DIOCESE OH CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 10 June 1915, Page 24

DIOCESE OH CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

'"''. '----■ '■'■■"'. '"'"-- ' " - - ~ -- June 7. The prayers of the Cathedral congregation > were asked on Sunday for the repose of : the soul of Mr. E. J. Quinn, whose name appears on , the list, of killed at the Dardanelles,•<where! he was fighting.,as a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. ; : Whilst on ; duty "at Methven on last Sunday week, during the intensely severe weather then prevailing, the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm. (Cathedral), caught a chill from the effects of which he was obliged to lay up all, the week, and was thus unable to participate in the Corpus Christi ceremonies. Owing to unfavorable symptoms, he had to enter Lewisham Hospital on Friday, but is now, - owing to - ? the devoted attention of the Nursing Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, well on the way to complete recovery. Great progress is being made in the erection of the extensive permanent- buildings in brick and stone of the Lewisham Hospital on Bealey avenue. This week the roofing will be put -on and within three months the great building is expected to be completed. It will form a conspicuous and imposing landmark, and easily the most prominent and noticeable structure in the vicinity. The increased accommodation will be most acceptable to the devoted Nursing Sisters, whose available space is now, and has been almost from the beginning, taxed to its full extent. As patronal feast of the Cathedral, the observance of the Feast of Corpus -Christi has a particular significence. Masses were celebrated on the day itself in the Cathedral at 7 and 9 o'clock. At the last Mass several children made their First Communion. In the evening there were devotions, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. On Sunday last very large numbers of the Cathedral congregation, including both divisions of the arch-confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, approached the Holy Table at the early Masses. There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the 11 o'clock Mass, followed after Vespers by a procession and Benediction. Tho sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Seward to a very crowded congregation. The Feast of Corpus Christi was observed with befitting solemnity at Mount Magdala. In the beautiful Gothic church of the institution there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from the early morning, with continuous adoration. In the afternoon the whole of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and the inmates of the main institution and Sacred Heart Orphanage, together with a number of visitors, assembled in the church preparatory to an open-air procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., presided, the Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A., was deacon, Rev. Father Long subdeacon, and Rev. Father Hoare, S.M., master of ceremonies. The Rev. Fathers Bell, S.M. (chaplain) and Seward were also present. Along the lengthy drives and avenues of the grounds (which were beautifully decorated) the procession wended its way, the ' Lauda Sion Angelorum ' and Litany being sweetly sung. Benediction was given at a tastefully adorned open-air altar, the ' Tantum Ergo,' and O Salutaris' being sung by the kneeling assemblage on the wide lawn. In the church, when all the processionists had re-entered, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was again given. CATHOLIC GIRLS' CLUB, CHRISTCHURCH. (From our own correspondent.) In the institution now in full operation in this city, the problem of successfully conducting a club and hostel for Catholic girls appears, to have been definitely solved. When first the Immigration Committee of the Catholic Federation was formed a year or so ago, the necessity of establishing a hostel for the temporary re-

caption of ; immigrant girls was • brought home to the lady , workers in that connection. As time went _on this need became intensified, - and 4 it «' was -: decided to initiate ."a; club, even on .a limited scale, primarily as a'. convenient place ; for girls to meet in their spare time,: and attend to many little personal matters in the performance of which facilities were not always available :at the place of their occupation. A room was consequently rented as a beginning, but this speedily proved inadequate, so quickly did the new organisation develop and grow. On looking around for more ex- • •tensive, accommodation, the ladies interested secured at a moderate rental for a term a large dwelling, which, for the time being, appeared to offer all that could be -desired for the purposes of the club and hostel. One of their number, to whose keen enthusiasm and benevolence the committee are deeply indebted, promptly guaranteed all the financial assistance necessary, Operations on an extensive scale were at once entered upon, and the institution has progressed in a way that has surpassed the expectations of even its most sanguine promoter. Situated on an elevated frontage, facing Cranmer square, in the most favored residential portion of the inner city area, the hostel enjoys a pleasant outlook from any of its fourteen rooms. With a zeal and sacrifice worthy of their strong faith in the necessity and usefulness of the undertaking, the Misses Johnson (who occupy the positions of matron and manageress) placed all the furniture of their former home in the new institution, thus, largely contributing to what was an auspicious beginning. On March 19 (Feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph), the hostel was ready to receive those for whom it is intended, and was shortly afterwards formally opened. The board of management, so far as the ladies are concerned, consists of Mrs. G. Harper (president), Mrs. Palmer (vice-president), Mrs. S. Barrett, Misses Hay ward and Harrington—all well representative of the Catholic ladies of the city. Since the opening there has been an average of seven regular boarders. Ten visitors to the city have made the hostel their temporary home, and a number of other Catholic girls, coming or going, to or from positions, have taken advantage of its hospitality. It must be thus conceded that the hostel has established its usefulness. Visitors have been received from Hawke's Bay, Dunedin, Invercargill, Wellington, Timaru, etc. ' The clubroom of the hostel is a spacious apartment, and here weekly entertainments are given, to which all are privileged to invite Catholic friends. These social gatherings have proved eminently successful and enjoyable. Well-thought-out rules and regulations have been framed for the discipline of the hostel, which, whilst not unduly exacting, are rigidly enforced. In a pleasant interview with the matron I, like all others

who visit *. the institution ; must; be, was greatly impressed ;-; with v its possibilities, and • its' timely establishment v is an achievement <■; Catholic :; jin > the '■/ diocese;-; should applaud. :;That the hostel and i club -may ;■ continue \ and | prosper, all,' without : exception, will desire^ marking, as it does, yet another important step in advance. Help, however, will be ; needed, and as the Catholic Federation originated the:; project of which .the ; hostel ■: is the X practical outcome, aid should be forthcoming to extend its usefulness. Surplus : ~ country produce, coal,^ : etc., r are always, acceptable commodities, and such donations would go .a long way towards minimising current ex- $ penditure, and assist greatly in the initial stages of the enterprise. Ladies or young girls contemplating a, visit to Christchurch could not do better than-get into communication with the matron, and the present writer can fully vouch for the satisfaction 'they will receive. i I ■ Temuka (From our own correspondent.) The ordinary meeting of the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Monday last, Bro. J. Scott (president) presiding. Three new members were initiated, and five candidates were proposed. Several ladies of the parish have been actively engaged for some time past in working for the Red Cross Society. On Sunday an appeal was made for larger attendances, and it is to be hoped that on Wednesday next this worthy object will receive more assistance than in the past. A progressive euchre party, organised by some of the Catholic young ladies of the parish in aid of the lied Cross fund, was held in the clubrooms on Monday last. The.prizes were won by Misses Connell and McShane and Messrs. C. Horgan and Brosnahan. The affair was very successful, and the sum of £lO was netted. On Friday Mr. R. P. Connell, M.A., who has resigned his position as senior assistant in the secondary department of the Temuka District High School to accept an important position with the North , Canterbury Education Board, was presented by his pupils with a leather wallet. He also received a presentation from the teaching staff, who gave him a case of brushes. Addresses were delivered by Mr. McLeod, 8.A., and others, and all spoke very highly of Mr. Connell's capabilities as a teacher and his fine personal qualities. Mr. Connell suitably responded.