ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 26 December 1918, Page 28

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) December 19. Miss Jean M. Mathieson has been successful in obtaining the L.A.B. diploma for singing, and in doing so obtained the highest number of marks in the Wellington centre. This young lady last year secured the gold medal for New Zealand in singing (advanced grade). When resident in Invercargill Miss Mathieson showed considerable brilliancy as an executant on the violin, and obtained her L.A.B. diploma when 14 years of age. She purposes sitting for her final for the degree of Mus. Bac. next year. She is at present a student at Smtoun College, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. Some few details of the last days of Lieutenant Desmond O’Sullivan, son of Major James O’Sullivan, of Wellington, are contained in a letter received by the last mail from Father Segrief. lie says: “After eight days’ leave in Paris I went back to the Ypres salient with the newly-formed Entrenching Battalion, which was feverishly employed constructing lines and wiring against the coming attack of the enemy. Our Ist and 3rd Battalions came down in a rush to the Somme, while the 2nd remained north and got into heavy and costly fighting at Meteren, and later at Dickebusch, where many were cut off and many killed. It was there that Desmond O’Sullivan joined up, and was given command of a big company. His first days in the line were spent in a desperate struggle to delay the crushing onslaught of the Boche. Poor old ‘Dos’ did splendidly in the crisis, and was congratulated on his handling of the company. He still retained his command when his battalion (the 2nd) came south. Then he went to the Ist Brigade. When out on reconnaissance he was sniped in the abdomen. lie lingered a few days, then collapsed and died, and is buried at Doullens.”—R.I.P. On Sunday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly celebrated at St. Gerard’s (Iledemptorist) Church. At the earlier Masses the church was well filled and many approached the Holy Table. At 10 a.in. a Missa Cantata was sung by the Rector (Very Rev. P. Whelan, C.SS.R.), and the sermon was preached by Father Kilbride, C.SS.R., on the subject of the angelical salutation. The choir of St. Gerard’s, directed by Mr. Frank J. Oakes, sang Rinck’s “Mass in D Minor.” The Offertory was Jacob Arcadelt’s “Ave Maria,” and at the conclusion of the Mass the “Hymn for Peace” was eung. At the evening devotions Father Kilbride recited the Rosary, the choir singing the “Glorias,” and the sermon was preached by the Rector in the presence of a large congregation. The choir sang the “Alma Rederaptoris” before the sermon’and the “Mag.

nificat at its conclusion. | The Benediction music included Elgar's "O Salutaris," Abt's "Ave Maria," ..> Tantum Ergo," "Divine Praises," Gladstone's Adoremus," and "Hymn for Peace." Mr. James Sceddan presided at the organ. -