DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 28 March 1918, Page 21

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From oar own, correspondent.) March 25. The panegyric of St. Patrick was preached in the evening of Sunday, March 17, at the Cathedral by Rev. Father Boyle, who referred to the day as the Feast of the Irish Race as well as the Festival of a Saint. St. Patrick found Ireland a pagan nation, and left it wholly Christian. Father O'Boyle referred in an able manner to England's unjust and tyrannical' laws, all directed to the stamping out of the faith, but were in reality, however, the cause of spreading it throughout the world. He trusted that the sorrow and suffering of the Irish race would soon be at an end, and that they would be a united nation again under the banner of the Cross in the faith of St. Patrick. ' " The M. 8.0.8. Association begin training on next week. Mr. P. Burns, of All-Black fame, has consented to coach the teams, and this season the wearers of the green Jfifsey, 'if they attend f,o practice, fihmjlrt giyft A good ar.pmmt at th'pmgejyeu, ' s

-:. His Lordship the Bishop officiated at the blessing of the palms at the Cathedral on Palm Sunday. Palms were also blessed and distributed at the various suburban churches. ' f- The committee elected for the carrying out of the jubilee celebrations in connection with the Sisters of the Mission is working assiduously to bring about success. All past pupils who are not yet in touch with the executive are requested to communicate with the secretary, Miss M. G. O'Connor. The gift evening at the Catholic Girls' Hostel on Thursday last was a decided success. His Lordship the Bishop, Very Rev. Dean, Hyland, and several of the local clergy were present. The hostel was crowded, and the club stall for the garden fete to be held on April 6 materially benefited by the function. Timaru •» (From our own correspondent.) March 25. A mission to be given by the Redemptorist Fathers is to begin in this parish on Low Sunday, April* 7. The preachers are to be Very Rev. Father Roche (Superior), and Rev. Father O'Sullivan. The mission for the children of the parish is to commence on the previous Wednesday, April 3. During the week the usual Holy Week services are to take place in the church and also at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. Special sermons are to be preached on Thursday evening on the Blessed Eucharist and on the Passion of our Lord on Friday evening. On Palm Sunday the nine o'clock Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Maguinness, Adm., of Broken Hill; N.S.W. At the evening devotions he preached a sermon on the Real Presence and afterwards gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The eleven o'clock Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Herbert, S.M., and at this Mass the palms were blessed and distributed. At a meeting of the parish school, committee held at the presbytery on Sunday last, the Very Rev. Dean Tubman, S.M., presiding, a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Rev. Father Herbert, S.M., organiser of the St. Patrick's Night concert, and also to Mrs. Mangos, who so ably assisted him in making the concert the best on record both financially and musically. The nett proceeds of the concert have proved to be £2O in excess of the amount received from any similar previous concert held here. Ashburton A largely attended social evening to welcome home Privates T. Sullivan, T. Devane, C. Connelly, J. McGinn, H. Hyland, J. Small, and O'Brien, was held in the Catholic schoolroom on Thursday, March 21. The programme consisted of progressive euchre, interspersed with musical and elocutionary items contributed by Misses Devane and Bishop (pianoforte duet) : Master Paul Cullen (song), Miss Ellen Cullen, L.T.C.L., aud Miss Dorothy Cullen, L.A.8.. L.T.C.L. (pianoforte duet); Miss Dorothy Cullen (pianoforte solo), Mr. T. N. Brophy (song), Mr. F. K. Cooper (recitation), and Miss May Quigley, L.T.C.L. (pianoforte solo). Little Merle Cunningham recited and was deservedly applauded. Under the supervision of Mrs. F. K. Cooper an excellent supper was supplied by the ladies of the Catholic Red Cross Guild. The Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell conveyed apologies from returned soldiers who were unable to be present, some of whom are at Hanmer and Rotorua, and also the assurance of the delight of the whole community at seeing the soldiers homo once more. He also congratulated them on their »

appearance after their term of service, and on" behalf of all expressed the hope that they would soon regain their usual health and vigor. Private T. Sullivan, en behalf of his comrades and himself, returned thanks. An enjoyable evening's entertainment was concluded by the singing of "God Save Ireland" and the National Anthem.