DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 July 1915, Page 27

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) J uly 5. The Board of Education inspector examines the pupils of the Marist Brothers’ School this week. The Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., was present at the reception in the Art Gallery to Malle. Nyberg and M. Saldaigne, Belgian operatic artists, now on a visit to this city.

On last Sunday evening the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions entered into a three days’ retreat at the Convent of the Sacred Heart. The retreat is being conducted by the Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M.

The schools conducted by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, and Sacred Heart College of the same Order were examined last week by the inspectors of the Board of Education. Subsequently the fortnight’s mid-winter vacation was entered upon.

There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from the 11 o’clock Mass in the Cathedral last Sunday, followed after Vespers by the usual procession and Benediction. The Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., preached to a large congregation. After Vespers he presided at a special meeting of the Cathedral parish committee of the Catholic Federation in the episcopal residence.

As indicating the probable lapse of time before the Midland Railway between Westland and Canterbury will be open for traffic, the appended particulars are given publicity:— The bottom heading of the big tunnel through the Alps is now in two miles fifty chains, and the lining is completed to two miles twenty-seven chains. This and the seventy chains of finished work at the Bealey end, make three miles seventeen chains of tunnel finished to date, leaving two miles eight chains yet to complete. The present rate of progress is about forty feet per week. Taking the rate of progress for the past six years, it will take another four years to complete this big undertaking. The efforts of the Cathedral school committee, in promoting and carrying out a recent social event on an extended scale, were rewarded with success from the point of view of enjoyment. Although the weather on

the night of the fixture was of the worst possible description, the attendance in ; the Alexandra Hall was distinctly good. The secretary (Mr. P. A.-O’Connell) and the committee evidently left nothing undone in regard to decorating, catering, and other details. The Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., Rev. Fathers Cooney (Lyttelton), and Murphy, 8.A., were present during part of the evening. A social was held in the Hibernian Hall on Monday night, when-the ladies of the bazaar committee were entertained by the members of St. Patrick’s branch. Bro. M. Grimes (secretary) read the balance sheet of the bazaar committee, which showed the net profit on the fair and art union to be =£3l4, made up as follows: Belgium stall (Miss Wally and Mrs'. Murphy), £lO9 4s 9d ; Ireland stall (Mrs. Green), £B2 15s 9d ; art union stall (Mrs. O’Brien), £25 19s Id ; refreshment stall (Mrs. Mahar), £l7 Is 6d. The various side shows, concerts, etc., contributed the balance. To the abovementioned ladies, and Miss Sloane, who carried out the financial arrangements in a very competent manner, the sincere thanks of the members are due, as well as to the large number of ladies who assisted in the various stalls, Misses Garty, O’Connor, Hannan, Smythe, and Rodgers deserving special mention.

Tlmaru (From our own correspondent.) July 5. The half-yearly meeting of the Hibernian Society is to be held on Monday evening in their hall, Brown street. A very successful social in aid of Mrs. Loughnan’s Red Cross Guild was held in the Assembly Rooms on Thursday evening, under the auspices of the Celtic Football Club. The Celts have had many successful socials in the past, but probably, owing to the patriotic object, this one far exceeded any of the former in point of numbers and financial results. It is expected that when accounts are settled a very substantial sum will be available to hand Mrs. Loughnan for her guild.

The devotion of the Forty Hours’ Adoration commenced on Sunday last, and concluded on Tuesday morning. On Sunday Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Gondringer, of St. Patrick’s College, assisted by Rev. Fathers Murphy and Goggan as deacon and subdeacon Respectively. After Mass there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. In the evening Rev. Father Gondringer preached to a very large congregation. On Monday morning at 9 o’clock a Missa Cantata was celebrated, and in the evening Rev. Father McDonald, Waimate, preached to a crowded congregation. Solemn High Mass was again celebrated on Tuesday morning, and the devotion concluded with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction. During the ceremonies excellent music was rendered by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. Clarke. Adoration was continued all day on Sunday and Monday, and it was most edifying to see the number of the faithful who attended the Church during those days, and the great number of communicants, which constituted a record for the parish.