DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1919, Page 21

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) May .5. The fortnightly meeting of the Celtic Club was held on April 29, in the Hibernian Hall. Mr. J. Curry presided, and there was a good attendance of members. Father Fogarty was among those present. With reference to the projected bazaar in aid of the Cathedral schools' building fund, which the club had been asked to support, Misses C. O'Connor, G. Baker, Messrs. A. F. Jarman and J. Curry were appointed to attend the next meeting of the bazaar committee. Mr. Jarman (secretary) reported that £lB 10s 4d was the net result of the club's recent dramatic performance. Two new members were elected and two candidates nominated. The ordinary meeting of St. Mary's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Monday evening, April 28, at Ozanam Lodge. Bro. A. F. Roche, 8.P., presided. The chaplain (Father Roche) was present, and there was a good attendance of members. Two members were initiated and two nominations were received. For the first time in the history of the branch a funeral grant of £2O was passed for payment. A letter from Dr. Ardagh, notifying his homecoming, and tendering good wishes to the branch, was received with pleasure. At the conclusion of the business a programme of impromptu speeches was indulged in and proved interesting and entertaining. Father Roche acted as chairman for this jiart of the meeting. A most successful mission has been conducted at Rangiora by Father Kilbride, C.SS.R. At its conclusion his Lordship the Bishop on last Sunday administered the Sacrament of Confirmation. Every evening during the month of May there are special devotions in honor of our Lady at the Cathedral, and also at St. Mary's. On last Sunday evening the discourses were j on that beautiful devotion, Father Murphv, Qcc-Utwincr the T>ult>if. at the Cathedral and

Father Gohdringer, S.M., at St. Mary's, where, the statue of ) the Blessed Virgin was carried in procession round the church. ■; , > ',' ,W- L>, ' .-/>; , • , 'i The Sisters of the Missions, Lower High Street, Have received word that one of their teachers who sat for :■■■. the University examination .last November was successful in securing her first section B. A.; the subjects taken being French, history p and education. /-For the purpose of raising funds| towards. the Papanui Catholic Church Building Fund, a garden fair was" held in St. Mary's Presbytery grounds, Manchester Street, on a recent Friday and Saturday. Ideal weather was enjoyed and liberal patronage bestowed, with a result that the fair was highly successful. The various attractions found in the several marquees dotted over the grounds were all centres of activity, and on Friday and Saturday nights, when the lighting; arrangements lent additional gaiety to the scene, the fair presented an animated appearance everywhere. The stallholders were:—St. Mary's Stall —Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Evans. Sweets Stall— Children of Mary. Art Stall—Mrs. Rooney and Mrs. Sisson. Produce Stall—Mrs. Heapsby, Miss O'Connor, and Mrs. Boloski. Variety Stall —Mrs. Prendergast. The boys of the Marist Brothers' School gave several exhibitions of physical drill and fancy. dancing was done by" bands of school children (rained by Miss Adams. Dr. Thacker was judge of the baby show, which caused considerable interest. There was a crowded congregation at the Cathedral on the occasion of a Solemn Requiem for the repose of the soul of the late Thomas O'Connell, of the N.Z. Engineers, who died at sea in the hospital ship Maheno on April 15. The celebrant was the Very Rev. John A. O'Connell, ■ S.M., Wanganui, and the deacon and subdeacon were the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Adm., and Father Murphy respectively. Amongst the clergy present were the Very Rev. Dean Regnault. Fathers Fogarty, Seward, Seymour Long, and Roche. The choir, under the direction of Mr. Hiscocks, sang the music of the Requiem Mass. Mr. 11. Hiscocics presided at the organ, and after the Mass played the "Dead March" from "Saul" as a token of respect to the memory of the deceased, who was for many years a member of the Cathedral choir. The deceased was the youngest member of the much respected O'Connell family of this city, and the first lost by death. In a letter of sympathy to deceased's brother (father J. A. O'Connell) Father Bleakly, chaplain on the hospital ship Maheno, wrote: 'lie had many friends: to all alike he was ever pleasant and cheerful. Nurses, doctors, and fellow-patients all liked him, but we couldn't save him. A more devout, manly Catholic I've never met in khaki."