DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 22 December 1921, Page 23

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) December 19. The garden fete, in aid of St. Mary's Memorial School was brought to a conclusion on Monday evening last. From beginning to end-it was a happy function, and financially was an unqualified success. Up to the present well over £9OO has been netted, and by the time the final returns come to hand it is expected that £IOOO will be cleared. The utility of the new hall was amply demonstrated, and that portion of the school building is sure to prove a valuable asset to the parish. Rev. Father Seymour expressed his warm appreciation of the work of the executive committee, the stallholders and their assistants, as well as of the magnificent support accorded by the parishioners and general public. The original idea of bringing the fete to a close on the Saturday evening had to be abandoned owing to the great crowd patronising it—the assistants being unable, owing to the demands made upon them, to cope with the (programme allotted them. Those in charge of the various stalls were as follows: —Choir stall, Miss Enright; Children of Mary stall, Mrs. Gray; suburban stall, Mrs. Catherwood; New Brighton stall, Mrs. M. McKenna; side shows, St. Mary's Hibernian Society. Cooking competitions were supervised by Mrs. T. Brosnahan and Mrs. O. Baker; flowers and vegetable displays were managed by Messrs. C. Barnett and F. Rogal; and fancy working competitions by Mrs. Vincent. The dancing of Miss McDon- . aids pupils met with great favor. A competition in basketball, in which the leading teams of Christchurch took part, .formed a big attraction,- and was won by Kia Or a, with -'v- Sacred Heart Convent runners-up. Derry's Band enlivened the proceedings throughout with spirited music. v Mr. Pren- ; dergast, as executive secretary, was always at his post,.and

left nothing undone to second the plans of the untiring promoter, Father Seymour. 7 ". , Very Rev. Father Whelan,. O.SS.R., is at present conducting the annual spiritual retreat for. the Sisters of Mercy. /oP^r' 7 ' , J v Se y mour > SM (brother of Father Seymour, or bt. Marys), who was recently ordained, is on a visit to Christchurch,-and is a guest at St. Mary's presbytery. - Rev. Father Higgins, S.M., leaves for Sydney oh Tuesday. & '•.■■■ Very Rev D.ean Regnault, S.M., till leave Sydney fdr Christchurch on December 23.' He is expected back at St. Mary's prior to the New Year. Rev. Father Eccleton, S.M., who is conducting the annual spiritual Retreat for the Marist Brothers of the South Island, preached at Vespers in the Cathedral on last Sunday evening. Rev Father John Hyland, of Rockdale, archdiocese of Sydney, left last week on his return to Australia Right Rev. Mgr. Brophy, D.D., of Dubbo, diocese of Bathurst, New c South Wales, is at present a visitor to Christchurch. Rev Father McEvoy returned, to Christchurch during the week from Auckland. The members of the Cathedral sodality of Children of Mary are arranging a picnic, to be held at Diamond Harbor on Tuesday, the 27th inst. x, n A , las ? T hu / sdav Rev - Father Hanrahan, Adm., took the Cathedral altar boys for an outing to Kairaki beach, the weather was ideal, and the boys indulged in swimming, cricket, and general sports. Some of the racing events were keen contests, and good performances. The victualling was decidedly generous, and the picnic altogether most en- - joyable. Father Hanrahan also marshalled the children attending St. Joseph's parish school, and the Convent high school, and provided them with a day out at Sumner, lhe girls entered whole-heartedlv into sports and other attractions, and expressed their warm appreciation of the generosity of the Administrator.

Timaru (From our own correspondent.) m . December 19. J no annual parish picnic was held at Victoria^ Park, Temuka, on the 10th inst., when over 600 persons attended the 'popular outing. An energetic sports committee got off a. lengthy programme of children's races, for which good prizes were allotted. A tennis and cricket match took rdace with the Temuka Clubs. The Children of Marv sodality had stalls for the sale of sweets, soft drinks, ice-creams, etc., and reaped a handsome profit, the proceeds of which go towards a laudable object. The day was fortunately fine, and the picnic was a great success in every respect.' The pupils of the Marist Brothers gave a very enjoyable entertainment in St. Patrick's Hall on the 13th inst., when the building was crowded. The items consisted of choruses, duets, solos, action songs, recitations, drill and boxing displays, followed by a farce. The boys acquitted themselves remarkably well, receiving unstinted applause\ Great credit is due to the Marist Brothers, who spared no' efforts to make the entertainment a success. Tho Sacred Heart Hall was filled on the 15th inst., on the occasion of the annual concert given by the school girls. A splendid programme, which met with the hearty approval of the audience, was capably rendered, and the Sisters, received congratulations on the success achieved. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 15 aspirants were received into the sodality of the Children of Mary by Rev. Father Hurley. Rev. Father O'Meeghan, newlyordained priest, was present/ and gave his blessing to a large number after devotions. . v . v. Rev. Father Paul Kane. S.M., of St. Patrick's College (a native of Timaru), preached on Sunday evening at the Sacred Heart Church. The literary and social study circle of the Catholic Club commenced their programme on 14th inst., when the patron (Rev. Father Hurley, S.M.) gave an interesting and instructive address on public speaking to a large audience. The second portion of the programme comprised the everpopular "question-box," when" many subjects were treated, and all present spent a very - profitable evening'thereby. The membership is increasing, the rooms are being gradually furnished and and by next winter .it is expected the appointments will be complete.