The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 51, 20 December 1900, Page 10

The Catholic World.

BELGIUM.— A Double Sacerdotal Jubilee —An event so unusual as that which has just been celebrated at the little town of Fauquemont, in Dutch Limburg, deserves a brief record. Two priests of the diocese of Liege, the Revs. Hubert and Pierre Van den Boom, twin brothers, commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of their ordir.atio", tvr! fi" both olprrrympn nrp pxtrpmply popular in their native town, the occurrence was made the occasion of a sympathetic demonstration. Fanq'ipmnrtt wn« i-v ffitr fr.r the day. work was suspended, and all the schools clotied to enable everybody to take part in the celebration. The houses were gaily decorated with flags and greenery, and in the principal streets triumphal arches were erected bearing appropriate inscriptions. Holiday Classes for Poor Children —The town of Liege (writes a Brussels correspondent) has taken the initiative in a scheme for ' holiday classes ' for children of the poor. It is an admirable plan, for, as we in Belgium are painfully aware, the streets become intolerable through their continued use as a playground, and certainly neither tho manners nor the morals of the children are improved by their sports in the highways and byeways of busy towns. All honor, then, to the authorities of Liege, whose first effort has been a full success. Upwards of 1700 children have regularly presented themselves at these claßses, where there is neither reading, writing, nor arithmetic, but only amusing games, singing, gymnastic exercises, and an occasional excursion to the oountry under proper superintendence. ENGLAND.— Appreciative Visitors to the Passion Play — A. number of English visitors to the Passion Play (says the Daily Chronicle) have resolved to give concrete shape to their admiration for the many ethical ard aesthetic excellences of the simple villagers by some appropriate gift to the parish church. This memento will probably take the form of a chalice or ciborium, and the movement is being actively supported by Lord Halifax, Canon Randolph of Ely, and other leading High Churchmen. The church at Ober-Ammergau already possesses an organ, which was presented to the village 10 years ago by some enthusiastic Anglicans who had made pilgrimage to the 'Passion-Spiel.' A Catholic in Command of the Pacific Squadron —RearAdmiral Andrew K. Bickford, a Catholic officer, has been appointed to the command of the British Pacific Squadron. Ordination Of a Sub-deacon-— The Rev. Mr Chase, a prominent Church of England clergyman well known in Plymouth, was ordained sub-deacon on Sunday morning, October 28, in the private chapel, Archbishop'^ House, London, by his Eminence Cardinal Vaughan. It was only about nine months ago the Rev. Mr Chase joined the Catholic Church. Profession and Reception of Nuns at Sunderland.— Two interesting ceremonies took place on October 27 in the pretty little church of St Bede's Convent of Mercy, Sunderland. The first was that of profession by two novices — Miss Lily O'Mahoney, of Cork, and Miss Helena English, of Limerick. The Auxiliary-Bishop of Hexham and Newca^tl^, Right Rev. Dr. Preston, officiated. Afterwards a reception took place, Bishop Preston again officiating. The postulant prepared for reception was Miss Annie McCormack, of Kells, Ireland. Benediction Ceremony at Ampleforth.— The election of the first Abbot vf Ampleforth, which took place on October 3, was speedily followed by his benediction at the hands of the Bishop of the diocese, for although Benedictine Abbots enpy the full privileges of their rank apart from the ceremony, yet it was the express •wish of the Holy See that the Superiors of the newly-erected Abbeys should receive solemn episcopal benediction. Father Oswald Smith, who has now by the suffrages of his brethren been called to the abbatial office, received the monastic habit at Belnaont some 28 years ago. After going through hi? novitiate and early ecclesiastical studies, he returned to Ampleforth, where he was ordained priest, and where he filled the offices of Prefect of Studies and Discipline. After some years he went back to Belmont as Professor of Philosophy, became a Canon of Newport and Menevia, and during thiß period found time to go to Rome to take his doctorate in Philosophy at the Gregorian University. Chosen to the Priorship of his monastery in January, 1898, he now receives a final proof of his brethren's confidence in his election as first Abbot of Ampleforth ; and he has the distinction of being the first English Benedictine Abbot to receive solemn Episcopal Benediction since Feckenham was installed in Westminster under Queen Mary. His election and that of his brother Abbots is further interesting as marking the restoration of the monastic hierarchy in England, which thus comes into existence at the bidding of the Holy See just .">0 years after the revival of the Episcopal Hierarchy by Pius IX. The Benediction took place at Ampleforth in the Abbey Church, on Wednesday, October 2t, the Feast of the Archangel St. Raphael. A Pleasing Circumstance— Mr. A. H. Scott (writes a correspondent of the Catholic Time*), who contested East Manchester in the late General Election against the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., and who is now seeking the suffrages of the electors of St. Luke's Ward, Manche-ter, is a Nonconformist and comes of an old Wesieyan stock, yet h s election committee consi.-ts amongst others of the Rev. David Power, of St. Aloysius', Rev. C. Ilothwell, of the Holy Family, and Messrs. J. Allison, D. McCabe, J.P., D. Boyle, Dr. O'Doherty, T. Carroll, M. Molloy, W. Molloy, J. M. Sheerin, Mesdames Rose, Hyland, S ile, and other well-known Catholics. Mr. Scott, uuhke some others of his creed, is a broadminded and tolerant gentleman and a friend to all that Catholics hold dear.

