Timaru

New Zealand Tablet, 22 June 1911, Page 1156

Timaru

(From oar own correspondent.) June 19. . Over one hundred children received their First Coramunion yesterday morning at'a special Mass celebrated by tne Rev. 1 ather Murphy. The children had been under preparation tor the great event for some time previously and a three clays’ retreat was conducted by Rev. Father Murphy. After Mass breakfast, provided by. the ladies of the parish was laid in the girls’ school. This was presided over , by Mrs. Doyle and the Misses Knight, McGrath, and assistants. • ' ... ’ On Sunday afternoon the convent grounds were the scene of a deeply impressive ceremony, the occasion being the annual precession of the Blessed Sacrament. The convent was tastefully decorated, and the line of march adorned with banners bearing appropriate emblems. At half-past two the procession, beaded by the cross-bearer and acolytes, began to move from the rear court, and as it passed along the-spacious walks onlookers saw following in succession the Marist Brothers, boys, the pupils of the girls’ school, the convent pupils, band, and a line of nearly fifty little girls R l . white wearing wreaths and veils who" had made their hirst Communion in the morning. A group of little convent pupils similarly attired strewed flowers. along the route. Beneath a handsomely embroidered canopy in white and gold, walked Rev. Father Murphy, S.M., carrying the in onstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. “ The canopy v. as borne by four men of the parish Dr. Loughnan, and Aiessrs. Mangos, Moriarty, and Leigh, while at' either. side walked tnree torch-bearers. Immediately follow in were the Sisters of the Sacred Heart with lighted tapers, and the various societies—Children of Mary, Hibernians, ' and Sacred Heart— in their respective regalia. A vast, concourse of people, between fifteen and sixteen hundred concluded the procession. As it wended its way through the grounds, English and Latin hymns were sung, the band accompanying. The first Benediction was given at an altar erected in the fine new hail of the girls’ school Father Murphy being assisted by the Rev. Father Tubman. The procession returned through the grounds, and a second Benediction was given at the convent porch, whence the Blessed Sacrament was conveyed to the chapel, and after a last Benediction placed in the tabernacle. The weather vas perfect, and ad who took part in the beautiful ceremony were deeply impressed. ’ •