DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 30 March 1911, Page 570

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) March 27. After a three days’ retreat, given them by the Rev. Father Graham, S.M., twenty children of Nazareth House received their First Communion on last Friday morning from his Lordship the Bishop, who celebrated Mass in the community chapel. It was a beautiful and touching ceremony, and the children were impressively addressed by his Lordship. The little girls were prettily attired in white, and the boys in neat suits. . ‘ The bazaar at Coalgate last week, in aid of the building fund of the recently-erected Church at Glentunnel, was

very largely attended, and proved highly successful, the takings amounting to £l4B. The Glentunnel Band gave its services each of the three evenings. The church, which cost £630, has now a liability of only £135. A quarterly meeting of St. Patrick’s branch of tho H.A.C.B. Society was held in the Hibernian Hall on Monday evening. Bro. G. Getson, 8.P., presided, and there was a good attendance of members. • Sick pay to the amount of £ll 14s 2d was passed for payment to eight members. The Rev. Father Quinn, S.M., of St. Bede s College, and an honorary member of the Society, was accorded a hearty welcome to the branch meeting by tho resident, and also a hearty welcome by Brother Nelson, *.P., in Gaelic. The next meeting was declared a special meeting. Accounts for £SO 8s 9d were passed for payment. The receipts for the evening were £IOO 6s 3d. ,

The mission services now in progress in the Cathedral by the Redemptorist Missionaries, the Rev. Fathers Creagh, Lynch, and Whelan, are being attended with remarkable success. There are large congregations each morning at the 6 and 9 o’clock Masses, which are followed by instruction on various phases of doctrinal subjects. Each evening the Cathedral is crowded, when a mission sermon ; s given by one of the Missionary Fathers. On last Sunday evening there was an overflowing congregation, every part of the spacious edifice being crowded. "The Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., was preacher and delivered a powerful sermon on the sin of scandal.’ The same order of mission services will be continued this week. At a special Mass celebrated at 8 o’clock yesterday morning by the Rev. Father Creagh, a large number of children received Holy Communion, and in the afternoon the children’s mission was solemnly closed by the Rev. Father Whelan, when the Papal blessing was imparted.

THE NEW MARBLE ALTAR Which was recently erected in the Chapel of the Sisters of the Missions, Sacred Heart Convent, Barbadoes street, Christchurch. This beautiful work of art was sculptured by Mr. J. Tait, of Christchurch, from drawings by tho architect, Mr. Munnings. A description of the altar appeared in our issue of March 2.

On the triennial episcopal visitation of the parochial district of Rangiora by his Lordship Bishop Grimes, Mass was celebrated in the Church of Sts. Mary and Francis do Sales, Rangiora ,at 11 a.m, on last Sunday week by the Rev. Father Hyland. His Lordship preached, and also made his final appeal to the congregation for subscriptions to the Cathedral fund. In the afternoon forty-two candidates, twelve of whom were adults, were presented for Confirmation. There were large congregations both morning and evening. A sura of £BO was collected towards the Cathedral fund. A sum of £25 was subscribed at Kaiapoi, and a similar amount at Loburn. On the Monday morning following, his Lordship visited the day school and convent, and later returnee! to the city. On last Sunday the Bishop attended at the Sacred Heart Church, Oxford, in the same parochial district, and with the exception of Lyttelton, he has now made a visitation of the whole of the North Canterbury portion of the diocese. The South Canterbury portion is to bo visited after Easter.

