DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1924, Page 26

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

, (From uir own correspondent.) ' i , ... _ April 5. The re-organisation of the Catholic Club-has now taken concrete form; It is most fortunate being able to secure very commodious rooms, consisting of social room, reading room and billiard room, with all conveniences for holding .social functions. A general meeting is called for to-night to elect the committee, and it is hoped that the Catholic young men of Christchurch will become members and make the club a power for good in the community. The Mission at Woolston, conducted by the Rev. Father McManus, C.&S.R., has been attended by large congregations during the week, and concludes . on Sunday night (April 6). . Rev. Father Campbell, C.SS.R., is at present conducting a mission at Sumner. The mission for the adults of the Cathedral parish came to a conclusion on evening, 'March 30. The Cathedral a as crowded to the doors, and the missionary Fathers were highly gratified at the success of the mission which 2000 communicants in the morning testified. His Lordship Bishop Brodie thanked the missioners- and also all those who helped to make the mission a success. * April 12. , . On Wednesday morning, April 9, a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Addington for the happy repose, of , the soul of Father McKeon’s mother. His Lordship the Bishop was present in the Sanctuary and gave the absolution after the Mass. Rev. Father McKeon celebrated the Mass, and was assisted by Rev;Father P. Joyce, deacon; Rev. Father J. Quinn, subdeacon; and Rev. Father D. Healey, master of ceremonies. Also present were the Very Rev. Fathers O’Connell, S.M. (St. Mary’s); Cooney (Lyttelton) ; and the Rev! Fathers Kerley, S.M., J. Joyce, S.M. (St. Bede’s College), J. Seymour, S.M. (St. Mary’s), Creed (Leeston), O’Hare (Lincoln), J. Hanrahau (Darfield), Murphy (Hawarden), 7 Scanlan (Cromwell), Maclean (Chinese Mission), T. Hanrahan, D. Lor dan (Cathedral), O’Doherty (Rangiora), Brown "'(Ashburton), and O’Meeghan (Addington). The music of the Mass was devotion ally rendered by a choir of the priests present, Hi s Lordship the Bishop briefly thanked those present -for their practical sympathy towards Father. McKeon. . He pointed out the great sacrifice of the Irish mother in' sending her son to such a distant country, and also the heroism of/the young priest who left home with the full knowledge that his mother was on her death bed. His Lordship earnestly besought the people to pray for the soul of the departed, that she might soon gain .her eternal reward. Father McKeon received numerous messages of . sympathy from priests who’, were unable to attend • the. requiem.—RM . P. “ 1 : , - • ■■ • ,' , ' As a result of the Trouble . between the Rugby Union and the Marist Brothers’ Old Boys’ Club, a new interest' will he taken in the League Game, competitions of which" commence on Saturday. The Marist Club has entered • several teams, and all wish them the same success as theyhad in the Rugby game. : . h'J | | A euchre ; party -vand dance was held on Wednesday evening, the 9th y inst., in - aid of i.ta Addington school : funds, and was very largely’ attended. The. opening of ..the- Celtic . Club tool: place An the , Hibernian Hall on Tuesday evening. . A good musical pm-*

gramme was arranged, and several of ( the local and visiting clergy were present. / - His Lordship the Bishop is paying a visit to Auckland, and will return in time for the ceremonies, of Holy Week. : Very Rev. Father Cooney, of Lyttelton, intends giving a lecture on Palestine in. the St. Mary’s Hall, in aid of St. Mary’s Tennis Club funds. The annual meeting of the Catholic school committee was held on Thursday evening. The balance sheet for 18 months’ operations showed that the satisfactory sum ;of £I9OO had been collected through garden parties, penny collections, and the parish fund collections. ; The. present credit-balance is £IOO. The committee - intend having ■ the Brothers’ House repainted at an early date, and promoting a garden party for the purpose of raising funds; ' ;

Timaru > (From our own correspondent;) :C ’ .April 11. ; A Retreat for men is now in progress at the Church of the Sacred Heart, and is conducted by the Rev. Father Vincent, Marist Missioner. The attendances morning and evening are very gratifying. A large number approach the Holy Table at the 6 o’clock Mass, which is followed by an instruction. In the evening the usual devotions consisting of rosary,. sermon, and Benediction are held and a very pleasing feature is the fine* singing of .the hymans and Benediction music by the retreatants, led -by Rev. Father Barra, S.M. V A Zulu war veteran, in the person of John Patrick Seeler, of Orakapaoa, Temuka, passed away in the Timaru Hospital on Thursday last, after a long and painful illness, which was borne with much patience and fortitude , (says the Timaru Herald for April 7). The late Mr. Seeler was born in Co. Kerry, Ireland, 63 years ago. - At the age of 18 he enlisted in the Irish Royal Horse Artillery, and after being stationed in India and Egypt, saw two years of active service in the Zulu war, after which he contracted malaria, and was discharged on a pension of 6d a day.. He returned to Ireland, but almost immediately he and his sister sailed for New Zealand, arriving in Timaru in' the year 1890, when he, married Miss J. Hughes, of Christchurch. His wife predeceased him ten years ago. Mr. Seeler came to Temuka and was engaged in farming pursuits in various parts of the district. Eventually he purchased a farm at Orakapaoa and settled there. Pie was chairman of the .Clandeboye School Committee for a number of years, and he was also a member of the Milford School Committee, when he resided in that district. He was an unright man of sterling ability and great patriotism, and he was much esteemed by all who knew him. He leaves three daughters, Mrs. J. Prattley (Temuka), Miss A. Seeler (Kaiapoi), Miss K. Seeler (Christchurch), and two sons, Mr, W. Seeler and Mr. H. Seeler (Temuka), to mourn their loss, . The funeral, which was largely attended, took place at Temuka on Saturday, the Rev. Father Fay, S.M., conducting the service at the,church and at the graveside.—R.l.P.