DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1, 4 January 1900, Page 20

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) January 1. At the Pro-Cathedral on Christmas Day, Masses were celebrated almost continuously from 6 a.m. till 990 a.m. At 11 o'clock Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, the Very Rev. Dean Foley and the Rev. Father Crotty being deacon and sub-deacon respectively, the Rev. Father Richards master of ceremonies, and the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Ghesnais assistant priest. The congregation was addressed by the Bishop on the festival of the day, who wished them all the joys and blessings of the holy season, and subsequently imparted the Papal and Episcopal blessings. The music of the Mass was Haydn's Imperial, whioh was exceptionally well rendered by the choir, the soloists being : — Miss Jacques (soprano), Mrs. Bowler and Miss A. Bryant (altoe), Mr. Lenihan (tenor), Mr. Hynes (bass). At the offertory, Novello's arrangement of the ' Adeste Fidel es' was sung, the solos being taken by Mrs. Mead, Miss Bryant, and Messrs T«ftn*hiH» and Cunningham. Mr. H. H. Loughnan conducted, and Hiss Funston presided at the organ. The church was prettily decorated with clusters and wreaths of foliage and flowers. A very naturally constructed 'crib' formed a most conspicuous object. The sanctuary, high altar, and side altars looked extremely pretty. The work of decoration was done by the ladies composing the Altar Society and a few willing assistants. Pontifical Vespers were sung in the evening by his Lordship the Bishop, who also preached and gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At the presbytery after Vespers the choir were entertained by the Bishop, who heartily thanked them for their faithful services daring the year, and paid a well merited compliment to them for their admirable rendering of the musical portion of the day's services. In the choruß work of the Mass on Christmas Day the Pro-Cathedral choir received able assistance from two visiting gentlemen, members of St. Francis' Church choir, Melbourne, and Brisbane Cathedral.

Besides the early masses at St. Mary's, Manchester street, on Christmas Day, High Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., the Rev. Father Marnane being deacon, and the Rev. Father Gallais sub-deacon. The music was Weber's Mass in G, in which the choir was assisted by a capable orchestra.

After Vespers in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday evening there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Te Deum was sung in thanksgiving for the many favours received during the expiring year. On Boxing Day an exoursion by train to Rangiora was organised by a committee of St. Mary's parishioners. The day being perfect for an outing a large number took advantage of the occasion for a run into the country, including some from the Pro-Cathedral parish. A sports programme and various amusements for the children were carried out in the local domain. A good many from the surrounding districts drove in and augmented the party during the day, it being estimated that about 1200 were present. At the meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce last week to inaugurate a war fund, his Lordship Bishop Grimes said in his address that it might seem out of place for him to be at such a gathering and for such a purpose seeing that he was by nature and profession a man of peace. He had, he said, just received a letter from a Bishop in South Africa, who was not an Englishman and whose sympathies were not generally with the English, who stated lie could safely say that very seldom had England had a more just cause for war than in the present case. Concluding amidst applause Bishop Grimes said, ' We do not want peace at any price — we are anxious for peace and praying for peace, but we want peace with honour,' a sentiment which received conspicuous attention in a subsequent leading article in the Lyttelton Times. There departed this life on Christmas Day at the residence of Mr. Kennedy, North Loburn, Mr. Patrick Higgins, who had reached the exceptionally ripe age of 100 years. The funeral took place a few days later, the remains being interred in the Loburn Catholic Cemetery.— R.l.P. A paragraph in the telegraphed report of Bishop Grimes's oiroular on the war where the words ' it were needless even though possible to go into the origin of that fearful war ' should read •it "were needless even were it possible,' etc.

The Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., is at present conducting retreats for the Sisters of Mercy at Greymouth and Hokitika.

I regret to hear that the Rev. Father Salvador of Lyttelton is very seriously ill.

His Lordship the Bishop proposes to visit Cheviot next week for the purpose of giving a mission and in the interests of the projected Cathedral.