DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 17 July 1913, Page 25

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) July 14. Rev. Father Richards, pastor of Hawarden, returned last Thursday from a visit to relatives in Queensland and South Australia. Rev. Father Schaefer, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, is at present officiating at Leeston, in the absence of the pastor, the Rev. Father Bowden, S.M. The Rev. Father P. J. Lynch, C.SS.R., preached to a crowded congregation in the Cathedral on last Sunday evening at Vespers. Father Lynch is at present conducting a retreat for the Sisters of Nazareth . The half-yearly meeting of St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held in the Hibernian Hall on last Monday evening, Bro. R O'Brien, 8.P., presiding. Sick pay to the amount of £23 16s 8d was passed for payment to thirteen members on the sick list. The following officers were elected for the ensuing

term:—President, : Bro. H. A. Sloan; vice-president; Bro. J. Griffin; secretary, Bro. M. Grimes; treasurer Bro. G. Dobbs; warden, Bro. J; Flanneliy; guardian, Bro. F. Smith; sick visitors, Bros. J. McOormick and R. i O'Brien; assistant-secretary, Mr. W. P. Daly; auditors, Bros. McGarty and E. Wall; delegates to'district boardßros. E. Kane, C. Teehan, and' H. J. McMullin. The officers were duly installed by Bro. R. O'Brien, P.P., and all returned thanks for election.

UNIVERSAL JUBILEE. f; The following Circular Letter issued by the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., was read in the various churches of the diocese on Sunday last (writes our Christchurch correspondent) : ■' / St. Mary's Manchester street. Dear Reverend Father,—Our Holy Father,' Pius X., has proclaimed a Universal Jubilee this year, 1913, in memory of the year of the World's Peace, 313 when the Emperor Constantine. granted so many and so important privileges to the Christian Church. v Amongst the Jews the seventh day was a day of rest, and every seventh year was: a Sabbatic year. The year following seven cycles of seven years was set aside as a year of rest, so that every fiftieth year amongst the Jews was a Jubilee year. ,' Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land; for it is the year of Jubilee' (Levit. xxv., 10). The Christian Jubilee is based on the Hebrew Jubilee; indulgences and, other spiritual favors constitute the remissions which the 'Church proclaims at such times. " * ■' _ v "'-,.■ The first Roman Jubilee of which we have sure record is that proclaimed by Pope Boniface VIII. in 1300. • It was Pope Paul 11. who decided that a Jubilee should be proclaimed every twenty-five years. - In addition to this Ordinary Jubilee of the Holy Year the Popes grant, at times, Extraordinary Jubilees. This present Jubilee is an Extraordinary Jubilee- and will last till the Bth December—Feast of the Immaculate Conception. ~..-■ Of course to -, gain the Indulgence of the Jubilee one must be baptised— in the state of grace especially when the last part of the prescribed works is performed. One must also have the intention of gaining the Jubilee. In addition—and in detail—the following points are to be observed 1. Confession. . 2. Communion. 3. Six visits to such Church or Churches as are pointed out by the : Constituted Authority. Here in the Diocese of Christchurch, the visits are to bo made as follow; In the City itself.— -Three visits to the Cathedral, and three to St. Mary's, Manchester street. In the Outside Parishes. —Six visits to the Parish or principal Church, where feasible ; otherwise six visits to the local Church. Facilities should be given for this

latter purpose e.g., by leaving Church open on Sunday and arranging with some local parishioner for the closing of the said Church in 'the evening. , ..; Of course, 1 the visit one makes to the Church for Sunday Mass does not count, but visits made before after Mass do count. /:. -i:. During such visits we are to pray for the intentions of our Holy Fatherten 'Hail Marys,' for instance', would do. ■':■■'*-■■ 4.. Almsgiving according to our means. I would suggest the Seminary Fund as a very good object. . ~;"'.'-.'.'■ 'How often can we gain the Jubilee Indulgence ? Probably the present Jubilee can be gained only once, but we might make more than one trial— better to insure success. r The Jubilee will begin in this Diocese on the 26th of July—-Feast of St. Anne, and anniversary of the consecration of our venerable Bishop. Let us all pray earnestly, to the Immaculate Mother of God, whose glorious Feast has been marked as the closing day of this year's Jubilee, to obtain for the Church of God that perfect peace which is of God and for us all graces which will mark as a red letter year in our lives the Constantinian Jubilee celebration of 1913. I need scarcely, dear Reverend Father, remind you that enclosed Religious and others who for any legitimate reason cannot perform the works mentioned may have these same commuted by their confessor. The prescribed Communion may, of course, be commuted, for those who have not yet made their First Communion. This circular and the Apostolic letter are to be read in all the Churches as soon as possible after you have received them. ' I remain, dear Reverend Father, Yours sincerely in J.M.J., Francis Hills, S.M., V.G., Administrator of the Diocese. 9th July, 1913, .■ ■;; Feast of Our Lady of Peace.

