare, S.M., Miss Harrington (treasurer), and Mr. W. Shaw (secretary), and to the retiring committee for services rendered in the interests of the club. The officers and committee appointed for the ensuing v ; year .are—Chairman . and spiritual director, Rev. Father Roche, S.M.; treasurer, : Miss Woods secretary, Mr'. H. O'Connor committee

Misses Harrington, E. Riordan, E. O’Connor, N. Bradley, H. Taylor, Messrs. B. Sparrow, W. Cronin, and W. Shaw. The courts are being rendered perfect for playing, and the opening date is fixed for October 14.