DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 3, 6 August 1908, Page 14

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

In the new chapel of the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions the first ceremony therein, in connection with the Order, took place recently, when two Sisters were professed and three were received. The Very- Rev. Dean Ginaty, S.M., V.G., presided, and several of the clergy were present. The following candidates presented -by the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions' Sacred Heart, High School successfully passed in the recent theory examinations in connection with the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music :—lntermediate,: — Intermediate, Eileen Murphy ; rudiments," Eileen Murphy, Doris Amyes ; primary, Kathleen Dwyer, Mary Fitzpatrick, Teresa Mannion, Cissie Mcllroy, Monica Wall. - - -'" His Lordship the Bishop made ran episcopal visitation at Lyttelton on Sunday last, when he celebrated Mass at 8 a.m. The Rev. Father Cooney (pastor) celebrated a Missa ..Cantata at 10.30, prior to which the visitation ceremonies were carried out by the Bishop. In the afternoon his Lordship administered in c Sacrament of Confirmation— to thirty-five candidates, including seven adults, and delivered an address appropriate to the occasion. The Bishop preached both morning and evening to crowded congregations. Preparations are well advanced for the Living Floral Carnival which is promoted to defray existingjiabilities on St. Marys parish, Manchester street,^ and is to open in the" Art Gallery on Tuesday, August 11, for a seasonal- twelve nigh.ts. Arranged by Mr. Fred. Wauchope, who has'aiso trained the participants, a spectacular display, beautiful in conception, striking in delineation, and possessing all the- merits of originality, will be presented. The central feature will -be a representation of living euchre. Around this many popular items wilL be introduced to fill a programme satisfying to the most ardent lover of amusements. ' .. ? St. Joseph's Conference (Mission to Catholic Seamen), Lyttelton; of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has secured' a supply of neatly-printed cards, which ;are given to each Catholic seafaring man with whom the Brothers become acquainted" whilst engaged in the work of their mission. Upon the- card' is printed, ' St. Joseph's Conference for Catholic Seamen, estab- , ished for promoting the spiritual and temporal "welfare of Catholic seamen.' Then follow the name aha situation of the church the hours at which Mass is celebrated, and also of- the evening devotions; the name of the pastor (and spiritual" director), and , the name and address of the secretary. This will prove. a great ,a,d not alone to the Brothers of the society, but also to th«. seamen, will be a constant reminder to them while in port and a memento when at sea. • - In connection withr his episcopal visitation of the diocese his Lordship the Bishop celebrated an early Mass at Rangiora on last Sunday week, and at the n o'clock Mass preached There were large congregations on each occasion. A canonical visitation to the church "and cemetery was also made. In the afternoon the Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirma tion to- fifty candidates, and addressed them on the imp^c c " and significance of the ceremony.- On Monday his Xordship visited Kaiapo., where an additional number of candidates were confirmed., -Returning to Rangiora on ■ the following Tuesday

July 26.

the Bishop visited the Catholic schools and convent7~an3 was"" present at an entertainment in his honor. The Oxford portion of the parish is to be visited during September, when a mission will be conducted by 'two of the Redemptoiist Fathers.

A fortnight ago the Kaiapoi School Committee received a deputation of ministers of religion,- who asked that the. committee should allow them to give religious instruction in the school for half an hour on one day a week. They proposed r o hold the classes at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday or Friday, taking half an hour from the "ordinary school day, and stated that they had taken a vote of the parents oh .the. question •of religious instruction, and found 174 in favor of it and 46 against it, while 24 had not -returned their voting papers. The'' head-master of the Kaiapoi School had previously raised objections to the proposal, and as he asked leave ~to express -his view the committee decided to hear him at a special meeting. T^he meeting was held last week, and, after discussing the matter, the committee passed a Resolution that, in view of the great need of religious teaching as a basis for moral instruction, and in view of the opinions of parents as expressed by their votes, the committee was hi sympathy with the movement for holding classes, but requested the Education Board to fix hours to permit of religious teaching being given. Two members of the committee voted against the motion. . " _„.»

A quarterly general meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was held on last Monday evening in the room set apart for the society in the Cathedral. There was a very large attendance," including representatives of the various conferences' in the circumscription of the Particular Council of Christchurch, and of the confraternities of Ladies of Charity of the Cathedral and^ St. Mary's, Manchester street. In an opening address covering the work of the Particular Council, " the president appealed strongly for combined action and assistance in providing a suitable meeting hall and club room for. Catholic seamen at Lyttelton, where the devoted Brothers, although laboring most zealously in the spiritual interests of the seafaring community, were sadly hampered through their inability to keep socially in touch with the sailors, and help them to spend their time in- port in a pleasant and" profitable manner. Favorable reports of the various conferences were given by the, president on behalf oF the Cathedral Conference, by Bro. A. H. Blake, president of St. Mary's Conference, Bro. H. Anthony, president of St Joseph's Conference (Mission to Catholic Seamen), Lyttelton, and Bro. H. Bell, president of St. Anne's Conference, Woolston " Th« spiritual director, the Rev. Father O'Hare, in the course of an eminently practical address, referred to the motives characterising the inception of the society and the true spirit by which members should be animated. Being essentially a layman's society, it behoved all connected with it (he * said) to exercise the gifts granted by Almighty God for their own spiritual sanctificaiion, and of those entrusted to their care. The exercise" of chanty as a virtue should form a prominent feature in their lives, but a serious duty also devolved r upon presidents and members generally In the observance of approaching the Holy Table at frequent and regularly stated occasions. The amount of religious inference observable was appalling, and to one like himself, only lately from the Home Country, such- a sad condition came as-*-shock. He looked to the wide spread of the society to stem this tide of indifferentism which was making serious- inroads in the spiritual life of a professedly" God-fearing and God-loving people. The power of good example would prove most efficacious in this regard. A perfect realisation of our duty and with -fervor among ourselves as a body, the spirit of charity would spread itself. _ .