DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 14 March 1918, Page 21

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From oar own correspondent.) March 11. A gift evening will be held in the rooms of the Catholic Girls’ Hostel on March 21, the proceeds being intended to aid in furnishing the Girls’ Club stall at the garden fete now being promoted. The general Communion of members of all branches of the H.A.C.B. Society will take place at the seven o’clock Mass on Sunday morning next (Feast of St. Patrick). After Mass the Communion breakfast will be partaken of in the Hibernian Hall, this function being under the control of St. Matthew’s ladies’ branch, and a large attendance is anticipated. The usual meeting of St. Matthew’s (ladies’) branch H.A.C.B. Society was held on Monday evening, March 4, in the Hibernian Hall. Sister E. Brophy presided and there was a good attendance of members. The principal business dealt with was in reference to the annual Communion and breakfast to take place on St. Patrick’s Day, and the president asked all sisters to co-operate with St. Patrick’s branch in making this profession of faith what it should be. The notification that the Rev. Father Long had been appointed chaplain to the branch was hailed with delight, and Sister Brophy accorded him a hearty welcome. Father Long suitably replied. The final preparatory meeting of the general committee in connection with the concert celebration of St. Patrick’s Day was held on Sunday evening, his Lordship the Bishop presiding. The joint secretaries— Messrs. M. Grimes and J. McNamara —submitted the programme, which was heartily endorsed by the Bishop and all present as being an essentially national one. The numbers include vocal and instrumental solos, choruses by the combined schools and the boys’ choir, as well as national dances. The orchestra will be under the direction of Mr. W. T. Ward, who at the meeting informed the committee that he had secured a very fine combination. St. Patrick’s branch H.A.C.B. Society held its usual fortnightly meeting on February 20. , Bro. J. Jacques, 8.P., presided, and in opening the meeting made feeling reference to the death of Bro. M. Daly, and out of respect for whom mourning regalia was

: worn. ' The sick allowance for the fortnight was £7 Is Bd, and accounts for £6O ss— three funeral allowances—were passed for payment. ! The balance sheet of the U.F.S. Dispensary was read by the sec. Bro. Grimes, and disclosed a very satisfactory * condition, being the best report yet received from the dispensary. The use of the hall for rehearsals in connection with the national concert in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day was readily given by the hall committee. The members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Mary s parish have purchased a very fine statue of St. Anthony of Padua, which is placed in position immediately inside the church over the poor box, and serves to remind the charitably disposed of the increased need of contributions towards “St. Anthony s Bread. The balance sheet of the society’s woik read at the Masses on last Sunday morning showed a credit of £2O Is 9d at the end of the year. This amount, however, has been considerably reduced since in aiding urgent cases of distress. The Rev. Father Seymour, S.M., in submitting the report, cordially invited -the parishioners to generously second the efforts of the society in carrying on its noble work. Father Seymour detailed the number of visits made to homes and hospitals, the relief granted by payment of rents, and the supplying of food and clothing; and the summary certainly shows that the members of the society have been very much alive to the needs of the poor and distressed. garden fete was held in the Sacred Heart School Grounds, Spencer Street, Addington, on last Saturday afternoon, in aid of funds for proposed additions to the school buildings. Owing to \yir conditions the erection of the additional rooms had been postponed, but now the over-crowded condition of the school made it imperative that they should be erected without delay During the afternoon there was a pood attendance cf the children and their parents and friends. The children indulged in various games, arranged for them by the members of the St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Society, and, as the weather was ideal for active exercises, the little ones thoroughly enjoyed themselves. There were a number of stalls about the grounds for the sale of produce, flowers, sweets, and refreshments, and at these good business was recorded throughout the afternoon. The following were in charge of the stalls Members of St. Matthew’s branch H.A.C.B. Society, sweets; Mrs. G. O’Brien, flowers: Mrs. Bearman, produce; and Mrs. Gill, refreshments. A great deal of the organising and secretarial work in connection with the fete was capably carried out by Miss B. M. Sloan and Mr. P. Considine. In the evening the grounds were electrically illuminated, and the event proved most successful. The Rev. Father Long, and with him the people of Addington wish to express their thanks for the valued assistance rendered by the members of St. Matthew’s and St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Society. Father Long is well pleased with the support accorded the function, the result of which wdl be made known later. Amongst the visitors were his Lordship Dr. Brodie, Rev. Dr. Kennedy, and the Manst Brothers. At all the Masses on Sunday at the Cathedral reference was made to the late Mr. John Redmond, Leadei of the Irish Nationalist Party. Timaru (From our own correspondent.) March 11. A general Communion of the members of the berm an Society in regalia is to take place on Sunday next, the Feast of St. Patrick. - -pt annual Irish national concert to celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick is to be held in the Theatre Royal on Friday evening next, March 15. The organisers have spared no pains in providing an excellent programme of Irish music, song, story, besides obtaining the very best talent Vocalists are coming from

Wellington, Dunedin, and Oamaru. A record house is expected, and those . attending are assured of an artistic treat as well’ as helping on a good work, as the proceeds of the concert are to be'devoted to the upkeep of the schools of .the parish, ) LiKIJGTAM L r K’ Very Rev. Dean Van Dyk, Superior of the Catholic Maori Missions in the diocese of Auckland, 'paid a visit to Timaru during the week to enlist, the sympathy of the people of the parish on behalf of the good work in which the Fathers of the Missionary Society of St. Joseph are engaged. At all the Masses on Sunday the Dean made an earnest appeal for help, and ,at the conclusion of the services collections for that object were taken up to which a generous response was made. At the evening devotions, in the presence of a very large congregation, the Dean gave an interesting and graphic account of the life of a missioner amongst the Maori people. He afterwards gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Dean is to visit St. Andrews on Sunday next. Little River At St. John’s Church, Little River, on Sunday, February 21 (writes a correspondent), the Rev. Father Bond to announced to the congregation that Mr. Quealy had purchased the sect’on adjoining the church property at an outlay of £350, and intended handing it over to his Lordship the Bishop on condition that the congregation subsidise the amount paid, the result being that nearly £250 were promised, with an assurance that the balance would be forthcoming within the prescribed time six months. It is not often that one hears of such a generous and unselfish offer, and great praise is due to Mr. Quealy for his foresight in obtaining the property, as later on it is hoped a convent and Catholic school may be erected.