Diocese of Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 10, 18 March 1925, Page 31

Diocese of Christchurch

(From our own Correspondent.) March 14. The garden fetes at New Brighton and Riccarton have had to be postponed indefinitely, owing to the prevailing epidemic. The coming engagements of his Lordship the Bishop are as follows: —March 15, blessing and opening new church at Beckenham; March 22, blessing and opening of new church at Dallington; March ' 29, blessing and opening of new school for boys at Timaru; April 5, blessing and opening of new church at Kokatahi, West Coast. His>Lordship has purchased a further block of land adjoining the church property at Beckenham, which will now make the property 2J acres in extent. Sir Westby B. Perceval, now of London, and a former resident and prominent layman of Christchurch, who was a member of the House of Representatives over 25 years ago, is at present on a visit to Christchurch, and is greatly impressed with the progress the Church has made in this part. Rev. Father Long, Adm., Greymouth, will arrive in Christchurch on Wednesday, and with Rev. Father Murphy (New Brighton) will leave for Wellington, where they embark on a trip to the Old Land. THE BLESSING AND OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH AT MARSHLANDS. The blessing and dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, at Marshlands, was performed by his Lordship Bishop Brodie on Sunday morning last, the Bth inst. Many visitors from town and country parishes were present. Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by the Bishop; Father T. Hanrahan being assistant priest; Father O'Meeghan, deacon; and Father D. Lordan, subdeacon. Rev. Father J. Hanrahan, pastor of the district, presented a financial statement showing the expenditure that had been involved in the erection and furnishing of the church, a sum totalling £I2BO. Through the generosity of the people a debt of only £l5O remains, which is to be cleared off in the near future. While thanking the congregation for the generous assistance he had received, he expressed his gratitude to kind Catholic friends who had co-operated with the people of Marshlands in bringing about the happy result. • His Lordship the Bishop preaching from the text, "I have loved the beauty of Thy house and the place where Thy glory dwelleth," referred to the inspiration which came to King David to erect a temple in Jerusalem of unsurpassed magnificence. The Bishop stated that the parishioners of Marshlands had received a similar inspiration, and thus had been erected the house of God in which they were now assembled. Although small in numbers they had shown a generosity worthy of the highest praise, and the result of the day's efforts would practically mean the complete extinction of any debts existing on the building. The Bishop expressed his congratulations to Father Hanrahan and to his parishioners on the success that had already crowned their efforts.'.. i (Continued on page 35.)