TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 51, 20 December 1900, Page 15

TIMARU.

(From our own correspondent.) It was a pleasing eight on Sunday last to see a number of children from the Sacred Heart and Marist Brother^ parochial schools — about 80 in all — receiving their First Communion. The children were well prepared by their respective teachers for the solemn occasion and had to undergo examination by the Rev. Father Tubman to ensure that they had a thorough knowledge of the Christian doctrine. After Mans the communicants were entertained at breakfast in the girls' schoolroom and in the afternoon were again brought together and every effort made to make them remember the day as the happiest in their lives. In the evening the church wan crowded when the renewal of baptismal vows by the children and adults and the admission of six aspirants to the Sodality of the Children of Mary took place. The Rev. Father O'Connell, of Waimate. before conducting the ceremonies, preached a practical sermon to the children on their First Communion, and also explained ,the {different ceremonies about to take place. The renewal of baptismal vows by the first communicants was a most pleasing and edifying sight. An act of consecration to the Blessed Virgin was clearly read by a little girl (Mary M'Ateer) a similar act to St. Joseph being read by a little boy (B. Dennehy) after which the first communicants in a body took the pledge of total abstinence. What a debt of gratitude parents must acknowledge to those good teachers, when comparing the meagre means at their disposal for educating their children a few short years back and the priceless advantages they now possess in having their children trained by the good Nuns and Brothers, and spiritually and secularly equipped to fight the battle of life. The Hibernian Society held its fortnightly meeting on Thursday last, the president (Mr. M. F. Dennehy) in the chair. The next meeting, on Thursday, 27th, is the quarterly one, and will be held in the branch's new rooms, near the Priory (St. John's Hall). A resolution was unanimously passed conveying the congratulations of the branch to Brothers Wybertus and Kilian in their triumph over their calumniators, and sympathising with them in" the suspense and suffering they underwent previous to and during the trial. A practical testimony of the sympathy of the branch will aIBO be forthcoming. The branch's banner (painted by Madam Ryan) has been forwarded to Christchurch, and will be unfurled in the Jubilee procession by the members of the Timaru and Christchurch branches. In oonection with the celebration of the foundation of the Order of the Bisters of the Sacred Heart Pontifical High Mass wbb celebrated by his Lordship Bishop Grimes on Wednesday morning,

Rev. Father Cleary (Dunedin) being assistant priest, Very RevDean Foley (Christohurch) deacon of the Mass, Rev. Father Tubman subdeacon, and Rev. Fathers Renault and Aubry deacons at the throne. The Gregorian Mass was sang by the convent boarders m a finished and devotional manner. In t^e evening solemn Benediction was given by the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, preceded by an admirable and touching disoourse on the origin, aima, and characteristics i of the Institute of the Sacred Heart, and the lessons to be derived from the life and virtues of Mother Barat, the foundress. On Wednesday evening an entertainment of a semi-private character, consisting of musical items and ' The Salve Regina ' a play in five acts, was given by the pupils. The following was the miisioal programme •— Entn'-e. ' Festal March ' (piano) ; action song, The cat in the school ' (encored) ; Bpinnlietl (piano), Miss inleen Dennehy ; impromptu. Miss Eileen Tooiney ; song, ' The singS?i e8 ?II^\ the Beo « nd divißion - In the play the characters of Judith D Astrog (a Polish young lady), and Count D'Astrog (her uncle) were admirably impersonated respectively by Misses Mechtildes and Cecily Kennedy. The part of Lady Beatrice (a friend of the late Countess D'Astrog) was well played by Miss Madeline Kinnerney, and Miss Clnre Smith was very bright and most amusing as Fritz the valet. Miss Pearl Grace was highly successful aa the Tartar Chief, Abdul Bey, and Miss Mary Twomey's presentation ot the character of Hassan was very natural. Misses Stella Murray, (jrladysKennaway, Mary Mcßhane and Lizzie Brosnahan put plenty of animation into their F arts as Tartars. The piece was very nicely staged and well played, the production being vary creditable to both teachers and pupils. The proceedings closed with the singing of a chorus ' Laudate,' after which his Lordship the Bishop delivered a brief address. At the conclusion of Dr. Grimes'* remarks Miss inwards, on behalf of the pupils, presented his Lordship with a floral bouquet studded with sovereigns. The play was repeated in the parish school on Thursday afternoon in the presence of the children and a number of their parents and friends. The boarders left tor their holidays on the same day.