DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 20 April 1911, Page 713

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) mi t> ! April 17. : The Redemptorist Missionary Fathers returned to Wellington early last week. The Rev. Father Quinn, S.M., of St. Bede's College assisted at Waimate on Easter Sunday, so as to allow the XTwlSict Cekbrate Mass in a " m eentres *«B ;■ Recent visitors at St. Bede's College as rmests of tIL gu& cr sm F T^.% A ro s^i "<•"> tL *-' »£ Irilbert, b.M of St. Patrick's College, and Rev Father mouth 011 ' S.M., who is returning to Wellingtonl from Grey.

The pupils of the Sisters of the Missions' Convent Schools won first place at the recent Christchurch Competitions for physical display, when they gave a very lino exhibition of club swinging. Their performance was commented upon in particularly complimentary terms. An ordinary fortnightly meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on last Monday evening in the Hibernian Hall, Bro. G. Getson, 8.P., presiding. Sick pay to the amount of £5 15s was passed for payment to six members. Two candidates for membership were initiated by the president. The balancesheet for the quarter ended March 20 was adopted. Several members congratulated the branch on the substantial increase in all the funds, especially the management fund. Accounts for £sl 10s lid were passed for payment. The following were elected to vacant offices: —P.P. for management committee, Bro. R. O'Brien; V.P., Bro. E. L. M'Keon; delegate to dispensary board, Bro. E. L. M'Keon. The branch discussed matters in connection with the dispensary, and decided to pay the levy recommended by the dispensary board. The special summoned meeting for the nomination and election of trustee was adjourned till May 1. At St. Mary's Church, Manchester street, the principal ceremonies of Holy week were duly observed, including the blessing and distribution of palms on Palm Sunday, and Adoration of the Cross on, Good Friday. Solemn High Mass was celebrated on Holy Thursday', there being good congregations at all the services, a There was High Mass at 11 o'clock on Easter Sunday, celebrated by the Rev. Father Dignan, S.M., who also preached on the Resurrection. The music was excellently rendered by the choir, under Mr. W. H. Corrigan, with Mrs. Cronin at the organ. The High and Side Altars were very tastefully decorated. There were large congregations at all the Masses and at Vespers. Many approached the Holy Table at the early Masses. At Vespers in the evening an impressive discourse was preached by the Rev. Father Eccleton, S.M., on the day's festival. Mass was also celebrated on Easter Sunday in the suburban churches of the parish. • There was Pontifical High Mass in the Cathedral on Easter Sunday at 11 o'clock. His . Lordship Bishop Grimes was celebrant, the Rev. Fathers Graham, S.M., assistant priest; the Rev. Fathers Eccleton, S.M., and Hanrahan, deacons at the throne; the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, deacon, and Rev. Father McDonnell subdeacon of the Mass, and Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., master of ceremonies. The Bishop addressed the large congregation on the Resurrection, and imparted the Papal and Episcopal blessing. The music was Weber's Mass in G, finely rendered by the choir, with Mr. Alfred Bunz at the organ. The High Altar was most tastefully adorned with choice flowers, and the sanctuary with palms and other foliage plants, and brilliantly illuminated in the evening. There were Pontificial Vespers, and solemn benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the evening, the occasional sermon being preached by his Lordship the Bishop. He also cordially thanked all church workers for devoted services during that and preceding days, and after Vespers the choir were entertained at the episcopal residence by the Very Rev. Administrator. Mass was celebrated on Easter Sunday at all the suburban churches of the Cathedral parish. Holy Week was observed with the usual completeness in the Cathedral, commencing with the office of Tenebr* on last Wednesday evening, when most of the clergy of North and South Canterbury were present. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated on Holy Thursday morning. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, Very Rev. Dean Ginaty, S.M.j V.G., being assistant priest, Rev. Father Tubman, S.M., deacon, Rev. Father Daull, S.M.A., subdeacon. Very Rev. Deans O'Donnell and Bowers deacons at the throne, and Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., master of ceremonies. Procession and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose in the Sacred Heart Chapel followed. After Tenebra) in the evening a sermon on the Blessed Eucharist was preached by the Rev. Father O'Hare, and watchers throughout the night were provided by the Hibernian Society. There was a large congregation on Good Friday morning. The ceremonies were commenced at 9 o'clock by his Lordship the Bishop, with the Rev. Father Graham, S.M., assistant priest. Rev. Father Hvland deacon, Rev.. Father Eccleton, S.M., subdeacon, Rev'. Dr. Kennedy and Rev. Father O'Hare deacons at the throne. The Passion was sung by the Rev. Father Richards, Daull, S.M.A., and Hanrahan. Adoration of the Cross, during which offerings were made for the Holy Places, was followed by the Mass of the Presanctified. At the devotion of the t Stations of the Cross in the afternoon by his Lordship the Bishop, the circuit of the Stations was made by the Rev. Father Hanrahan. Benediction was given with a portion of the True Cross in a rich reliquary, which was then exposed to the veneration of the faithful. • After Tenebrte a sermon on the Passion was preached by his Lordship the Bishop. On Holy Saturday Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., the Rev. Fathers Hanrahan and McDonnell being deacon and subdeacon respectively. The ladies of the Altar Society are deserving of special notice for the tasteful adornment and arrangement of the Altar and Chapel of Repose for' Thursday, whilst the choir, under Mr. A. Bunz, are to be complimented for their artistic rendering of the psalms and responses during Holy week especially on Good Friday evening. . '

In the Cathedral on last Monday evening the Rev. Father Creagh, C.SS.R., at the invitation of his Lordship the Bishop, organised the Arch-Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, which had been established in the Cathedral parish during the mission last year. There was a large congregation and over 500 members, more than 200 of whom are men, were enrolled. The confraternity is divided into sections, and dedicated to particular saints. Each section is allotted certain rows of seats, at the head of which, and along the nave is raised a distinctive banner under which the members of that particular section occupy places. Each section is under a prefect, with a subprefect. The women's sections occupy the Gospel side, and the men's branch the Epistle side of the Cathedral, and are to have separate meetings, alternately on the first and second Tuesdays of each month. Miss Redmond and Mr. J. P. Young were appointed secretaries of • tho respective branches, and other officers are designated --' orderlies,' whose duties are confined to meetings only. Necessary funds are to be provided by voluntary contributions. One of the essentials of membership is monthly Communion and a general Communion twice a year. It is intended that a retreat shall be preached each year, and the Rev.:. Father Creagh has consented to conduct the first should he be in New Zealand at the time. After the Rev. Father Creagh had explained in detail the duties of membership and the numerous spiritual advantages attached to it, his Lordship the Bishop before imparting the episcopal blessing, said his first and foremost thought on beholding the crowded gathering was to return thanks to our dear Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and then to express his gratitude to the devoted sons of St. Alphonsus Ligouri for their unflagging work, which had wrought such won--drous results in their midsta notable example being the 1 spectacle presented that evening. The Redemptorist Fathers would always be recognised as the founders of the confraternity, an organisation which he had great hopes would provide continual adorers before the tabernacle. This was, too, a farewell to the missionaries, who had well earned, and would would receive the fervent prayers ofthe Cathedral congregation. The spiritual directorship of the confraternity had (said his Lordship) been conferred on the Rev. Dr. Kennedy. The Rev. Father Creagh feelingly expressed gratitude for being allowed the privilege of establishing, or rather organising the confraternity, which owed its initial success in formation to the Rev. Father Hunt, C.SS.R., during the mission of last year. Ho trusted it was but the forerunner of others throughout the Dominion.