DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 07, Issue 45, 7 November 1907, Page 15

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) November 4

On Tuesday the Ecclesiastical- Conference of the North Canterbury deanery will be held at Lincoln.

The Rev. Father O'Connell returned from the Ashburton district last week, and is at present a victim to the prevailing influenza epidemic.

As a sequel to the course of lectures recently delivered, his Lordship the Bishop intends on next Sunday evening giving the first of a short course on ' the subject : ' Where is to be found true Christianity ? '

There was First Communion of the children at St. Agnes' Church, Halswell, on Sunday at the. Mass celebrated by the Rev. Father Peoples, who had also prepared the candidates by a three days' retreat.

There will be Confirmation at St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, on the first Sunday of Advent, and First Communion and Confirmation in the Cathedral on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.

Mr. Scarfe, a gentleman lately from England, is taking over the conductorship of the Cathedral choir. Invitations are extended to all who may desire to join with a view of comsideraMy strengthening the choir, and raising the standard of efficiency.

There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral on Sunday from Ch'e eleven o'clock Mass until Vespers, followed by the usual procession and Benediction. The congregations throughout the day were largely augmented from among the numerous visitors to the city for Carnival Week.

Notable examples of generosity on the part of poor persons towards the Cathedral funds have been from time to time recorded. This week his Lordship the Bishop relates the finding of a good subscription in the box placed inside the doors of the Cathedral for the purpose, wiEh a note attached stating it was from a poor working girl, whose only regret was her inability to clear off the entire liabilities.

The annual concert in connection with the Catholic schools of Kangiora was given in the local Institute Hall on last Friday evening. There was a very good audience, to whom for their patronage, and the performers for their assistance, the Rev. Father McManus expressed cordial thanks. Those who contributed were Ml ! se L E> Scott » Elsie Hepburn, and Kura Robinson, and Messrs. A. S. Mitchell, Vere Buchanan, C. O'Keefie and F. Woledge, Mr. R. A. Home being the accompanist.

At the Cathedral on Sunday the .annual collection S 1 f „°L the funds of the Society of St. Vincent de .Paul, Cathedral Conference, was made at all the Masses and at Vespers. The charity sermon was preached at the eleven o'clock Mass by his Lordship the Bishop from Isaias, Iviii, 6-9, in the course of which his Lordship impressively pointed out the individual duty of almsgiving, and made a fervent appeal on behalf of the charity dispensed fhtough the medium of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. At Vespers the Rev. * ather Peoples preached, and appealed eloquently to those blessed with this world's goods to bestow a fair proportion on their less favored brethren

(From an occasional correspondent.)

November 2.

th * *. <> ra *onca! competition, under the auspices of the Federated Catholic Clubs of i\ew Zealand, was held in the club roonrs on Tuesday evening before a large attendance of meirbers. The following were the speakers and their subjects :— Messrs. D. F. Dennehy ("Robert Emmet ),; H Salmon (' Richard John Seddon '), P. McNamara (' Christopher- Columbus '), W. F. Hallins (Martin Luther J 5, D. Edmonds (' Daniel O'Connell '<). The audience was treated to some excellent addresses that of Mr. D. Edmonds being especially meritorious, and the judges, Messrs. J. R. Hayward and -J. F Devonport, had no difficulty in choosing the winner.

Mr. Edmonds- by his success becomes entitled to a handsome diploma of merit issued by the Federation.

Preparations are well forward for a> musical and dramatic entertainment to be given in the club rooms on November 14. Judging by the number of tickets sold, there should be a record house.