DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 30 July 1903, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

The many friends of Dr. E. O'Neill will be pleased to learn that he has returned from his trip to England having arrived in Dunedm on Wednesday by the Monowai from Melbourne.

The Rev. James- Liston (deacon) had an audience with the late Pope on June 13. He is expected in this Colony in a few months' time. The Rev. Father Buckley, who was recently ordained priest, is on his way to New Zealand from Rome.

On Monday evening Rev. Father Correy delivered a very interesting lecture on the life and work of the late Pope to the members of the South Dunedin Literary and Social Club, and held their close attention for over an hour. At its close a cordial xote of thanks was passed by acclamation

On Tuesday of last xveek (says the ' Alexandra Herald ') Mrs. J. J. O'Kane was waited on at her residence by a few lady friends, when she was the recipient of a further mark of the esteem in which she is held in the community, the presents taking the form of a silver tureen and entree dish (combined) and an embossed silver jewel casket, each being suitably inscribed. The presentation xvas madu by the Mayor, who said he had much pleasure in being present on that occasion, and in asking Mrs. O' Kant's acceptance of the presents which had been subscribed by her friends.

It us almost unnecessary for us to remind our readers that the complimentary concert to Miss Rose Blaney takes place in his Majesty's Theatre to-morrow evening. All the arrangements are now completed, and the sale of tickets up to date leads the committee to believe that there will be a record attendance. This is only as it should be, considering the generous and ungrudging manner in which Miss Blaney has always given her services for every worthy cause. Amongst the items will be a duet, 'O Sainted Mother,' from ' Mantana ' by Mrs. Costello and Miss Blaney, in addition to which those two talented singers wrll each contribute a solo. The other contributors to the progra me are well known in musical circles, and the concert should be for many reasons an unqualified success

The annual meeting of St. Joseph's Cathedral Choir took place in St Joseph's Hall on Thursday eveninig. The Rev. Father Murphy presided The report disclosed that the choir had made very satisfactory progress during the past twelve months, and referred in complimentary terms to the work of Mr Valhs (organist), Mr. Feil (deputy-conductor), and Mrs Woods (pianist)" During the excning Mis Woods xvas presented with a handsome case of toilei requisites (on behalf of the choir), iv recognition of her valuable services to the choir in the past Mr Woods suitably lesponded on her behalf. The following ladies and gentlemen weie elected as a committee for the ensuing year — Miss Ileley, Miss Drumm, Messrs Woods, Feil, Lcihy, and Ilussey. Father Alurphy, m moving t lie adoption of the repoit, expressed great pleasuie at being present, and apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Bishop He also complimented the choir on its progress and relened in complimentary terms to the work performed by the secretary (Mr. Woods), in whom tne choir possessed an enthusiastic and hard-xvoiking memhei

A solemn Requiem for the eternal repose of the late 1 Pope was celebrated in St Joseph's Cathedral on Tuesday His Lordship Bishop \eidon was celebrant, Very Rev Mgr O'Leaiv (Lawrence) assistant pnest, Rex. Father Delanv (Holy Cro i s College, Mosgiel) deacon, Rev Father Howard sub-deacon, and Rev Father Murphy master ot ceumonies Theie were also present a !aige numbei of pnests of the dioce.se, rind the students of Holy Cross College to the number of 20 The solemn music appropriate to the occasion xvas rendered by the choir of the Dominican Nuns, assisted by several lady members of St Joseph's choir, including Mrs Costello, Misses Rose Blancy, M Dnimm, and Morrison. The sanctuary, altar, and prominent architectural portions oi the saeied edifice weie tastefully and effectively draped in black and xvhite At the close of the Mass the custnmar' ajsolui ions xvere gi\rn by his Lordship, the re-*-nonscs being made by Ihe attendant priests and choir. There was an immense congregation present, the Cathedral being packed to the doors

At St Joseph's Cathedial on Sunday e\ening his Lordship Bishop \ erdon made reference to th^ great loss sustained by Ihe Chunh owing to the death of Pope Leo XIII To-day, said his Lonisnip, all thoughts are turned to Rome, wheie the remains of the gieat Pontiff are lying in slate in the tneat Basilica of St Peter Whenever a eieat --oveieif-Mi <i a great mlcr dies it is customary to ha\e his funeral obsequies carried out with great solemnities, and his people express their regret Mid show then respect foi the memoiy of the dead But ..imong all the sovereigns of this eattli there was- none l o esteemed as the Soy frfi.un PoMin, the successor of St Peter, Chnst's \ i< ar upon eaith, whose empire extended

over three hundred millions of willing subjects. Even' Sr EK7h tw holle n Of men ma F hhea * c done something ior which they would require our humble prayers, and in addition to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which had been offered up for the repose of the soul o the U™ Pontiff, they should unite their prayers with the millions of their fellow-Catholics that God may give him eternal happiness His Lordship was for a lonf period Sn of the Eternal City, both as a student, as vice-rector and rector of the Irish College, and in one or other of' these capacities was associated with a number of the most stirring events of the later years of the Pontificate oi Fius IX He was also intimately acquainted with the events of the Pontificate of Leo XIII., and to these hi made reference in tne course of his remarks. Beginning with the revolutionary movement, which followed close on the accession of Pius IX. to the Papal throne, his Lordship sketched the most notable events that happened prior to the stirring sfcimes of 1848, and Whence on to the revolutionary movements of the '50's and '60's which culminated in the capture of Rome by the Piedmontese troops in 1870. Bishop Verdon spoke in termsTstron| commendation of the saintly and gentle character of Pius IX., of_the firmness which he displayed in the face of the many troubles which marked his long career as Pope and stated that this attitude of Pius. IX. laid the foundation of the admirable policy by the aid of which ins successor did so much to raise the Papacy in the eyes of the nations. His Lordship then entered into details regarding the Pontificate of Leo XIII., whom he knew intimately, and with whom he had had a very great number of personal interviews. He spoke in term! of warmest eulogy of the late Pope as a man, as a Roman Ponurr, as a statesman, as a scholar, and as a friend of the poor and oppressed, concluding with reference to the conclave for the election of a successor, and asking for the prayers of the congregation to aid the Cardinals in their selection of a worthy occupant of the Holy See