In honor of one of, his feast days, that of St. Jeseph, his Lordship the Bishop was entertained on last Thursday by the Sisters of Mercy and pupils of St. Mary’s Convent, Colombo street, the occasion being also availed of to make a suitable presentation to his Lordship. te'"’Among the clergy present were the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., the Rev, Dr. Kennedy, the Rev. Fathers Creagh, C.SS.R., Lynch, C.SS.R., Whelan, C.SS.R., Daull, S.M.A., Hoare, S.M., Graham, S.M., Quinn, ■ S.M., Dignan, S.M., McDonnell, and Hanrahan. A fair gathering of the laity attended an enjoyable concert in St. Mary’s Hall, at which his Lordship the Bishop sincerely thanked the Sisters and pupils for their very valued gift and the thoughtfulness which thus prompted them in arranging so pleasing a function in his honor; He warmly complimented the Sisters and pupils on the excellence of the programme and perfection in its performance. The following was the programme:—‘Many happy returns,’ pupils; address, Miss M. Hayward; pianoforte duet, Misses V. Wilson, M. Young, L. Sunley, and Master H. Moody; -floral' drill, pupils; violin solo, Miss L. Burrows; pianoforte duet, Misses J. Donnelly, H. Ryan, M. Simpson, and A. McDavitt; recitation, Miss F. Storey ; pianoforte duet, Misses. E. Grant, F. Storey, F. McDonald, and M. C. Goggin; chorus, pupils.

E. O’Connor represented the Catholic body at the funeral, and his Lordship wrote a letter of condolence to the family on their bereavement. At the conclusion of the mission sermon in the Cathedral last evening ,the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., addressing the immense congregation, made reference to the late Mr. George Hart. A few days ago,’ he said, ‘ we learnt with sincere regret of the sudden death of one of our oldest residents and most eminent journalists. I refer to the late Mr. George Hart. Although not a Catholic himself, the late Mr. Hart* was identified with every Catholic work in the city, notably with the flourishing institution now known as Nazareth House. His connection with the Church, however, dates from the earliest days of the province, when he was the friend and counsellor of the pioneer priests. In the name of his Lordship Bishop Grimes, the priests and Catholic laity of Christchurch, 1 take this opportunity of returning thanks to the family of the deceased for the practical sympathy and interest which Mr. Hart took in all Catholic matters during his long and distinguished career. A genial and familiar personality has now been taken from us; the great Gulf has now been passed, and we shall never meet the well-known figure again until we meet before the judgment seat of God. Whilst the sense of his passing

NEW CHAPEL OF THE CONVENT OF MERCY, COLOMBO STREET; CHRISTCHURCH which was recently dedicated by his Lordship Bishop Grimes. The Chapel, which is of blue stone with white stone facings, was designed and erected by Messrs. Luttrell Brothers.

Widespread sorrow is felt at the death of Mr. George R. Hart, the well-known journalist of this city, which occurred very suddenly on last Wednesday. The late Mr. Hart proved himself a staunch friend of the Catholic community, and was over foremost in promoting or helping in any movement in the interests of the Church or its charitable institutions. He was most intimately associated with the work in connection with Nazareth House in its establishment in this city, and probably the warmest and most sincere non-Catholic friend possessed by the Sisters of Nazareth, who greatly deplore his loss. Even before their advent to New Zealand, the late Mr. Hart associated himself with the St. Patrick’s Day celebration committee, which ten years ago was formed by his Lordship the Bishop to promote an annual entertainment in their interests; first to secure a temporary home, and later to aid the funds of the community generally. The recent concert on St. Patrick’s night was the last public function the late Mr. Hart was associated with, and which he attended with all his wonted energy and geniality. The late Mr. Hart reported in the columns of the Press most of the great events connected with the Church in this city, and met and enjoyed the friendship of .very many Catholic dignitaries. The Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., and Mr.

is strong upon us let us supplicate Almighty God that as He led him safely through life until he stood on the brink of the grave He may lead him yet further into realms of eternal peace and happiness.’ At the conclusion of devotions, the organist (Mr. Alfred Bunz) played the ‘ Dead March’ from ‘Saul.’

Meanee (From an occasional correspondent.) By the last English mail, Elsie McElwee, Annie Lawton, Agnes Dooney, and Daniel O'Sullivan, pupils of the Convent School, Meanee, received shorthand certificates from Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, London.