Timaru

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 4 June 1908, Page 24

Timaru

(From our own correspondent.) June 1. His Lordship Bishop Grimes, who is at present making his annual visitation of the parish, -was entertained in the Assembly Rooms on Friday night. His Lordship, who was accompanied by Very Rev. Father Regnault (Provincial), Rev. Father Tubmau, and Rev. Fathers Le Floch and McDonald, arrived about eight o'clock, and by that time the tastefully decorated hall was well filled. Refreshments were provided by the young ladies of the parish, under the direction of Miss Mara, and as they were served in an adjoining room the set programme of the evening was continued without a break. The musical part of the entertainment was in the capable hands of Mrs. Mangos, and she was assisted by the following : Misses Twomey and Dennehy, Mesdames C\ E. Kerr and T. Lynch, Messrs. W. Mcßride, B. B. De Looze, W. Jordan, Andrews, and the Rev. Father McDonald. During the evening the following address was presented to his Lordship by Mr. J. G. Yenning on behalf of the Catholics of the district : ITo the Right Rev. J. J. Grimes, S.M., D.D., Bishop of Christchurch. ' Your Lordship,— We, the Catholics of the parish of Timaru, eagerly avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded by your visit amongst us, to offer all honor to you, our Bishop, and express our devotedness and reverence for you, and we wish to tell you how truly we appreciate, and are grateful for, all you have done for the spiritual welfare of your flock. In temporal affairs also we are indebted to you. The prominent and active part you have taken in many public matsers, apart from those connected with religion, is the most conclusive answer to certain accusations against the Church, and has undoubtedly secured for its members a greater measure of toleration on the part of those opposed to it. The beautiful Cathedral you hav.e erected in Christchurch is a striking proof of your zeal and enterprise, and .we heartily congratulate you on the great success achieved by you in your efforts to defray the cost of it. We, in a smaller measure, would follow in your footsteps by erecting a new church in Timaru ; the present one is too small for the congregation and on such an occasion as that of - t the late mission it is not only totally inadequate for the numbers

who attend the devotions, but is also, by" reason of insufficient means of exit, most unsafe. Bearing in rriind the amount of money already received for the building fund, we suggest that an early commencement b\e seriously considered, and ask for your sanction and co-oper-ation. The occasion of your visit- to Timaru to celebrate the solemn beatification of Madame Barat, the holy foundress of the Sisters of the Sacred -Heart, is one of great rejoicing throughout the Church j and- in this grand celebration we rejoice with you, and with the nuns who have earned the love and reverence of us all. Tliat your health may be completely restored, and that you may long live to see the accomplishment of all you have undertaken, and the fruits of your labor in this diocese, is the constant prayer of all your people in Timaru.' The address was signed as follows :— For the Hibernian Society— D. Pearce (president) and J. P. Fitzgerald (secretary). For the Celtic Club— Rev. Father Le Floch (president) and J. C. Wade (secretarj). For the Altar Society— Mrs. E. Doyle (president) and Miss A. M. Knight (secretary). For St. Anne's Guild— Mrs. Aldred (president) and Mrs. South (secretary). For the Children of Mary— Miss M. Mara (president) and Miss K. Donovan (secretary). Lastly, it was signed by Mr. J. G. Yenning, secretary to the committee. His Lordship, on rising to reply, received quite an ovation. He thanked them for the cordiality of his welcome, which reminded him of the first visit that he made to Timaru, and the more than princely reception then tendered to him. He would not take to himself the credit they gave him in their address for their spiritual and temporal progress, that would be more justly bestowed on the grand succession of priests that had guided the destinies of the parish. He sincerely wished that the present parish priest would have a long and glorious reign in Timaru. In regard to taking part in public matters he always exercised his right as a citizen, and he was pleased to note that the Rev. Father Tubman was also a real, live burgess of Timaru. The Christchurch Cathedral was certainly a great work, and he was pleased at the interest that all had taken in it. In regard to a new church for Timaru, he gave the project his full sanction. He concluded'his speech by kindly references to the Sisters of the Sacred Heail and the Marist Brothers for the work they were doing in the parish for the Christian education of the children. Rev. Father Tubman then proposed a vote of thanks to liis Lordship, which was carried with applause. Interest in football among the boys is as keen as ever here this year. Five schools, including that of the Marist Brothers and the Waimate Public School, have each entered two teams in the competition. Up to the present the Marist s' first team leads by two points. They have met and defeated the South Public School, Waimataitai Public School, and the Main School respectively by 29 to nil, 11 1o 3", and 6 to 3. The Marists' second team have played only two games — the first against the South School, when they scored 11 points and their opi c Lents nil; in the second they met the Waimataitai School, when the game resulted in a diaw At the Sacred Heart* Church yesterday (Sunday) his Lordship Bishop Grimes celebrated the nine o'clock Mass, when about 200 boys jind girls who were to be confirmed in the afternoon, received Holy Communion. At the 11 o'clock Mass his Lordship made the visitation of the church and its appointments, and explained at length the antiquity and practical utility of the ceremony. The most important event of the day was the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation at 3 o'clock to abotrt 200 children and 30 adults. At a quarter to three a procession was formed at the Priory and marched to the church in the following order : The girls who were to be confirmed, then the Children of Mary, St. Anne's Guild, and the Altar Society. The boys •who were to receive" the Sacrament came next, and they were followed by the Young Men's Society. The Hibernian Society immediatelj- preceded the Bishop, who was attended by the Rev. Father Tubman and the Rev. Father Le Floch. Mr. J. Sul-' livan acted as sponsor for the' boys and ' Mrs. Doyle for the girls. His Lordship gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and at its conclusion the procession was reformed and marched back to the Priory, singing hymns appropriate to the occasion. The ' choir, under the baton of Mr. J. McKennah,- rendered special music at the different services, and Mrs. Mangos/ presided at the organ: