DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 30 December 1920, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) December 27. Air. B. .J. McEenria presided at a meeting of the committee of the St. Patrick's Sports' Association, held on Tuesday evening. Donations were gratefully acknowledged from Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M.J Rev. Father Fogarty (Rangiora), Mrs. J. S. Barrett, and Messrs. Matson and Co. The correspondence received was of a lengthy and varied nature. . '..-'»;, ' The quarterly meeting of St. Matthew's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Monday evening last. Sister Rose Rodgers, 8.P., presided; and there was a gooll attendance of members. Sick allowance (£2) and accounts (CI9 Os .Id» were passed for payment, the principal items m the latter being CT.F.S. dues (£8 8s 2d) and M.A. fees £4 as 3d). A letter of ..thanks for services rendered at the recent garden fete was; read from Rev. Father O'Connor, Addmgton, special mention being made of Mrs. Blackabv's excellent work. Bro. M. • Piggott : (St. Patrick's branch) notified his willingness to donate ,a prize to the sister responsible for enrolling the most members during the forthcoming six months. The president extended good wishes tor a happy Christmas, and in reviewing the year's work expressed satisfaction at the results. ,;::,: .... On Christmas Day, Masses were celebrated ■■■ at the Cathedral continuously from 6 till 9 a.m., in the presence tT i m e i great numbers approaching the -Holy fable. Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by his Lordship Bishop Brodie at 11 o'clock. Very Rev. Father VVnelan, C.SS.R,, was assistant priest; Rev. Father Long, deason; Rev. Father Gallagher, subdeacon; and Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy. Adm., master of ceremonies. The incidental music was impressively rendered by the choir, with Mr. A. J Bit at the organ. The and ''Gloria" were from Plimpton's Mass, and the "Credo," 'Sanctus " _.Benedictus, and -'Agnus Dei" from' Gounod's "Messe Solennelle The "Adestc Fideles"> sung by a quartet during the Offertory. ■ His Lordship- Bishop Brodie preached briefly on the subject of the Gospel for Christmas Day, (dory to God in the Highest- and-on-earth-peace to men of goodwill " H 0 said that Holy Church had kept the wondrous truth of the Incarnation, and after' 2000 years each Christmas brought fresh signs of the strengthening of that faith His Lordship expressed his gratitude to the priests for the way-they had done all the work entrusted to them,, and also to the religious teachers, the Sisters, and the Marat Brothers. Since : six o'clock that morning there had been large congregations at all the Masses, with large numbers .receiving Holy Communion. Llsewhere churches might be empty, but what was seen in the Cathedral that morning showed that the devotion -and sacrifice of the teachers were helping I in keeping the wondrous truth of Christmas alive. He also thanked the choir, acolytes, members of the Altar Societv, and the other Church institutions for their devotion to duty during the year ; . The devotions, in . the evening) consisted S Solemn , Vespers and'Pontifieal Benediction the BWcT Sacrament, ~ The* sermon . was i preached W Father Whelan, C.SS.R., whoVchose as n\^^g&

phoh from the Office of the Day: "The angels , sang upon the earth, the archangels' rejoiced, and the i ' , just exulted, saying, 'Glory to ; God in the Highest. 5 " ? ~ x ''"'■. "'.."- ;•,:■■; '-As usual on great festival occasions, the high altar and sanctuary v were most tastefully adorned. The ".Crib of Bethlehem,'', which is each succeeding Christmas such a strikingly realistic - feature among the 'objects of devotion .in the' Cathedral, attracted large numbers during the day. At 11 o'clock on Christmas morning High Mass was celebrated at ;> St. if Mary's , Church, Manchester Street., Earlier. in the. morning there were large attendances at each Mass, celebrated, from, an early hour, and the -majority. of the congregations; approached- the. Holy T»ble. "At the High Mass the Very Rev. Dean -Regnault was celebrant ; Very Rev. Father Graham, S.M.'j deacon; and Rev. Father Roche, S.M., subdeacon. After appropriately, addressing the congregation on the , festival ,of the Nativity. Very sr Rev. '; Dean Regriault- said that during .the. year many parishioners ; of St. Mary's had performed works; of zeal which had brought glory to God, and which had been of. great assistance and a. source of consolation arid comfort to the priests of the parish. A deep debt of gratitude was. due to the Sisters, whose devotedness to the children and success in the school had earned the praise of those most competent to. judge. The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Hibernian . Society had. shown groat zeal amongst the poor, the sick, "and -tho needy, and had performed many works of charity. The devotion of the Children of Mary, the Altar Society, and the members of the choir .was lyv.commended.- The Dean also expressed, his gratitude to all the other Church workers in the parish." The high altar and sanctuary were tastefully decorated,-for the ; Christmas festival, by members of the Altar. Society,. and 'an impressive effect was created'by the representation of the-' "Crib of Bethlehem." The choir, under theconductership : of Mr. W. T. "Ward, was assisted by .a full orchestra. On Christmas morning and on Sunday Beethoven's Mass in C was finely rendered, the "Adesto Fideles" being sung at l the- Offertorv. = Miss "Nina Ward was organist.