MARIST FATHERS' MISSION

New Zealand Tablet, 20 March 1913, Page 35

MARIST FATHERS' MISSION

(From our Christchurch correspondent.)

• The concluding week's mission, conducted in the Cathedral by the Mission of the Society of Mary, maintained the great success which had cnaracterised it from the beginning. Special solemnities in honor of the Blessed Sacrament ana Blessed Virgin, with appropriate discourses upon each subject, were observed on different evenings during the mission, the congregational singing tjuiougUouo being quite a feature. On last Sunday over a thousand approached the Holy Table at in* various Masses. A special Mass for men only was celebrated at 8 o'clock oy the Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., when 500 men approached the Communion rails.

At the conclusion of Mass the great majority of those present proceeded to the girls' large schoolroom where breakfast was laid, the tables being attended by a number of young lady friends of members of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association. The breakfast took the place of the similar annual function of the H.A.C.B. Society, in honor of St. Patrick's Day. The members of the H 4 .A.C.8. Society marched to tlie Cathedral in their regalia, and, with those of the othersocieties in their insignia, returned to the schoolroom in processional order, ail being photographed previously in a group.

The Very Rev. Father Price, D.C., Adm., presided at the breakfast, the Very Rev. Fathers O'Connell, S.M., and Graham, S.M., M.A., and Rev. Father McCarthy, S.M., being also present. A lengthy toast list was honored, including ' The Pope and King,' proposed by the Very Rev. chairman; 'The Bishop and clergy,' ' The Marist Missioners,' ' The day we celebrade,' ' Catholic associations,' ' Catholic press,' and others.

' Commencing at half-past 6 in the evening, the closing ceremonies of the mission took place in the presence of a congregation that filled every available part of the Cathedral (even the sanctuary) where a chair could be placed. There had been Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from the 11 o'clock Mass, and in the evening there was an imposing out-door procession through the illuminated grounds of the Cathedral and episcopal residence. Subsequent!}' in the Cathedral the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., preached on ' Perseverance,' incidentally delivering what was an eloquent panegyric of St. Patrick. He also imparted the Papal blessing after a general renewal of Baptismal vows and reception of members in the arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. After Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament the

Very Rev. Father O'Connell on his own behalf, and on that of the other Missioners, thanked his Lordship the Bishop for inviting them to conduct missions throughout the diocese, the opening one of which had proved so auspicious. He thanked the Very Rev. Administrator and Cathedral clergy for much kindness, consideration, and helpfulness, and finally all who had in any way given assistance towards the success of the mission. His appreciation of the splendid response on the part of the people generally was also feelingly expressed. The Very Rev. Father Price, D.C., Adm., speaking on behalf of his Lordship the Bishop, acknowledged in grateful terms the good and earnest endeavours of the Missioners, and his appreciation of the successful results so manifest. The Missioners (he continued) had excellent material to work upon, due in a great measure to the zeal and devotedness of the early and later Marist Fathers, who had for long years labored in the Cathedral parish. /