DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 27 May 1915, Page 27

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) .. : ; '-- May 24. The Catholic Club syllabus for the month of June is arranged as follows:—June 1, short readings. from popular authors; June 15, billiard tournament; June 29," mock banquet, pound social, and social evening. Under the auspices of the Cathedral schools' committee, an event is being promoted for the night of June 23 in the Alexandra Hall, which, although common enough elsewhere in the interests of education and charity, is entirely new so far as local Catholics, are concerned. It is anticipated that both the novelty of the enterprise, and the object will contribute to a successful result. On Sunday last (the Feast of Pentecost) there was Solemn High Mass in the Cathedral at 11 o'clock. The Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., was celebrant, Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A., deacon, and Rev. Father Long subdeacon. A sermon on the day's festival was preached by Very Rev. Father Price. After Vespers a sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the Rev. Father Seward, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sunday penny collecting scheme, recently inaugurated by the Cathedral schools' committee, is proving very successful, the amount realised averaging about £7 weekly. Being supplied thus with a regular income, aided by other means, the committee are sanguine of doing good work in the interests of Catholic education, and assisting the teachers to a necessary, and a far greater extent than was possible under the previous circumstances. Mr. Girliug-Butcher, organiser and general secretary of the Catholic Federation, will address a meeting of the Cathedral congregation in the Hibernian Hall on next Sunday evening. A special notification on the subject was made at all the Masses and at Vespers in the Cathedral on Sunday. The Very Rev. Administrator stated that instead" of Vespers, there would be only the Rosary, short sermon, and Benediction on the evening of the organiser's address, so as to give him all the time possible to deal with his subject. The hall committee of the Hibernian Society were cordially thanked for giving the use of the hall and arranging it for the purpose. There was a large gathering of members of the police force at the Police Station on last Friday evening, to make a presentation to Constable E. F. O'Brien, who has volunteered for service with the Special Expeditionary Force. On behalf of the Christchurch members of the force he was presented by Detective T. Gibson with a gold wristlet watch, a wallet, and a razor strop. Detective Gibson, in making the presentation, spoke of the esteem in which Constable O'Brien was held by the members of the force, and wished him every good luck. Coasts; speeches, and songs were given, and the gathering broke up with cheers for the guest. On last Wednesday evening the Christchurch Catholic Club entertained Mr. P. Kennedy, one of its members, prior to his leaving to join the Expeditionary Force for the front. Dr. A. B. O'Brien (president) presided, and spoke in appropriate terms of the spirit of patriotism and sense of duty which prompted the guest of the evening, as others had so bravely and willingly done, to make the sacrifice for King and country. On behalf of the club members, the president presented Mr. Kennedy with a useful shaving outfit. As a prelude to the proceedings there was progressive euchre, the lady's prize ' being won by Miss potter, and the gentleman's by Mr. Wetherspoon. Before the gathering dispersed, 'For he's a jolly good fellow and ' Auld lang syne' were heartily sung.