DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 28 February 1907, Page 15

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

. (From our own correspondent. X ' - February 25/ The Rev. Father Bcnetto accompanied his Lordship the Bishop to" the -diocese from Italy.' • « Miss Bell, of- Victoria, a distinguished educationalist, who is on a visit to Christchurch, has expressed great admiration of the Cathedral. ' Miss Bell returns bhortly to Melbourne. .- *-. On Sunday last the Right Rev. M-gr. O'Reilly; . 'of Thames, and Yen. Archpriest Walshei of Westport, 'who, by a somewhat remarkable coincidence, are at present guests at the episcopal residence, celebrated- the 41st anniversary ot theix ordination to the priesthood, and met for the first time since that eventful occasion. - - " . • -- His Lordship the Bishop visited Nazareth House , on Sunday, where he was most joyfully received by the numerous children and by the Rev. Mother - and - Sisters and aged inmates. He also in the afternoon " visited the Christian doctrine classes assembled at Sunday school in the Cathedral. After congratulating the teachers and pupils on their numbers, he gave a brief account of his visit to the Holy Land, which proved most interesting and instructive. In one of his recent letters to Canadian newspapers (states the ' Lyttelton Times '), Mr, T. Hi Race, the Canadian Commissioner at the International Exhibition, refers to Lord Plunket and Sir Joseph Ward. He describes his Excellency as 'a- genial gentleman, the distinguished son-in-law of an illustrious sire, the late Lord Dufierin, whose memory we cherish with such affection in Canada.' Of Sir Joseph Ward> Mr. Race says': — ' He is equally popular, and, following .as he does, a man of such strong personality as the late Richard Seddon, this is a good deal to say for _ him. Like our own matchless Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir Joseph is a Roman Catholic, but sectarianism does not seem to count here ; at least, it is not a bar to political preference. I have met Sir Joseph several times, anid, as a 'largely self-made man, I am so favorably impressed with him that I think he would measure up in favorable comparison with the best we have in America, always, of- course, excepting the matchless Sir Wilfrid.' At Vespers on Sunday there was a- great congregation to hear his Lordship the Bishop preach for the first time since his- return. He again expressed the assurance cf his great satisfaction at the reception accorded 'Mm on.- his .return — a wonderful - manifestation of their loyalty, to that., grand, glorious Church. It occurred to him that probably they would expect him to speak of his recent visit to the Apostolia See and his journeyings in the-- Holy Land. Briefly in this re- • gard, however, the day's Gospel as a ■ subject was pe"culiarly applicable"! He the Bishop^ hod passed a night. on 'Mount Thabor, antd next morning , hfaid the -gjrcjajt privilege 'of offering the Holy Sacrifice on the precise spot rendered for ever memorable by the Transfiguration of Our Divine Lord before the ' Apostles. Pontifical Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was • given by the Bishop, who was attended by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., V.G., and Very Rev. .Dean Binsfeld, S.M., Rev. Father O'Cqnnell being master of ceremonies. Prior to Benediction his' Lordship imparted the Papal Blessing. His Holiness, he said, spoke of . you with deep • feelings, expressed his delight at your fealty to the Clhuroh, and asked me to assure you- that the blessing is the same as if it were given by himself personally. Among this vast .audience, the Bishop continued, there were—many undou-bt- " cdly not -of the faith ; those he was sure * would not hesitate- to- receive, with bowed heads, the blessing of the venerable Pontiff and Supreme Head of the Christian world.' After Vespers "the Cathedral and grounds were again brilliantly illuminated, and presented a most pleasing, spectacle. ' .

The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, of the Thanaes, is a visitor to- Christchurch, and a guest at the episcopal residence. .He celebrated the half-past nine o'clock Mass .in - the Cathedral on Sunday, and preached at the 11 o'clock Mass. Prefacing a forceful discourse, he congratulated his tordship the Bishop, his zealous clergy, and faithful laity on the erection- of ; the noble edifice. _It was a -pleasure indeed for, him (the.preacher) to be" there .that day to see the grand building the outcome of .the zealous labors of - their - Bishop and clergy, and co-operation of the faithful,, erected to the honor and glory of God— a work of art, a monument of unrelaxing zeal worthy not alone of the Catholics of this growing city, but of all its citizens,. He was . glad to be- here on this auspicious occasion, to participate in the joyous home-coming of their revered Bishop after his visit to the , Holy - Father. ' During an audience with our Holy Father Pope Pius" X. I was questioned by the illustrious Pontiff,'" said his" Lordship Bishop Grimes at the- welcome extended to him on his return from Ewrope, ' in regard to the Catholic press.' 'We have but one Catholic journal,' leplied the Bishop, ' but that one is a host in itself. It is edited by an ecclesiastic (mentioning his- name), who is a born journalist, riot only naturally, gifted, but a most able and painstaking worker.' -His Holiness was greatly gratified at the good account given by -the Bishop, stating how great is the power of the press for good or otherwise, and renewed the blessing already given to "the directors and .writers of the ' New Zealand Tablet.'- Speaking to your correspondent of the great) power and' influence wielded by the 'Tablet ' even beyond the coniinrs of this Colony, the Bishop mentioned .eminent prelates, whom he had ,met arid conversed with during his jcurneyings, -who stated that of all periodicals addressed to " them they-invariably-se-lected the ' Tablet ' to be first read, deriving, an amount of _ pleasure and profitable general information unattainable Jrom any other source.