DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 14 February 1918, Page 19

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) ; " , February 11. Special references to the serious illness of the Very Rev. .Dean Carew were made at the Cathedral and at St. Mary’s on Sunday, the prayers of the congregations being requested for one who has labored so long and arduously in this diocese. His Lordship the Bishop, with the object of having St. Patrick’s Day celebrated in a fitting manner, presided at a meeting recently held. Various committees were appointed, and there is every indication that the entertainment this year will even eclipse from a national standpoint, previous efforts. The thirteenth anniversary of the opening of the Cathedral was celebrated on Sunday last with the customary solemnity. Pontifical. High Mass was celebrated at 11 o’clock by his Lordship the Bishop, the Rev. Father ; Liston (Rector of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel) being assistant priest, the Very Rev. Father Graham, S.M., and Rev. Father O’Connor, S.M., deacons at the throne, Rev. Father’ Long deacon, Rev. Father T. Hanrahan subdeacon of the Mass. The Rev. Father Burger, S.M., St. Bede’s, was also in the sanctuary,, and Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Adm., was master of ceremonies. His Lordship the Bishop addressed the crowded congregation on the subject of the day’s celebration, and made feeling reference to his predecessor in the episcopal see, the late Bishop Grimes. His Lordship intimated that he relied with confidence on the people in order that success might attend the labor of his own episcopate, and he trusted that the good relations that always existed between the Bishop of Christ- . church and a devoted faithful Catholic laity would ever be maintained. He looked forward to their generous support in, assisting him to -promote ,the glory of ,God - and the good of His Church in the works he anticipated, especially the furnishing of up-to-date schools for the Sisters and Brothers. His Lordship in grateful terms erred to the great work accomplished by the Sisters of the Missions during the last 50 years in our midst, and he trustedthat- at no distant date the people would, in a befitting manner, commemorate" the golden jubilee of their establishment here. The debt to date on the Cathedral was only £6OO, and special collections

were taken up at all the services in order to reduce this amount. Since his advent to the diocese his Lordship has• received two generous, bequests which materially helped to bring the; liability' down to -its present'small figure. ' In the evening ?at ; Vespers the 7 Rev. Father Liston occupied the pulpit and 5 delivered an eloquent and ! scholarly discourse on ; “The Church' as the Dwell-, mg-place • of, God;’-’ After referring in -beautiful terms to the Divine Presence in the Blessed Sacrament',' Father Liston reminded his hearers of the many ties that bind them to their - Cathedral, blessings beginning in the cradle and ending not only in the grave but even beyond. Enumerating . and describing the ' seven Sacraments, was it any wonder, remarked "Father Liston, that it was with great joy the congregation celebrated the anniversary of the dedication of this tabernacle of God to His honor by the Faith, zeal, and generous instincts of Bishop,priests, and people. . The Rev. Father Bowen, of St. Joseph’s MissionarySociety, addressed the women’s division of the Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral on last Tuesday evening on the subject of Prayer and its influence on the religious life of those who faithfully practise it. The Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M., preached an impressive discourse at St. Mary’s Church, Manchester Street, on last Sunday evening, , making special reference to the approach of the holy season of Lent, and the need of prayer, and good works for its faithful observance. .

St. Mary s Tennis Club team played their second match of the _ season -at the Riccarton /Domain courts on last Saturday— St. Mary’s v. Riccarton,resulting in a win for ’ St. Mary’s by several games.