DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 January 1920, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) January 5. All the Masses on Now Year’s Day, both at the Cathedral and St. Alary’s Church, Manchester Street, were attended by largo congregations, the majority of whom approached the Holy Table. The season’s greetings for a happy New Year were conveyed to the parishioners by his Lordship the Bishop at the Cathedral, and by Very '.Rev. Dean Regnault at St. Mary’s. The combined Cathedral parish schools’ picnic on Saturday, January 3, proved a most enjoyable outing. A dozen cars laden with children and adults conveyed the first contingent to the Riccarton racecourse, and during the day the attendance steadily increased. His Lordship Bishop Brodie, Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Adm., Fathers Murphy and Bonetto were in attendance. The children from Nazareth House were under the care of Mr. and Mrs. W. Rodgers, who spared no effort to promote the enjoyment of their charges. Tho members of St. Matthew’s (ladies) branch of tho H.A.C.B. Society, led by Misses E. Brophy, B. M. Sloan, and Mrs. Blackaby, had a strenuous. day in the sweets and soft drinks stall. The sports committee carried out a lengthy and varied programme satisfactorily, and Derry Private Band provided tho music. Sociability was evident everywhere, and from this standpoint the picnic was successful to a degree. Rev. Father Fitz Gibbon, Wellington, is a visitor to Christchurch, and the guest of his Lordship the Bishop. He celebrated tho 11 o’clock Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday. Grey mouth (From our own correspondent.) December 29. There was a largo congregation at Midnight Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Christmas Eve. Rev. Father Le Croix, S.M., was celebrant; Father Heffernan, S.M., deacon; Rev. Dr. Kelly, subdeacon; and Rev. Father Campbell, S.M., master of ceremonies. A discourse appropriate of the occasion was preached by Rev. Father Silk (Holy Cross College, Mosgiel). Rev. Dr. Kelly (editor of the N.Z. Tablet) and Rev. Father Silk, of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, were recent

visitors to the glacier region of South Westland. Both were delighted - with their experience, the trip now' being easy of accomplishment. ' In the course of conversation with your correspondent, Rev. Dr. Kelly stated that the Irish Convention held recently at Melbourne, which he had attended, was a magnificent demonstration. The enthusiasm shown was extraordinary, and altogether without precedent in Australasia. The oration of our revered prelate. Archbishop Redwood, was a telling indictment of the misgovernment of Ireland. For the first time in tho history of Greymouth, the ancient and touching ceremony of the imparting of his blessing by a newly-ordained priest was carried out by Rev. Father -Heffernan, S.M., recently ordained. A member of an old and highly-esteemed Greymouth family. The eagerness of the whole congregation to approach the altar rails and receive the blessing of the young Levite is a striking proof, if one were needed, of the vitality of the faith of our Catholic people. That ho may bo long spared to carry out the work of his Divine Master is the sincere wish of his numerous friends, many of whom have known him from his childhood. His is another name added to the long list of West Coasters who were no doubt influenced in their decision to leave all and take up this divine work by the advice and living example of our late revered parish priest Dean Carew. ’