DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 4 May 1911, Page 809

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) May 1. Under the direction of Mr. W. McConnell the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Association have a team entered in the Canterbury Miniature Rifle Association, and excellent form is being shown. t? + i The t?-?i V " Father Taylor, S.M., who succeeds the Rev. .bather Hills, S.M., as pastor of the Leeston parochial district, arrived on last Saturday, and entered on his new duties on Sunday last. There is to be a preliminary public meeting on Thursday evening in the hall of the Chamber of Commerce to arrange details in connection with the visit to Christchurch of the Irish Parliamentary envoys, who are to address the citizens in the Theatre Royal on May 25. Several prominent speakers and sympathisers of the Home Rule movement are expected to address next Thursday's meeting. ™ A farewell social gathering was tendered to the Rev. Father Hills, S.M., at Leeston on last Wednesday evening when he was presented by Mr. O'Boyle, on behalf of the parishioners, with an illuminated address and purse of sovereigns. . A musical programme was contributed to by Miss Birdie McCormick, Rev Father Hills, and Messrs Frank Holley M. O'Brien, and J. O'Brien. Supper was provided by the young ladies of the parish. Father Hills left Leeston for Blenheim to-day (Monday).

In the Cathedral on Sunday the Rev. Dr. Kennedy spoke of the compulsory enrolment in the Territorial forces of all youths and young men. As there is no option in the matter, he urged the formation of purely Catholic companies, a privilege extended by the military authorities to all denominations. There must be several hundred Catholic youths eligible, and bound to serve in and around the city, and of these eighty-nine only have so' far given in their names, and it is hoped before time allowed elapses every Catholic will be found enrolled among his own coreligionists. , , The first fortnightly meeting of the Arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (men's branch) was held in the Cathedral on last Tuesday evening, with an attendance of 180 members. The Rev. Dr. Kennedy (spiritual director) in the course of a practical address, alluded to the encouraging prospects of the confraternity and its possibilities as a factor of permanent good in the parish, and spoke of what the Blessed Sacrament teaches in our daily life. The devotions included the Rosary, selected hymns, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The congregational singing throughout was a particularly pleasing feature. The confraternity is divided into sections of 36 members, each under a prescribed patron or patroness, with a shield banneret bearing the name of the special saint. So far the men's branch is divided into 12 sections, at least one of which has the required number, while the ladies' branch has increased to over 400 members, necessitating additional sections being already allotted. One section of the men's branch in turn is to join the procession of the Blessed Sacrament each first Sunday of the month. The Marist Brothers' Old Boys' football team, which visited T-imaru during the Easter holidays, desire to express their very sincere thanks to the Celtic Football Club of that town and Athletic Club, Temuka, for the kindness and hospitality extended, which included a dinner to the team and other visitors, and a drive in the country. These inter-club visits are likely to be an annual fixture. Whilst at Timaru the Christchurch team played a match with the Temuka Athletic Club, which it defeated by 11 points to 6. Mr. E. O'Connor, _ manager of the winning team, scored three tries. An invitation was given the Timaru Celtic Club to send a team to Christchurch to play the local 'Old Boys ' before the end of the present season. The Christchurch Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association has four teams entered for this season's contests, including the senior, junior flag, president's cup, and fourth grade. The first matches of the season were played on Saturday last, when the senior and junior teams suffered defeat by close scoring. The match of the president's cup team against Canterbury College resulted in a draw, neither side scoring, and the fourth grade team won its game against Christ's College.