ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL

New Zealand Tablet, 8 April 1920, Page 27

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHEDRAL

DEVOTIONS OF HOLY WEEK. ~ Ihe Holy Week devotions at St. Joseph’s Cathedral were commenced on last Wednesday evening, with the solemn office of Tenebrae, which was continued on the two following evenings (Holy Thursday and Good Friday), largo congregations participating throughout. Commenc!l’g at Tr o , ck > c t on Holy Thursday morning there was Solemn High Mass; the Very Rev. Father Liston being celebrant, Rev. Father Kavanagh deacon, and Rev. Father Ivaveney subdeacon. At the conclusion of Mass there was procession -of the Blessed Sacrament to the tastefully adorned Altar of Repose. An exceedingly large number, practically the whole of the congregation, approached the Holy Table. The music of the Mass was beautifully rendered by the Dominican Nuns’ Choir. An impressive discourse was preached in the evening bv Rev. Father Buckicy (Riverton).

On Good Friday morning there was Mass of the Prowl notified, Very Rev. Father Liston being celebrant, and fathers Kavanagh and Kaveney deacon and subdeacon, respectively. A sermon on the Passion of Our Divine Lord was preached by Rev. Father Collins, and Veneration of the Cross followed. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon there was the devotion of the Way of the Cross, when the Cathedral as in the morning, was greatly crowded. After renebrae in the evening a sermon on the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin was preached by Rev. Father Silk The offerings on Good Friday were for the support of the Maori missions. The customary ceremonies were as far as practicable, carried out on Holy Saturday" morning Among the diocesan clergy who participated in the ceremonies of Holy Week, besides those already ' mentioned were Fathers Delany, Morkane, Graham, Rooney, and' Cathedral priests. Very Rev. Father Coffev Adm officiated as master of ceremonies at all the solemnities' The singing of the Holy Cross College students' choir was as on former occasions, a feature of the Holy Week "observances, : and contributed hi no small measure to :% the prevailing impressiveness of the Office of Tenebrae :

EASTER SUNDAY. ■ - Oil Easter Sunday morning Masses were celebrated at 6.30, 7.30, 9, and Solemn High Mass at 11 o’clock. Very large numbers .approached '• the Holy Table at - the early" Masses. At the High Mass Rev. Father Kaveney' was celebrant, Rev. Dr. Kelly deacon, Rev. F. Skinner subdeacon, and Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., master of ceremonies. The music was Gounod’s Third Mass. The choir also rendered the “Ecce Sacerdos Magnus,” “Victime Paschali,” and “Haec Dies.” Mrs. Fraher sang Rossiter s “O Salutaris.” Mr. A. Vallis was organist, and Signor , Squarise conducted. A sermon on the Resurrection was preached by Very Rev. Father Coffey. At the conclusion, of Mass there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and many attended at the Cathedral during the afternoon in Adoration. After Compline in the evening a sermon on the day’s festival was preached by Father Coffey, and was followed by procession and Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The profuse and ta'steful altar decorations, and illuminations in the evening, reflected great - credit on the ladies who render such devoted service in this regard. Addressing the congregations both morning and evening at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Sunday, the Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., tendered his best wishes for all the blessings of a happy, joyous Easter. Masses were celebrated on Easter Sunday at the suburban churches of St. Joseph’s Cathedral parish— Heart Church, NorthEast Valley, St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Mornington, and Church of the Immaculate Conception, Kaikorai.