Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 16, 16 April 1903, Page 5

Diocesan News

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

»ril 13

The office of Holy Week commenced in the Pro-Cathe-odral on Wednesday evening. Among the clergy present were the Very Rev Vicar-General (who presided), the Very Rev. Deans Foley and Bowers, Rev. Dr. Kennedy, and Rev. Fathers Ginaty, Regnault, Price, O'Donnell, Richards, Hyland, Cooney. Tubman, Marnane, Kerley, Ahem, Gallais, and McDonnell (2). On Holy Thursday Pontifical High Mass was celebrated bjy his Lordtehip (who officiated under great difficulties). The Very Rev. Father O'Donnell was deacon, Key. Father Price subdeacon of the Mass, Very Rev. Dean Foley and Rev. Father Marnane deacon and sub-deacon respectively at the throne, Very Rev. Vicar-General assistant priest, and Very Rev. Dean Bowers master of ceremonies. His Lordship the Bishop officiated at the blessing of the holy oils, all the other ceremonies of Holy Week being performed by the Very Rev. Vicar-General. A sermon on the Blessed Eucharist was preached by the Very Rev. Dean Bowers in the evening and watches beforo the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose were maintained throughout the night by members of the H.A.C.B. Society and Catholic Club and others.

On Good Friday morning the services were com-menced-at 9 o'clock. The Passion was sung by the Very Rev. Dean Bowers, Very Rev. Father O'Donnell, and Rev. Father Richards. The Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais celebrated the Mass of the Presanctified and was attended by the Rev. Fathers Price and Cooney. The devotion of the Stations of the Cross took place in the afternoon and after Tenebrae in tho evening the Rev. Father Regnault preached a sermon on the Passion of our Divine Lord. On Holy Saturday at eighlt o'clock there was Solemn High Mass, celebrated by the Very Rev. Vicar-General, the Rev. Dr. Kennedy being deacon and the Rev. Father Cooney sub-deacon. Large congregations were in attendance at all the services, and on Good Friday the church was crowded morning and evening. The choir are worthy of the highest commendation for the really excellent and efficient manner in which they rendered the service of Tenebrae. Mr. H. H. Loughnan conducted throughout, and to him is due in no small measure the fine degree of perfection attained.

As usual on great festival days, the Pro-Cathedral was most effectively adorned for Easter Sunday, much of the work being performed by a few young men of the congregation, under the direction of the sacristan. Tho sanctuary and high altar were beautifully decorated and adorned by Miss White, whilst our Lady's altar was tastefully embellished by Miss Kearney. On the high altar a costly canopy was user} for the first time and was the gift of a generous benefactor. Very large numbers of communicants approached the Holy "Table at tho earlier Masses. At 11 o'clock Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev Vicar-General, the Roy. Father O'Connell being deacon and Rev. Father McDonnell sub-deacon. The very rev celebrant preached on the day's festival and in concluding referred to the accident which befell his Lordship the Bishop, preventing his presence at the ceremonies of the preceding days and also on the present occasion. At his Lordship's desire, he conveyed his (tho Bishop's) heartfelt wishes to the congregation for a happy Eastertide, together with his blessing. In happy terms he thanked the organist, Miss Funston, for her truly great services to the church during all the yeara of hor occupancy of that position, she being rarely from her place on any Sunday or week night when required. He expressed his grateful thanks to the able conductor, the choir, church officers, sacristan and altar society, all of whom devoted their time and energy to the glory of God and the well-being and progress of His Holy Church. The music was Guonod's Messe Solennelle, very finely rendered by the choir under the'baton of Mr. H. H. Loughnan, Miss Funston presiding at the organ The principal soloists were : Misses Pender and Bowler (soprano), Mr. J. R. Hayward (tenor), Mr. E. McNamara (bass). After the offertory the organist played Fawlke's Raphsody, ' O filii et filiae.' Solemn Vespers were sung in the evening, the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais officiating, being attended by the Rev. Fathers O'Connell and McDonnell. The Rev. Father O'Connell preached a forceful sermon on the Resurrection to a congregation which crowded the sacred edifice to the doors. During Vespers the Easter hymn, ' Haec Dies.' was sung, and after the sermon, Mrs. A. A. Moad gave a highly artistic rending of Guonod'si 'Aye Maria,' with 'cello obligato by Mr. H. H. Loughnan. As a recessional Miss Funston played the ' Hallelujah Chorus ' from Handel's ' Messiah ' After Vespers in the Pro-Cathedral on Easter Sunday the choir were entertained at the presbytery. Advantage was taken of the occasion by tho Very Rev. Vicar-General, on behalf of the Cathedral clergy, to present Miss Funston, on her retirement from the position of organist, with a select little library of handsomelybound volumes, including the works' of Father Faber, ' Catholic Truth,' Lives of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Monica, etc , together with a nice collection of statuary In doing so, the Very Rev. Vicar-General referred in Sjrateful terms to the self-sacrificing zeal which had always distinguished Miss Funston's career in the dis-

charge of duties often onerous and trying. It was (h« said) but a feeble return on their part, but its bestowal was at least a grateful acknowledgment by the Cathedral Fathers of what they felt towards her. Mr. H. H. Loughnan expressed hie own sentiments towards Miss Funston, and in doing so felt convinced he was also expressing those of the choir as a body (remarks which were unanimously applauded). Mr. James Mercer, on behalf of Miss Funston, thankfully acknowledged the presentation, and suitably responded to the appreciative nature of the many kind things given expression to concerning her. The names of the vocalists engaged in the production of Rossini s 'Stabat Mater' at St Mary's, on Palm Sunday were not available in time to be embodied in my last week's letter. They are as follows :— Mrs. C. M. Brooks and Miss N. Slattery took the duet, ' Quis est Homo. The 'Inflammatus' was allotted to Miss F. Gardner, and Miss C. O'Brien sang ' Fac ut portem.' Mr. C. Head sang ' Cujus Animam,' Mr. C. Goggan ' Pro Peccatis,' and Mr. Hynes ' Eja Mater.' At the conclusion of the ' Stabat Mater,' the Rev. Father Marnane thanked those outside members of the choir, who had given such valuable assistance. As an offertory, Miss Young played Guilmant's 'As pants the hfart,' and during the Benediction Miss O'Brien and Miss McLaughlin sang, as a duet, Cartoni's ' Tantum Ergo.' St. Mary's, Manchester street, was tastefully decorated by the Altar Society. High Mass was celebrated at eleven o'clock, the Rev. Father Marnane preaching on the day's festival. The music was Haydn's Imperial Mass, very capably rendered by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. W. H. Corrigan, and assisted by an orchestra led by Mr. E. J. Painter. The soloists were : Soprano, Mrs. C. M. Brooke ; alto, Miss M. Oakes ; tenor, Mr. A. H. Blako ; and bass, Mr. J. Hynes. Miss Katie Young; was at the organ.