Maryfest and Grand Procession in Honour of Our Lady of Christchurch

 
Christchurch Knights of the Southern Cross act as 

Our Lady's Sediarii
- taking their place at the front of the bier
carrying our replica of the statue of
Our Lady of Christchurch.

This Sunday our confreres in Christchurch, New Zealand,
participated in the annual Procession,
Consecration of the City and Diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and Pontifical Benediction
which they had been asked to organise by the local ordinary,
His Lordship the Most Reverend Barry Jones, D.D.,
Bishop of Christchurch.

For the last few weeks we have been planning and advertising
this wonderful event throughout the Diocese,
primarily using this poster -
translated for other local communities into
Polish, Korean, Tagalog, Arabic and Greek.

Thanks be to God and Our Lady,
St Mary's pro-Cathedral was filled to capacity
as Bishop Jones, accompanied by
Bishop Emeritus Basil Meeking
with the Administrator of the pro-Cathedral, Fr Friel,
as well as more than a dozen priests
led around 500 faithful from the Diocese
in an Act of Homage
to our
Heavenly Queen.

Many of the faithful had made banners in the last weeks
and these were evident in the lateral isle on the Gospel side.
Representatives of the Legion of Mary,
the Catholic Women's League,
the Knights of the Southern Cross,
as well the Keralite, Filipino, Korean,
Polish, Vietnamese,
Maori, Coptic, Ethiopian and Samoan communities,
members of the Marist, the Marist Brothers,
the Community of St John
the Marist Sisters
the Sisters of Nazareth and of the Beatitudes
many schools and parishes
joined in with the Bishop
the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer
and of course our own traditional Catholics who had come from
all over South Island to be there.

The City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band accompanied us
as we processed around the pro-Cathedral
and along Manchester Street.

The beautiful replica of Our Lady of Christchurch
which we carried in the procession.
The Queen of this City
crushes the old serpent
and extends her benign reign
over New Zealand!

At the end of the procession as the trumpet rang out
Our Lady of Christchurch
was crowned before His Lordship the Bishop
by little Esther
who had received Our Lord for the
first time that morning
in Our Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory.

What a great grace to be able to see
the City and Diocese Consecrated again to
the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Our very great thanks to all those who helped
in many and varied ways
to make the day most memorable
no less for its bright sunshine on a day
predicted to be overcast and awaiting snow!

To read more about the protecting image
of Our Lady of Christchurch
and to see more images please visit
Our Lady of Christchurch Facebook page.

The splendid photographs
for this blog were provided
by
Abi Wiseman Photography.

Repair works at the Pier

Over the past few months of winter

a small hole under the bridge of the pier

grew bigger and bigger.

We are doing some extensive work to repair the hole
and build up the sea bed to protect the wall's foundation.

 Six inch concrete blocks are brought to the place of operations

 One by one the blocks weighing 15kg are passed along a chain of brothers

to the centre of the damage

In cave like conditions our young strong postulant lays the blocks in a stable pattern

 This is not easy work!

 The JCB digger is used to gather together stones from the sea bed at low tide.

The gathered stones are piled up to cover the work done

and protect the pier from further attack by the sea.

Rogation Day Procession

With Spring upon us,

 and Our Lady's garden taking on new life,

 we had the joy to bless the fields and plants

 and call down God's blessing on the future harvest.

The Litany of the Saints begins at the foot of the altar.

After the invocation, "Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis", the procession heads towards the green house.

Once inside a triple invocation is made
"to bless, conserve and keep these fields

 from every infestation of the devil".

 Holy Water is sprinkled towards the four points of the compass.

Br Jean Marie and Br Peter leading the Litany of the Saints.

After the blessings are done, the procession returns to the Chapel,

 where further prayers are said and the Sung Mass begun.

A rather keen thurifer kept the smoke of incense rising heavenward

Update on painting our Christchurch Oratory

Photos of the

Mother of Perpetual Succour Oratory, 
Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

 St Joseph's holy picture has been enhanced by its polychrome

surrounding and canopy.

The peculiar Star and Cross above the holy image are copies 

of the Holy Cross and Star

that to this day, in Bethlehem,

 commemorate 

the apparition of the angel to St Joseph in Bethlehem:

"And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him."

Mt. 2:13

 The updated image of the work done behind the altar

and surrounding our Mother of Perpetual Succour.

The dedicated work continues...

Thank you Brother!

  

Easter Vigil

 The High Altar before the Vigil Ceremonies began on Papa Stronsay

Preparations in the Sacristy

The Easter Fire prepared by Br Valentine seen on left

Br Yousef Marie sings the Exsultet for the first time as a Deacon

Br Jean-Marie, our sub-deacon chanting the first lesson 

Father Anthony Mary for the first time as a priest blesses the Pascal Water

Holy Mass begins with the images still covered in purple

Chanting of the Easter Vigil Gospel, with images now unveiled

 Br Yousef as deacon assists Fr Anthony as he celebrates Holy Mass

The Regina Caeli rings out as our hearts are filled with joy

 as the Lenten Fast is now at an end!

Easter Sunday morning is calm, bright and sunny

The Holy Island of Papa Stronsay as see from our boat.

"gaudia Paschalia" winging it way!

For Rev. Fr John and Mrs. Hunwicke.

Photos of our Christchurch chapel.

Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour,
141 Rutland Street,
St Alban's, Christchurch,
as it had been.

Brother Nicodemus Mary,F.SS.R.
moved into action last week.

 

Brother enjoys decorating the sanctuary.
The chapel had been a hall belonging to the Closed Brethren.
Over the years many generous friends
have worked to make it suitable for the Holy Sacrifice.

Soon after we arrived, friends made this opening in the hall's ceiling
and found a suitable window to give added emphasis and light
to the altar which is directly below.

The image of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour
was carefully protected during operations.

 The work is not finished.
 But last Saturday night the altar was replaced for the
Mass of Low Sunday.

 

 More coats of paint are needed and
further developments will be reported.

Our tabernacle was brought to Christchurch
as part of our luggage last month.
It is French and quite old.

 Its doors are beautifully carved.

 This is how things stood for Low Sunday.
May God bless the devoted monk and his holy work.

Easter Morning, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Easter Sunday Mass 

Christchurch, New Zealand

Easter Morning.

After the Vigil the night before, there is a special atmosphere 

when returning to the same sacred space on Easter morning.

 Holy Mass of Easter Sunday, Resurrexi...

I arose, and am still with Thee, alleluia...

Announcing the Resurrection.

Rev. Brother Magdala Maria, F.SS.R.

Et resurrecxit tertia die secundum Scripturas...

Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. 

 Devout faithful.

 The altar and decorations were beautiful.

Easter Vigil, Christchurch, New Zealand

The Easter Vigil

The Blessing of the Baptismal Font

Behold the Lamb of God.