Here and There

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 47, 30 November 1922, Page 37

Here and There

- Canon Mignen, Superior, of the Grand Seminary of Lueon, has been elevated to the episcopal dignity and named for the See of Montpellier, replacing the late Cardinal de Cabrieres. This announcement has created a most happy feeling throughout France. Mgr. Mignen was born January 19, : 1875, at La. Chapelle-Palluan, made his humanities at the Little Seminary of Sables-d’Olonne, commenced his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Lucon and finished them, at Rome at the French Seminary, which he entered the 24th of December, 1895, and which he left at the end of June, 1897, with the grade of Doctor of Canon Law. He was afterwards named Pro-Secretary, to the Bishop the 15th of July, 1897, ordained priest December 18 of the same year, named honorary canon November 20, 1902, and Director of the ' Grand Seminary in October, ‘ 1909. Mgr. Mignen succeeds-his Eminence Cardinal de Cabrieres, who governed the Church of Montpelier for half a century and who was in our epoch one of the most remark” able figures of the French ’ episcopate. When the world war broke upon the peaceful horizon of the earth , and the call to arms echoed throughout the world, many a missionary priest was called from the arduous field of apostolic labors to join the ranks of his countrymen in the field of battle. Numbered among those priestly heroes was Father Dides, s!j., of India. Strange enough, it happened that he was appointed an interpreter in the American army in Coetquidan Camp, Brittany, where 20,000 American soldiers were stationed. After the Armistice, Father Dides was released from the service and with a heart full of apostolic zeal, he returned again to the mission field ,in India. By heroic efforts and untold sacrifices he has accomplished extraordinary results among the pagans of the dark continent. Probably .the greatest testimony of his labors is the establishment of a native Sisterhood within the confines of his mission. In his letter, he describes the glorious work of these native Sisters. “For some ten years,” v he writes, “two of my native nuns go out every Saturday to the pagan villages to baptise children in danger of death. Every three months they bring me their harvest results. Sometimes they amount to 100, 120, and even more. My joy is very great. Without these two nuns, hundreds of s6uls would lie forever deprived of the sight of , God. The material equipment of these two native Sisters consists only, of. a small bag and a few remedies, and yet they achieve marvels with children. . A new aspirant for high political office in the Irish Free State .Cabinet is General Dernrot O’Hegarty, who is at present Director of Organisation of the Army Headquarters. Until recently General O’Hegarty, who must not be confused with P. S. O’Hegarty, Secretary to the Postal. Department, was Secretary to Dail Eireann, and he was also, first military Governor of Mountjoy. N His most notable work, however, was done as principal organiser of the 1.R.A., in the old days; indeed, it is not too much to say that Collins and Mulcahy, during the later stages of the struggle, simply made use of the machine which O’Hegarty had designed and helped to make. He is. a young man of Collins’s physical build and type of mind, and is highly spoken of as a man of action. The real government of the country may be carried on by a triumvirate composed of O’Hegarty, Mulcahy, and Cosgrave. ‘General O’Hegarty has no seat in Parliament at present, but there are five vacancies to be filled, including the safe seats of the two great leaders. ■ A fresh honor has come to the younger generation of that grand Catholic family the Vaughans, for the Rev. • Francis Vaughan has been appointed a Canon of the Chapter of Cardiff Cathedral. Courtfield, the family seat, which is on the Wye, is in the archdiocese of Cardiff, Wales. . Sir John Lavery has given his painting of Michael Collins lying in state to the Irish nation, and very shortly this striking picture will be reproduced- in color for sale and distribution. It depicts the dead leader lying on the folds of the Irish flag, his head resting on a purple cushion, an ivory . crucifix on , his breast. In the right-hand corner of the picture appear the words “Loye of Ireland” and the ■ whole ... ensemble is one that will not easily be forgotten by

■'». /' . i those who see it. The picture will probably shortly be exhibited. It will add to>the reputation both of subject and artist. ' :‘ tf ■■ _ A Catholic artist, Sir. Edward Elgar, secured a triumph at the Gloucester celebration of the Three Choirs festival during the past few days (writes the London correspondent of an exchange under date September 7). Two of his works were performed, and indeed it might be said to be an Elgar festival, for in addition to the piece de resistance of “The Apostles and the'less-known work which scored so great a triumph, “The Kingdom,” his setting to music of Laurence -Binyon’s “Ode for the Fallen,” and hi s orchestrated Fantasia in C Minor” and “Fugue of Bach” closed the festival and were received with tremendous enthusiasm. The great religious works—and be it noted that Sir Edward Elgar has come into his own with works breathing the Catholic spirit and thus is a Catholic artist in the truest sense— performed in Gloucester Cathedral. “The Apostles” interpret the twelve during , the lifetime of Our Divine Lord, and each has his leit motif; “The Kingdom” shows the change created by the day of Pentecost, which is the stupendous event it deals with. The work is inspired and is sentient with Catholic feeling. It was finely interpreted and has greatly added to the composer’s reputation. Rev. Michael J. Henry, for more than a quarter of a century Director of the Catholic Mission of Our Lady, of the Rosary, established in 1883 for the protection of Irish immigrant girls, died on October 3. Father Henry was-in Jus 70th year. He was known far and wide by undreds of thousands of Irish people in America for the kindly benefactions which he bestowed upon them on their arrival. For a . score or-more years, until advancing age caused a lessening of his activities, Father Henry could be found almost daily on 'the steamship docks looking out for the welfare of his-charges. Often, when the Immigrant Laws were less strict than they are to-day, he would advance them necessary funds to tide them over until they were able to reach their final destination, and frequently would secure them employment with reputable or. firms - In the earlier, days when the Immigrant Station was inadequate for the housing of all who landed, Father Henry, s mission was a great help in sheltering future citizens for the time being. He was born in the town of Roscommon, Ireland, and began his studies for the priesthood at the Summerville College there. The Church of South Africa is mourning .the loss of ono of ; its most venerable and beloved priests, the Rev. Di. Michael Colgan, who passed away at Capetown in September at the age" of 80. The long career of Dr Co gan who had already celebrated the golden jubilee of his ClmrH "’d at n T the early dayS of the history of the Church in the Cape district, for when he arrived at Capeo«n soon after his ordination, there were only three priests in Capetown and only two in the rest of the peninsula, one at . Rondebosch and one at Simonstown. Forty years ago Dr. Colgan founded the Sacred Heart parish at Capetown, where he had worked tirelessly ever SS of aH clasl eC ° nW ’

V FATHER rockliff HONORED. ' ' Six weeks ago (writes a correspondent under date No* y ember 17) Rev. Father Rockliff came to Hawera to act S ICUm U ™ ns for Monsignor Power. Blessed with a genial personality, a.convincing directness of speech, and a simple happy nature, he quickly won the genuine love of the people and commanded their high esteem. Particularly appreciated was his work amongst the children and young people. To mark their regret at his leaving and their hearty appreciatum of his work among them, the parishioners, of St. Joseph s Church arranged a gathering to bid'him good-bye. Hus was held in the school last night and proved an unqualified success. The school was packed to the doors and the proceedings were most enthusiastic. Mr G-' A Mev r ick was chairman of the. meeting, and the other speakers «re Mr B McCarthy and Mr. H. A. Morgan, all of Whoaa expressed the sincere regret felt by all at the early departure of bather. Rockliff. An apology for absence'« reroired from the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. E. Morrissey. On bijha f of the . parishioners . Mr. Meyrick presented their guest with a generously. filled wallet and an,illuminated address*'