Timaru (From our own correspondent.) July 14. The Rev. Father Gilbert, M.A., preached to a well-filled church last evening. On Thursday evening last, Mr. William Angland, the first Catholic Mayor of Timaru, presided at the Orange Lodge concert in Wesley Hall, in connection with the annual 12th of July celebrations. The Catholic Young Men's Society meet in debate the Debating Society • in the Catholic Hall, Brown street, on Wednesday evening. The Catholic Club will affirm ' That the settlement of international disputes by arbitration is impracticable.' The night is an open one, and a large attendance is assured. The many, friends of Mr. P. Kane, one of the founders of Hibernianism in Timaru, and who represented the local branch at the last triennial conference in Dunedin, will be pleased to learn that he is making satisfactory progress from the effects of his recent accident.

The half-yearly meeting of St. Mary's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Monday evening last. Bro. T. Wall presided over a large attendance of members. The sick visitors reported that one brother was off the funds during the previous fortnight, and six members were still on the sick lisjb'. The quarterly balance sheet, which was unanimously adopted, showed splendid progress both as regards funds and membership. This result was the cause of many congratulations to the branch officers. Accounts, for the quarter, amounting to £BO, were passed for payment. The receipts for the .quarter amounted to £156 17s Bd. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Bro. V. Goulding; vice-president, Bro. W. Fitzgerald; treasurer, Bro. J. Sullivan; secretary, Bro. P. Mahoney; guardian, Bro. C. Watt; warden, Bro. H.

Travis-sick visitors, Bros M. Hyland and S. Venning; assistant secretary, Bro. M. Schaab; auditors, Bros;, J. G. ;.Venning and, M. Hyland. The newly-elected officers were -duly installed by Bro. M. - Sullivan, P.P., who also presented the retiring president, Bro. T. Niall, with a past-president's collar as a mark of the branch's appreciation of his services as president.! Several others endorsed Bro. Sullivan's remarks; as to the ability. and zeal of Bro. Niall while president, his administration being one of the most successful terms in the history of the branch during recent years. ; ; Bro. Niall having N replied and thanked the brothers for. their gift, the meeting was closed in the usual manner. Temuka (From our own correspondent.) *» July 14. The Temuka Catholic Club held their annual social on Tuesday evening, when they received a continuance of that support which* in the past has been bestowed upon club functions. The club members are now engaged in a billiard tournament for a gold medal, presented by Mr. J. Foley. It is pleasing to note that many young players have entered for the competition. Tournaments of this description not only assist the club's finances, but, better still, serve to popularise the game amongst the new members. ° r— ; —g Hokitika (From our own correspondent.) July 8. At St. Mary's Club last night the second event in the competition for the Lawrence gold medal was held. Impromptu speaking occupied the evening , the subject given by Mr. D. J. Evans, who acted as judge, being 'ls patriotism declining V There were five competitors, and the judge made the following awards:—S. Worm iiigton, 87 points; J. P. Downey, 82; N. Warren and A. McCarthy (tied), 80; and J. Hanrahan, 77. At the conclusion, the judge briefly reviewed the speeches, pointing out the broad view which might be taken of the subject. He also intimated that when the Lawrence medal competitions were completed and the winner of each club had been named, he would be pleased to offer a silver cup for a public competition in impromptu speaking between the three winners. On the motion of Mr. F. P. Sellers, seconded by Mr. Warren, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Evans for his services as judge.