Thames

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2, 12 January 1905, Page 5

Thames

On Christmas Day (says the • 'lham.es Star') the first Mass of the day was celebrated at 7.30 a.m. in tst. Francis' Chuicn, at which a large number received Holy Communion, including the members of the Hibernian Society, 'lne second Mass was celebrated in St. Brigid's Church at 9 a.m., and again there was a crowded congregation. At 11 o'clock a Missa Cantata was celebrated in fc>t. Francis' cnureh. This Mass, a, 1 * also were the preceding ones, was celebrated by the Kight Key. Mgr. O'lteilly. During each ,of the masses the celebrant addressed tihe congregation in a lew words, pointing out the lull meaning ot the day's celebrations. Tiie music chosen for the Missa Cantata was Glover's Third Masis, which was rendered in a finished manner by the choir, under the aole conductorship of Mr. IMiston. The tollowiing were the members of the choir : Misses V. TWolull, A. Mcknteer, N. 'Gibbon, A. jtfurphy, Foy, Mellett (2), Messrs. O'Connor, Blake, Twohill, R. Kenny, W. Meehan, McEnteer. The piThcipal solos were taken by Misses iwohill and MeUntecr (soprano), Gibson (alto), Messrs. Blake and O Connor (bass), Twohill (tenor), Mr. Williams ( 'cello). Miss Fortune presided at the organ. A very large congregation assembled at 7 o'clock in tihe evening to close the day's proceedings in a befittfrig manner, when the Rigjht Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly preached a sermon appropriate to the occasion. The sernon was followed by Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and here again very valuable assistance was rendered by the choir. The ' Tan turn Ergo,' which was sung by Messrs. O'Connor and Twohill, was rendered in good style. At the conclusion of Benediction the ' Adeste Fideles ' was sung.