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New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 175, 4 August 1876, Page 12

A correspondent writing from Herne, near Bochum, Bth April, 1876, says : — I have just assisted at divine service here, and never in my life was a deeper impression made on my mind. The population of this place is about 12XKK), and the greater portion are Catholics. The priest who had built the Church, out of private subscriptions, died about twelve months ago. The Bishop had sent another priest, but he was not recognised, and is now exiled. Divine service is held regularly every Sunday, but we cannot receive any Sacraments. I wanted to hear Mass — but what a Mass ! ! Without a priest, the congregation crowded the altar, which is erected about six feet in front of the high altar, the tabernacle of which is open and empty. At the foot of this small altar I sawtwo boys dressed as for serving Mass. A layman stands at the side of the pulpit and reads the prayers of the Mass in German. Another mounts the pulpit and reads the Gospel, with an explanation sent per post by the exiled priest. Then the organ was played and the men and women in the choir sing the 'Credo' and the < Sanctus.' The bell is rung. All bow down to the ground. Afterwards they sing a Litany, and the service is concluded. Does not this remind us of what we read of the service of the first Christians in the Roman Catacombs, during the most violent persecutions ? In Bombay, India, there is a congregation of 1,000 Catholics who worship in an old Buddhist temple.