DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 25, 19 June 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

June 16th. It has been found nece-sary to alter the date of the entertainment in aid of the schools from July \\ to July 10. The Very Rev. Dean Folty is at present ministering at Akaroa and on last Sunday week at St. Patrick's Church the 'Te Deum' was sung in thanksgiving for the dec laration of peace The letter of his Holiness the Pop,, grunting a special d spemation to Catholics through, ut the British Empire on the occasion of the Coronation whs read in the < hurchfi on Sunday. The Rev. Father Gol-'< n, of Kaikc ura, ; rnved by the Wnkatu on Tuesday night on a business vitit. While here he was a guest at the episcopal residence. On Sunday the Bih inst., his Lcrdship Dr. Grin,™ administered the Sacrament of Confirmation in the new church ot Wniau North Canterbury. The Bishop prf ached both morning and evening and n response to an appeal on behalf of the Cathedral building fund

the congregation, which is said to be one of the smallest in the diocese, contributed the splendid sum of £150, surpassing the most sangnine anticipations of everyone in the district. In the afternoon the Bishop blessed the Catholic cemetery ; and after the sermon in the evening the 'Te Deum ' was sung in thanksgiving for the declaration of peace in South Africa. Early in the week the Bishop returned to the city, and intended to go to Cheviot on Sunday to solemnly bless and open the fine new church just completed. The inclement weather and flooded state of the rivers prevented the carrying out of his Lordship's intentions. Cheviot is also in the parochial district of the Rev. Father Price, Hawarden, who it evidently accomplishing great things for religion in the wide area under his ooutrol. The choir of St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, under the oonductorship of Mr W. H. Corrigon, produced Mendelssohn's 'LaudaSion' on Sunday evening. According to authorities, the strikingly beautiful hymn for Corpus Christi was written by St. Thomas Aquinas at the request of the then Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Gregory X. Tradition haa it that St. Thomas and two others were deputed for the task, but so impressed were the latter at the beautifully appropriate words of the Angelic Doctor that they immediately destroyed their own compositions. The Catholic Club held its usual weekly meeting on Tuesday, Mr J. R. Hayward (vice-president) occupying the chair. Arrangements were made for a lecture at the next meeting by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., on ' Liberty,' and an ' At Home' for the following Tuesday for members and friends (including ladies). During the week a tournament was held between the club and the H.A.C.B. Society in which the club were victorious. Included in the attractions at the rooms is ping pong, a set being kindly presented by Mr R. O. Duncan (vice-president). The game is in great request by the younger members. The programme of the evening consisted of ' impromptu speeches,' various complex subjects being intelligently handled. A most enjoyable social, tendered by Mr and Mrs J. C. Chase to all those who in any way assisted in connection with Mrs Chase's stall (' Bengal Lancers ') at the recent Coronation Carnival, was held on Monday evening last in the Mom real street Hall. Upwards of 200 guests were present, and towards the end of the festivities Mr A. J. Malley spoke in eulogistic terms of the host and hostesp, who are always to the fore in matters pertaining to the advancement of Church undertakings generally, and particularly on behalf or St. Mary's, the results from their stall at the late bazaar being the most successful. Three hearty cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Chase, the procedings being terminated by the singing of ' Auld lang syne.'