Timaru

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11, 18 March 1909, Page 414

Timaru

(From our own correspondent.) March 15. On Sunday last the services in the Sacred Heart Church were of a character that surpassed anything that has hitherto been seen in connection with the Catholic Church in Timaru. The men of the parish, who have filled the church morning and evening during the past week, taking part in the mission conducted by the Redemptorist Fathers, again occupied every available seat at the nine o'clock Mass, and in numbers to nearly 500 received Holy Communion from the hands of Very Rev. Father Clime. The Hibernians and Catholic Club wore their regalia for the occasion, and occupied half the seating accommodation of the church. The 11 o'clock Mass was also well attended, the Rev. Father McDermott occupying the pulpit. At night a procession issued from the Priory grounds, and wended its way along Craigie Avenue. A temporary altar had been erected on the verandah of the girls' school, and from it, as a centre, scats were ranged in a semicircle, but although a large congregation was anticipated, even before the procession entered the grounds all the seats were practically taken. After the opening prayers, the Very Rev. Father Clune spoke to the 1500 people present for upwards of an hour on the necessity of perseverance. After the nine o'clock Mass on Sunday the members of the Hibernian Society and Catholic Club marched to the school, where a Communion breakfast was laid. Father Tubman presided and complimented the societies on their fine muster and the good example they had set during tho mission. Very Rev. Father Clune and Rev. Father McDermott were received amidst applause. The Very Rev. Father Clune thanked the Catholic men of the parish for the opportunity to meet them in social intercourse, and pointed out the various movements and good works that the foremost Cathtslic society in Australia had done for the practical help of the poor, needy, and afflicted, and mentioned the generous help they had extended to his own Order by giving the beautiful stained-glass window to the Redemptorist Church in Wellington. He urged every young man to join the society. Rev. Brother Egbert, Mr. M. F. Dennehy, for the Hibernian Society, and Mr. J. Mahony, for the 'Young Men's Club also spoke, their remarks meeting with frequent outbursts of approval. The proceedings terminated with cheers for Very Rev. Father Clune, Rev. Father Tubman, and the ladies who attended at the tables.