ITALY.- Genoa's Act Of Homage— A singularly impressive act of homage to Our Lord has been performed by the venerable Archbishop of Genoa and members of his flock. A local periodical conceived the idea of promoting a movement for the erection of a cross on Mount Fasce as a memorial of devotion to the Redeemer during the Holy Year. The proposal was heartily taken up, the cross was duly get in place, and on the day appointed for blessing it no less than 6000 people climbed the mountain side. A lusty band, consisting of members of the Catholic Society of Genoa, carried the Archbishop to the summit. At the foot of the cross a temporary altar had been prepared, and there the Archbishop, ia presence of the Mayor of Genoa, the clergy, and representatives of Catholic societies and confraten itt j s, offered up the Holy Sacrifice and then solemnly blessed the ores. A hymn specially composed for the occasion was sung, and after the mountain had resounded with shouts of applause, the descent was made. The cruss, which is of immense size, bears upon its base an inscription stating that it has been erected by the citizens of Genoa during the Holy Year as an act of homage to Christ the Redeemer. At a time when genuine religious feeling ia so frequently conspicuous by ita absence, this signal act of faith by the p9ople of 'Genoa the Superb ' should not be left without recognition. ROME-— The Last Mass of the Century— it is stated that his Holiness Leo XIII. has decided to personally celebrate, at midnight, on December 31st, and with the utmost solemnity, the last Mass of the century. All the pilgrims then in Rome will attend, and to it will be invited the great personages then in the Imperial City, the Roman aristocracy, and the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. SCOTLAND— The Catholic Truth Bociety.— The Archbishop of Glasgow presided at the seventh annual Conference of the Catholic Trnth Society of Scotland, held in Glasgow on 30th October. Addresses were delivered by the Archbishop-Elect of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, the Bishop-Auxiliary of Glasgow, Lord Ralph Kerr, and others. A musical programme was provided by the United Glasgow choirs. A Windfall for Catholic Industrial Schools.— By the recent dissolution of the Edinburgh Industrial Schools, and the division of their funds amongst institutions of a more or less similar kind St. Joseph's Catholic Industrial School, Tranent, and the Catholic Working Boys' Home, Edinburgh, have become beneficiaries to the extent of £2,000 and £1,000 respectively. Opening of a new College Chapel-— On Saturday, the 13th October, the new chapel in connection with the College of Notre Dame, Glasgow, was solemnly opened by his Grace the Archbishop. The chapel forms part of a wing which comprises practising school, class rooms, lecture room for the Pupil Teachers' Centre, etc The whole is after the design of Messrs. Pugin and Pugin, and from its prominent position and architectural beauty forms one of the most striking features of the district. Long before the ceremony began, the chapel, which is capable of holding over 300 persons, was filled, chiefly with the present and former pupils of Notre Dame. SOUTH AFRICA.-The Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District .—Bishop Mac Sherry of the Eastern District, Cape Colony, celebrated on August 2 the silver jubilee of his ordination and the fourth anniversary of hia elevation to the Episcopate. From the testimonies of affection offered to him it is evident that his Lordship is a great favorite with his priests and people. Some came hundreds of miles to tender their congratulations. The priests, through Mgr. Fagan. presented an illuminated address expressive of cordial feeling. The Bi.shop received presentations also from the Sisters of the Assumption, the Sisters of Nazareth, the Dominican Sisters and the Marist Brothers, and quite a sheaf of congratulatory messages, including some cables from Europe. UNITED STATES— The Galveston Disaster.— The Archbishop of New York notified Bishop Gallagher, of Galveston, that New York will provide for all the Catholic orphans who were left homeless by the recent disaster. Teu Sisters of Charity lost their live» in the storm. The Most Rev. Archbishop Feehan, of Chicago, has headed the Catholic subscription in aid of the Galveston sufferers with a personal donation of 1000 dollars. Installation of the Archbishop of Dubuque— The Most Rev. John J. Keane, D.D., first Rector of the Catholic University of America and second Archbishop of Dubuque, lowa, was formerly installed in the latter office, in the Cathedral of his Metropolitan City, on Thursday, September 27. There was enthusiastic rejoicing in Dubuque at the announcement of Archbishop Keane's appointment to the See left vacant by the death of Archbishop Hennessy. Dr. Keane's fame aa administrator, orator, and, above all, a devoted and self-sacrificing man of God, had long preceded him. Mgr. Nugent, of Liverpool, who was in Dubuque when Archbishop flenneesy was invested with the Pallium, went from St. Paul to Dubuque to be present at the installation of his friend the Archbishop, and the act was greatly appreciated. The Catholics of Dubuque desired to give a magnificent reception to their new Archbishop, but as he had expressed a contrary wish to the Right Rev. Mgr. R. Ryan, Vicar-General and Administrator, their plans were somewhat modified. Archbishop Keane was born at Ballyshannon, in Ireland, on September 12, 1839. He went to the United States with his parents in 1846. Dr. Keane was transferred from the See of Richmond and appointed to the Rectorship of the Catholic University in 1890, and held this high position nntil October, 189G when he was elevated to the titular Archbishopric of Damascus and called to Rome, where he served as a Consultor of the Propaganda and a Canon of St. John Late ran. A year ago Archbishop Keari* was granted leave of absence from this duty for the space of two years and sent to the United States to complete the endowment of the Catholic University. He has been very Bucoessf ul in gathering large contributions.