DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 4 March 1920, Page 22

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) / M'arch 1. A general meeting of the Christchurch Celtic Club was held on Wednesday, February 25, when a considerable amount of business that had accumulated during the club’s summer recess, was disposed of. It was decided to resume the fortnightly social evenings, the first of which will be®held on Wednesday, March 10, when an. attractive programme of music, song, and story will be presented to members and friends. Rev. Father Qnoaly, P.P., Petone, was the guest of his Lordship the Bishop during the week. Rev. Mother St. Aidan, who has been associated with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd at Mt. Magdala since their foundation there and who for the past ten years has filled nobly the position of Mother Superior, has been recalled to Abbotsford, Melbourne. Her return to New Zealand is most unlikely. Mother St. Aidan, during her wo’ik of over 30 years at Mt. Magdala, has been brought into touch with many phases of Catholic work, and endeared herself to all classes of the community. Her popularity in the institution as well as out of it has been gained by devoted work most unassumingly carried out. and she will take away with her the warmest wishes of the general public of Christchurch. Bros. S. Kingan and .1. Ormandy were recently appointed vice-presidents of St. Alary’s branch of St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Rev. Father Roche succeeds Father Seymour as spiritual director. Very Rev. Dean Hyland, Rangiora, is leaving for a trip to the Old Country via America. Ho expects to depart by the Tofu a early this month. After Vespers on Sunday evening, the members of tho Cathedral Choir assembled in the library to bid farewell to Mr. J. R. Hayward, prior to bis departure for England. Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Adm., presided, and after eulogising tho work and devoted service of Mr. Hayward in the choir presented him with a wallet. Mr. A. Bunz supplemented the remarks of the Very Rev. Administrator. Mr. Hayward in responding thanked the choir members for their kind mark of appreciation. Mr. Hayward’s connection with the choir extends over a period of 27 years, his entry being when the choir was under tho conductorship of Mr. H. IT. Lough nan. Reference was also made to Rev. Father Andersen, who on that Sunday morning sang his first Mass in the Cathedral, he also being an old choir member. The committee promoting the St. Patrick’s Night Concert in aid of Nazareth House has succeeded in obtaining the Theatre Royal for the occasion. Excellent talent has been secured, and tho Christchurch Tramway Band, as a mark of gratitude to his Lordship the Bishop for his generous support, has offered its services for the occasion. St. Pat rick’s Athletic Association, which is promoting a sports’ meeting to be held at Lancaster Park on April 20, in celebration of Ireland’s national festival, met in the Hibernian' Hall on Tuesday evening, February 24. Mr. Geo. Ryan presided in the absence of the chairman (Mr. T. P. O’Rourke). Lengffchy correspondence from all parts of the Dominion soliciting information was read by the secretary (Mr. J. S. Tulloch). A letter deserving of special mention was received from Air. Connolly, of Geraldine, and introducing Mr.' J. Kennedy, president

of the N.Z. Athletic and Cycling Union. Mr. Kennedy* strongly advocated an exchange of competitors between the Geraldine and Christchurch meetings. As an outcome; the secretary was deputed to represent the association at the Geraldine meeting, to be held on St. Patrick’s-. Day. Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., wrote tendering hiss* sympathy and practical support. Amongst others acting similarly were Rev. Father Long, Dr. Morkane, Messrs., F. D. Kesteven, W. E. Simes, J. S. Barrett, W. Hayward, M. O’Reilly, and J. Connolly, A cup valued at £5, to be competed for in the primary schools’ relay race, was generously donated by Mr. J. Bryan. An enthusiastic sportsman in the person of Mr. S. C. Nash, formerly of South Canterbury, was introduced to the meeting by the secretary. His experience in the conduct of sports meetings proved of great value, and Mr. Nash is in hopes that besides the best of New Zealand athletes there is also a likelihood of a couple of Australian champions taking part in the sports. Mr. Nash is presenting a gold medal. The excellent work being performed by the secretary was most freely and favorably commented upon. Regret was expressed at the indisposition of Mr. B. J. McKenna, who was unable to be present at the meeting, and who has been working very keenly in the interests of the meeting. As Mr. McKenna would be unable to attend the meeting of the North Canterbury Centre as delegate, Mr. S. C. Nash was appointed in his place.