DIOCESE OP CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 1, 3 January 1907, Page 13

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our owh correspondent.)

December 29.

Enormous crowds are pouring into the city ; trains and steamers bringing their hundreds. The chief attraction is v , of course, the great Exhibitions which, owing to the holidays, is drawing its tens of thousands. It is estimated that there are very many more visitors here than during Carnival week, the accommodation bogey beSng apparently 4 laid low.'

Appropriate to Curia tmas -a crib was as usual erected in the Cathedral. At the children's- Mass, High Mass, and Vespers the ' Acleste Fideles ' was beautifully sung. - - , The Very Rev. Father Clune, C.435.R., is conduct-, ing the annual retreat for the Sisters ' of the Missions, which commenced on last Wednesday at .the Monastery of the Sacred "Hear I. '

Missions by the Redemptorist Fathers will lie opened at St. Agues' (Jhur-ch,- HalsweU, and .St. Anne's, Woolston, on Sunday,' and on the following Wednesday. . at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Addington. The Very Rev. Father ha jVTenant des - Lhesnais, V.G., distributed the prizes in connection with the Cathedral parish -girds. school prior to the Christmas vacation. At the ilalsweil and Addington Catholic day schools the prizes were distributed by the Rev. Father Peoples. f. The devoted Sisters of Nazareth, whose constant endeavor it is to brighten the lives of* their charges, young and- aged, generally contrive at Christmas to exceed their wonted hospitality, and thus add still more to the happiness of all.- The present festive .season proved no exception to this rule. - A Christmas tiee of holly 'had on its branches a gift for every one of- the- thirty-five little .children, whose young hearts were cheered in" a / measure good to behold. •Speaking at the close' of the mission on* last Sun~day the Very Rev,-- Father, .Clune expressed the exceeding " gratification of himself' and the other Fathers at tne manner in which' the services had" been attended. That the mission had pioved eminently successful was" • amply testified to by the great number ~of communicants. ' 'Hold steadfast^ to what you , have gained,' were his... parting N words, repeated again and again- in his concluding discourse.

Masses " were celebrated at St. Mary's, Manchester street, on Christmas Day- at 7 and 9.3o\o'cJock. Solemn High Mass at eleven o'clock- was celebrated " by the Rev. Father Hickson, the Rev..- Father Gilbert being deacon, and Rev. Father Francis (Clune), C,P., subdeacon. The niusjc by the choir, assisted by members of the Exhibition Orchestra, consisted. of portions of Gounod's 'Messe Solennelle' and Von- Weber's 'Mass.' The Rev. Father Hickson' brielly addressed the congregation on ' the subject* of the day's festival.. There x were Vespers -and Benediction of* the "" Blessed Sacrament in the evening,, the Rev. Father Hoare officiatin

On the eve of Christmas a few friends with kindly though If uJness provided a pleasing little entertainment for the inmates of Nazareth House., Most of the items were given by the talented Ralph _ family, now visit-ing, this " city. Mr. - and Mrs 1 . Ralph each gave pianofor.te selections, Mr. Gerald Ralph (of the _ Exhibition Orchestra) contributed artistic violin solos, Mr. W. Ralph songs and recitations, and Miss Vera Barker some cleverly executed dances to '"the accompaniment of her sister,. Miss Lotlie Barker. - The thanks of the inmates were gratefully expressed by two of their number, and also by one of the '-children for the exceedingly pleasant entertainment. - - The three week's' mission by the Redemptorist Fathers was brought -to a ' close on -last Sunday. A special Mass was celebrated at eight o'clock by the Very Rev. Father Clime, when a great body of men approached the Holy Table. Subsequently addressing the congregation, the Very "Rev. Father said that such a sight as witnessed that morning was never before seen in this city. All the Catholic men's societies were fully represented, 'and he urged every man to become associated with one or other of them. the evening there was a very large congregation. The Very Rev. . Father Clune preached from the text, ' Be ye faithful until death,' and at tlie conclusion of a particularly fine discourse solemnly Closed the mission with, the Papal blessing. At the Cathedral on Christmas morning Masses were celebrated at half-hour intervals from six "o'clock until ten, each being well attended. There -was Solemn High Mass at . eleven o'clock, .the Rev. Father O'Connel being- celebrant, the Very* Rev. -Father Clune deacon, and Rev. Father/ O'-Dwyer subdeacon. The Very Rev. Vicar-Ueneral preached appropriate to the occasion, and extended heartfelt greetings to the congregation on behalf of the' clergy. Turner's Mass of the Good Shepherd was sung by the choir. After Vespers in the ' evening the Rev. Father Low-ham, C'.SS.R., pxeached an impressive discourse from the

text, ' Fear not, for behold I bring you tidings of great joy.', Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was . given by the Rev. Father Claffey, S.J., attended" by the Very Rev. Father Clune, C.SS:R., and Rev. Father Francis (Clune), C.P. The sanctuary decorations were' very effective, and the high altar a picture of loveliness. • ■

Rev. Mother M. -.St. Philomena, who went to England early in the year to attend the chapter of her Order, Notre Dame des Missions, and who for a long period was Mother Prioress of the Monastery of the Sacred Heart in this city, -has been elected one of<the three Assistant Mothers-General, and will lemain at the Mother House, Deal, England, for at least three ~ year^ As usual at Mount Magdala the festive season of Christmas was the occasion of much happiness for the numerous inmates, and nothing" was left unthought of ■. by the good Sisters which could possibly coritiAbute towards* this end. Ihe - children of their other institution, the Sacred Heart Orphanage, were also, made merry and happy by a profusion of "good, things. A conspicuous feature -of the day's festivities ' was the time v -honored Christmas tree, from the well laden branches of which each one received "a .present. - ' -