DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 11 August 1921, Page 28

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

August 8.

On Sunday evening at the Cathedral, Father Herring, S.M., delivered an address on Retreats for Laymen. He pointed out that for some years past, in several convents in New Zealand there had been Retreats for Catholic women. These had been productive of very great blessings. But each year as these Retreats were being announced, good earnest Catholic men asked the question, Why not a Retreat for men? After the next term holidays at St. Bede’s College this question need no longer be asked. A Retreat for men will then have been an accomplished fact. This Retreat has the blessing and approval of his Lordship the Bishop, for the Bishop always takes a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of the men.' The Rector of St. Bede’s College, who also has this matter very much at heart, will gladly place the college at the disposal of the men during the holidays. The preacher traced the origin and growth of popular Retreats from the time of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and showed how the Retreat movement had received a great impetus from St. Vincent de Paul. He spoke of the great revival of. the Retreat move- - ment in -France about 40 years ago, how it spread to Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, England, the United States, even to China. He dwelt upon the necessity of * Retreats for the laity, and showed how the restlessness of

the age in which we live is fatal to home life, to steady effort, strength" of character, efficiency, spiritual insight and real happiness. Men must pause and think. They need a dose of calm so that they can look the great realities of death and judgment in the face. The Retreat will supply the needful calm. Moreover our men have to live in an atmosphere that is tainted by worldliness, heresy, and irreligion. This applies to men engaged in the various professions, in commerce and politics as well as to laboring men. Our men must be lifted out of the rut of materialism. Confronted by so many difficulties, men will scarcely maintain a truly Catholic spirit unless they have an enthusiasm for the Church which is proof against the manifold seductions. In Retreat they have time to think and act for themselves. . Going through a course of soul-drill they will re-arrange their lives and brighten up their Catholic ideals. The Retreat fosters a holy enthusiasm as nothing else can. The preacher pointed out the difference between a Retreat and a mission, how the work of the Retreat commences where the mission ends. He spoke of the results of Retreats in other countries, not merely the sanctification of the individual, but’” the social results, and quoted the words of Leo XIII. — “Retreats procure not only the sanctification of the individual but the general utility of society.” A few good men in each parish can exercise a tremendous influence for good. A Retreat puts a man right with God, and consequently with himself and his fellow-man. Hence it is that the influence of the Retreat is felt in family life, in parish life, even in the industrial world. Father Herring appealed to the men of the Cathedral parish to come forward as volunteers, to send their names to the Rector of St. Bede’s, to make the Retreat. By so doing they would be pioneers of what he hoped would be a great movement, one which would save the faith and the souls of many men ; one that would help considerably in this Dominion to restore all things in Christ.

ST. ANNE’S GUILD, TIMARU.

The annual meeting of St. Anne’s Guild, Timaru, was held at the convent on Sunday, July 31 (writes our own correspondent). The Rev. Father- Hurley presided over a very large attendance of members. The Rev. Mother and the directors of the guild w r ere also present. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted. The balance sheet, after allowing for an expenditure of £ll7 4s 9d, shows a credit balance of £62 8s Bd. The report gave a detailed account of the various works of the guild, notably the sewing class, which meets' each Wednesday afternoon, when a large amount of new material is made up and also donations of clothing are renovated and distributed at the discretion of the directors. Reports were also read from the sick visitors who visit the hospital weekly and of the number of orphans • who have been placed in homes during the year. There has been a large increase in the membership, and all are keen and enthusiastic workers.. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows; —President, Mrs. Deeming; vice-president, Mrs. J. Sullivan; secretary, Mrs. Travis; assistant secretary, Mrs. Whitehead; treasurer, Miss Sullivan; councillors, Mesdames Sullivan, Stickings, Quinn, and Crowe. After the meeting the members, at the invitation of the Rev. Mother, attended a short entertainment given by the convent pupils, entitled “The White Dove of Erin ” which reflected great credit on the performers and their teachers, and was greatly appreciated by all. An enjoyable afternoon tea was then dispensed, and a most success- , ful meeting came to a close.