DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 24, 15 June 1905, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

Jane 12. The choir of St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, intend giwng a concert on June 29 at Lyttelton in aid of the fund for erecting a Cat/holic hall there undeffi* the auspices >of the local Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. His Lordship the Bishop, accompanied by the Rev. Father Cooney, visited on Saturday last 11. M.5. ' Challenger, 1 the latest addition to the Australasian Squadion, now in Lyttelton Ilarhor. Among the ship's company of this warship are sixty Catholics, mostly of liish nationality. On Sunday last (Pentecost Sunday) there was Pontifical High Mass in the Cathedral His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, the Very Rev. Vicar-General assi&tant priest, Rev. Father Mahoney deacon, and Rev. Father O'Connell subdeacon. There were Pontifical Vespers at which the Bishop officiated and preached on the subject of the day's festival. At the termination of the ceremonies in the Cathedral on Sunday evening, his Lordship the Bishop referred to the attitude of the hier-archy of New Zealand in regard to recent events in which they had been much criticised. Anything of the so-called ' unsectarian ' or ' undenominational ' order undertaken to advance the virtues, especially the cardinal virtues, was not calculated to do any lasting good. The greatest good .possible in such connections was accomplished by our visiting missionaries, and our own priests in the confessional, and by our Bishops and priests by word and example. Spasmodic efforts on the part of anyone were of no avail. The great virtue of temperance could be obtained only by frequentation of the Sacraments, prayer, and self-sacrifice. After the usual practice last week the members of St. Mary's choir adjourned to the presibvterv, Manchester* street, and presented the conductor, Mr. W. H. Corrie.an with, a silver-mounted baton, an easy chair, and a ' pelican ' pen for music copying purposes. In asking Mr. Oorrigaa's acceptance of the gifts on the choir's be-

half, the Rev. Father Marnane alluded to the many valued services rendered to the Church by Mr. Corrigan, the numerous successful public gatherings promoted by him, and the excellent state of efficiency attained by the choir under his direction. Mr. Corrigan, in gratefully acknowledging the unexpected kindness of the choir as proved by the valuable gifts made him, expressed appreciation of the good spirit existing, which, coupled with their cheerful willingness to undertake the task allotted them, rendered progress possible in the pagt and augurea Timaru representation. The first regular montnly meeting of the Cathedral Christian Doctrine Confraternity was held on Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the children's instructions. There was a full attendance, and the president (Mr. M. Garty) presided, and several honorary membeis were elected. The greatest numiber so far recoidud on the children's roll of attendance was 261, and excellent progress was reported. 'The spiritual director, the Rev. Father O'Connell, who was thanked for his gift of regalia to the teachers, spoke at some length on the work already donOand the inevitable good results to be anticipated. He incidentally referred to the latest Encyclical of our Holy Father the Pope on the subject of Christian Doctrine, whose desires in this regard ha.d been anticipated in the Christchurch Oajihearal. It was resolved to have a distribution of awards to the classes quarterly if possible, as a sure means of attaining proficiency and regularity.