Diocese of Christchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 31, 3 December 1897, Page 18

Diocese of Christchurch.

(From our own correspondent.)

On Sunday week and on the three following days, the services were of a very impressive character at St. Mary's. On Sunday morningweek at eleven o'clock Solemn High Mass was celebrated, the celebrant being the Rev. Father Marnane. The altar was tastefullydecorated, and at the conclusion of the Maw there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament around the interior of the church. All the societies of the parish took part in the sacred rite. The music was particularly good, and Farmer's Mass in B flat was effectively sung- by the choir, under the conductor-ship of Mr. H. Rossiter. The solos were sung by Misses Lucy Ryan. L. Grady. N. Oake^, and C. O'Brien. Messrs. A. H. Blake. 0. Goggin, and A. O'Brien. During the oifer^ory Miss Mary McLaughlm sang a very pretty " Aye Maria."' The forty houm' adoration was commenced, and in the evening the Vicar-General preached to a crowded congiegation. At the High Ma'-s on Tuesday the celebrant was the Rev. Father Galorne, who was assisted by the Rev. Fathers Marnane (master of ceremonies), Aubrey (deacon"), and Goifgan (sub-deacon). There were also present in the sanctuary the Vicar-General and the Rev. Fathers Meln, Haualt, Raft'erty, and Salvador. Mr. W. Hine was assistant master of ceremonies. The music for the Mass was a^ain excellently rendered by the choir under Mr. Rossiter. Atter Mass the Vicar-General addressed a few words to those present, and explained that he had been late in coming owing to having been called to administer the last Sacraments to the Rev. Mother Gabriel, assistant Rev. Mother at Mount Magdala. He asked all present to • unite in prayer for the religious who was so devoted a follower of the ■■ Good Shepherd," and the appeal was heartily responded to. On Thursday evening last the formal inauguration of the female branch of St. John the Baptist, in connection with the H.A.C.B.S. took place in the Hibernian Hall in this city. Brothers G. J. Sellars, P.D.P., and P. Burke, P.P.. were tie | u ted by the district officers to open the new branch. They were assisted by Brothers J. Gresham, P. C. Courtney, V P., J. R. Courtney, P.P., d. Dobbs, P P., J. M'Cormack, \V., J. JJoolan, (>. and J. Finnerty, G. The VicarGeneral was also present. Brother SeJlars presided, and havingdelivered the usual address prescribed for the opening of a new branch, he rend the Dispensation, mid then on behalf of himself and Brother Burke declared the branch formally opened. He next read the declarations and mediuil certificates of 17 candidates, who were elected and initiated. Sixteen other candidate?', who ha\e received certificates, were unable to be present. Nominations were then taken for the different offices, arid le^ulted in the election of the following — pn sident, Sis,(.er M. F. Courtnty ; vice-president, Sister Mary Ryan ; secretary. Sibter Julia Rennell ; treasurer, Sister M.

Bradley ; warden, Sister L. MA dams; guardian, Sister M. E. Sellars ; sick-visitors, Sisters M. Nelligan and Smith, medical atttendant, Dr. Bolger. ' The installation ceremony was read by Brother Burke, and the different officers ■ assumed- the respective positions. • When the branch- was formed the roll of officers was toalled, and the minutes of the opening arid installation ceremonies jwere read and confirmed, the following branch' business was transacted :— Resolved that the name of the branch be the Branch of St. John the Baptist ; that the Vicar-General be the chaplain ; that .the next meeting be held on Thursday evening, December 9, and to hold subsequently fortnightly meetings. Sisterly greetings from the Dunedin female lodge-were received with acclamation. Congratulatory addresses were- given by the Vicar-General, Brothers Sellars and Burke, and ably responded to by the president and the vicepresident. The Catholic ladies of Christchurch may be congratulated oit having formed a branch of the Hibernian Society in the city, now that women, particularly young 'women, have to depend chiefly on their own exertion to provide themselves with every day necessaries, and 'practically to fight the battle of life' in the same manner as the sterner sex. It is, therefore, only right and proper that they should combine to secure for themselves — if the occasion should unfortunately arise — medical comforts and sick pay. The interest and vitality shown in the opening of the branch argus well for its future success. ■ On Thursday last the Rev. Father Barry, who is the superior "of the Order, and also- three other Redemptorist Fathers, who are Fathers Hegarty. Mangan and Vingham. arrived in this city, and on Sunday last they opened at High Mass 'at the Pro-cathedral a mission, which will continue till Christmas. A procession was formed at the entrance of the sacred edifice, and the four missionaries, one of whom bore a crucifix, proceeded, accompanied by the local clergy and several acolytes, to the sanctuary, where the Vicar-General addressed them in the following words : — "Rev. Fathers — Oh behalf of our Bishop and clergy and faithful, we thank you for coming, and we heartily welcome you to this parish. We recollect with great pleasure the many blessings received from former missions, which were given by the members of your Order in this diocese, and we expect on the present occasion to obtain still greater spiritual favours. We promise to co-operate with you in this holy work, and from this day forth until the end of the mission we give you entire charge of the parish with the exception, of the sick, whom, perhaps, you would not have time to visit." The Rev. Father Galerne sang the High Mass. The Rev. Father Barry, who took for his text the words,- "The Lord thy God thou shalt serve, and Him only shalt thou adore," preached a very instructive and eloquent sermon on the occasion. At 3 p.m. all the boys and girls up to the age of 16 years were assembled in the Pro-cathedral and were addressed by the Rev. Father Mangan. This is the children's mission, which will continue till the end of the week, and will then be succeeded by one for the adults. At the evening service Vespers were not sung, but the Rosary was recited instead. The Rev. Father Mangan, who was also celebrant at the Benediction, conducted the devotion of the Rosary. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Hegarty, whose text was : " Suffer the little children to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdon of heaven." The discourse, which was plain, strong and practica l , was much admired. He was somewhat moved at the beginning at the fact that nearly thirteen years have passed sinoe he before addressed the Catholius in this city, and at the great progress the Church has made here since that time. " Your diocese," he said, "in thc-e days formed part of that of Wellington. Now you have a biohop of your own. Before he left for Europe, he arranged with our superior that we should give you i a mission and here we are again. We irust that God will bless our labours now as he did then." In bpite of the effects of a decade and three years, the rev. missionary is looking well. But the appendage of spectacles, which, it appears, in those days were not always requisite, have now, it seems, become indispensable. The Rev. Father Mangan, who was here four years ago, I am pleased to say also appears in excellent health. On Tuesday next, November 30, Mr. John Aloysius O'Connell, of Christchurch, and Mr. Patrick Fay, of Leeston, will be ordained at Meante, Napier, by his Grace Arciabishop Redwood. Shortly after his elevation to the priesthood the itev. Father O'Connell will come to this city, and on Sunday next will sing the High Mass, wine) 1 will be his first Mass, at the Pro-cathedral. Mr. Thomas O'Counell, the father of the Rev. Father O'Connell, and the latter's next younger brother, Daniel, proceeded a few days ago to Napier, .in order to be pre=ent at the ordinations. The Rev. Father O'Connell, who in December next will complete the twenty -eighth year of his age, was born in Chriritchurch. He was, moreover, baptised and confirmed in the Pro-cathedral, where, no doubt, on Sunday next, many persons in Christchurch and in Canterbury will assemble in order to assist at the august; rite which he will there celebrate.