DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 6 September 1906, Page 13

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) September 3. As a prelude to the annual meeting of the Christchiurch Catholic Club and Tennis Club, an -enjoyable social gathering was held in the club-rooms on last Thursday evening. Several of the clergy were among those present, and the executive committee were attentive to the little -details which leaded to the comfort of visitors and, the success of the evening. The Rev. Father O'Connell, who' is, still in the Ran- , giora parish, returned to town for a few ' days last week. On Thursday evening he" attended a gathering of the Catholic Club and friends, whom he addressed in the interests of the projected carnival. On the following evening he met representatives of Str.- Mary's congregation, Manchester street, with a -similar object. The Rev. Ffather Hickson is also interesting himself in the matter. The H.A..C.8. Society has been interview- ' ed, and with encouraging results. Recent communications from his Lordship Bishop Grimes give particulars of his various appointments- in and about London. 'He had preached at ithe Church of Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, and at St. Anne's,' Spitalfields, the scene of his episcopal' consecration on July 26, ISB7. • In the course of an interview with a; representative. of the, ' Catholic Herald ' (which also reproduces, a" rather fine portrait of his > Lordship) he gives an amount of interesting information concerning the state of religion and education in New Zealand .generally, and the diocese of . Christchurch

in particular, In reply to the question..' What do you think of the outlook for the future?-' his Lordship said : 'It certainly is very promising. We have churches, schools, convents, • and various "institutions springing up- 'throughout the Colony. In the diocese of Christchurch we have now the Marist Brothers*, the nuns of the Sacred Heart, the Sisters of the Mission, several houses of. the, Sisters of v Mercy, the Sisters of St. Joseph,, and last, but not least,- we have just- had a foundation Irom Nazareth House. 1 • look forward" with great hope toHhat house, because" the work of the Sisters is greatly ■ appreciated "by all classes, irrespective of race or religion. 1 ' One hears a' good deal about "the" progress^of So^ cialism and '•' Rationalism " inUhe colonies ' said" the newspaper representative. 'Is it a fact that • these movements are spreading ? ' . ■- ' \ 'Not to- the extent that some people would say so his, Lordship replied. ' There ; is a tendency' to make the b'tiate tadce over works which' were hitherto undertaken and carried out , by individuals or associations.. Jhe Government are" endeavoring to get the people back to the land, - and in some quarters, there- is a tendency to carry things to extremes. Many people " seem to associate this with Socialism, but Ido not think they -understand the real state-of things. Ido not think it can be said " Rationalism " is spreading to an alarming extent.' ' Have ,you any difficulty,' asked the newspaper representative; ' about the Education question ? ' •The Education question,' replied the Bishop, 'is a very grave one." The State, has . schools.- which are well equipped, and those dutside-€ie Church are wedded' to a system which is- called 7 Sree; '^'secular, "and compulsory . -. To keep our schools going, however; is' a great strain, because we have to pay our share of taxes to_ keep up State .schools where we cannot conscientiously send our children " and- get nothing in return. .It is only during the • last few years • that we have obtained Government inspection.' ... ' I-am very hopeful for the future,' oontinued his Lordship, ' for the Church is •in a very flourishing state. We have excellent prelates, with Cardinal' Moran at their head, and we have an energeidfiT;"' body of -priests, secular- and" regular. In New ZealaW' we have hadi a great struggle .to get priests. The" Society of Mary supplied in the early days for the whole ' Colony v and at the present time . supplies a great number of priests for Wellington and Christchurch. - To' obtain secular priests we have hitherto had to fall back - upon Europe, frjut at our first Provincial Synod, which -ttoDk place on my return from: my last, visit- to Rome, -it was resolved to have a seminary for the secular clergy of the whole- province. -This is under ;the personal direction of the Right Rev. -Dr. Verdon, Bishop of Dutiedin, and there are about thirty students. We have great hopes for the future from this.'