DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1919, Page 21

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(Prom our own correspondent.)

February 28. The St. Patrick Day Concert Committee met at the episcopal residence on last Sunday afternoon, Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Adm,, presiding. The various subcommittees reported satisfactory progress, and every effort is being made to avoid the turning away pf patrons through lack of seating accommodation, as unfortunately has happened on previous similar occasions. An excellent programme is being arranged, and the price of admission is fixed at 3s, 2s, and Is, there being no further charge for booking the 3s seats.’ The 7 o clock Mass on last Thursday morning was one of special solemnity, in observance of the anniversary of the consecration of his Lordship the Bishop. His Lordship was celebrant. A general Communion of the school children was arranged, and appropriate hymns were sung. In the evening the Bishop gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, In connection with the third anniversary of his consecration, his Lordship Bishop Brodie entertained the visiting clergy to luncheon at Mt. Magdala. The visitors were afterwards treated to a play, “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” by the children of the institution, the staging and acting being quite artistic. Rev. Mother-General Pacome, Superior-General of the Institute of Notre Dame des Missions, accompanied by her assistant (Rev. Mother Etienne), left during the week for . England, via Australia and India. She has been visiting the convents of the Order in the Dominion, and, owing to the war, has had a protracted stay. . . Father Dowling, S.M. (Napier), officiated at Vespers, in the Cathedral on last Sunday evening. The sermon was preached by Father Herbert, S.M., who is on hie way to join the Marist Missioners, now in Queensland, . Fathers McCarthy and O’Leary (Marist Missioners) opened a short mission at St. Mary’s on Sunday last. There were crowded congregations morning and evening, the parishioners entering most enthusiastically into the exercises of the mission. Veil. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., Fathers Hurley, S.M. (Wellington), and Dowling, S.M. (Napier), are at present visitors to Christchurch, and guests of the Very Rev. Dean Reguault, S.M., at St. Mary’s Presbytery. . , , . ’ The ordinary meeting of St. Mary’s branch of the H.A.C.JJ. Society was held at Ozanam. Lodge, on Monday evening, February 17, Bro. A. F. Roche, 8.P., presiding. - The chaplain (Father Roche, S.M.) and the district deputy (Bro. R. P. O’Shaughnessy) were in attendance ( The president reported having attended the annual meeting of the U.F.S. Council, and detailed the business- transacted thereat. He read the balance sheet of the organisation, and a resume

of the year’s work, and the branch was unanimous in its, appreciation of the good work being done by the U.F.S. , Council. P,P. Bro. Gunn referred to the national concert to be held on St. Patrick’s Night, and all present. expressed their intention of offering every assistance , towards making the event a success. Bro. Hampton was elected to the position of warden, the retiring officer (Bro. Hallow) being unable, owing to. out-of-town engagements, to attend the meetings. The president made eulogistic reference to the unswerving and practical support given the branch by Very Rev. Dean Regnault. The membership was now 80, and all funds were sound financially, so that although the branch is practically in its infancy, prospective members should have no hesitation in coming into its ranks. The district deputy (Bro. O’Shaughnessy) brought under the notice of members the projected garden fete at Nazareth House, and it was decided, that the branch give every possible support thereto. Accounts amounting to £1 5s were passed for payment. Qrtymouth (From our own correspondent.) February 28. In observance of the anniversary of the death of Dean Carew, Solemn Requiem Mass was recently celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, Greymouth. The Very Rev. Dean Hyland (Rangiora) was celebrant, Father O Hare (Kumara) deacon. Father Campbell subdeacon, and Father Eccleton (Reefton) master of ceremonies. Other visiting clergy were Father Hanraban (Ahaura) and Father Hegarty (Westport). The Gregorian plain chant was sung during Mass, and the “Dead March’’ from “Saul ’ was played by the organist, Miss L. Higgins. The bazaar, which opens on Easter Saturday at the Town Hall, in aid of the Dean Carew Memorial Fund, promises to be a great success. The ladies associated with the various stalls are working assiduously, while the supporters of the carnival queens are vieing with each other for first place. Many former residents of Greymouth who know of the sterling worth of the late Dean have generously subscribed towards the memorial, which will take the form of a boys’ school. This will fittingly perpetuate the memory of the late Dean, ho, through the whole of his long ministry, was an ardent champion of Catholic education. Very Rev. Dean Hyland, who was the celebrant at the Requiem Mass hold on the anniversary of the death of his uncle, the late Dean Carew, occupied the pulpit on Sunday last at St. Patrick’s Church. The Very Rev. preacher impressed on the congregation the paramount duty of supporting their schools. It is to be hoped that a good number of our Catholic people will bo mi the alert to secure an area of land, which is now cheap on the West Coast, but which will be much higher in price when the Otira tunnel is completed. Practical farmers from oilier parts who have visited the Coast , have expressed their amazement at the large quantities of land awaiting settlement hero, and at the low rates ruling for same. In times gone by, this district depended for its meat and dairy produce on imports. All this is now changed, and the West Coast now exports large quantities of beef, mutton, and dairy produce. The West Coast is undergoing a transformation. The general ide'a in the past was to get the young people from the land and 1 into the towns in order that they might presumably get a chance, by .political influence or other means, of a genteel billet in the Government service. As a consequence there have been many failures. But now, however, the idea is steadily gaining ground, that on the land is the place, for happiness, good living, and successful careers. That statesmanlike prelate, the late Bishop Moran, of Dunedin, on his journeys through his . diocese, .made a practice of • giving his people much wholesome advice on temporal matters. , He constantly exhorted them to make all possible efforts to get on the land, and .to-day many a <3©}nfortable farmer and his

family have reason to be thankful that they took the advice of - the late revered Bishop. Our various political parties have many planks in their platforms, mottos, and watchwords, but the ■ real ■ rallying cry of a genuine democratic party should be that of the Irish Land League, a slogan that had , such far-reaching and beneficial effects for the people of Ireland-viz. “The land for the people." ’