THE CENTENARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 106, 15 February 1937, Page 3

THE CENTENARY

CELEBRATION BY CATHOLICS. MASS FOR MAORIS, • (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, February 13. A Dominion-wide jamboree for Catholic Boy Scouts is to be held in Auckland about tbe time of the New Zealand Catholic centenary celebrations next February. It was mentioned at an executive meeting considering the centenary plans, that children are to play a prominent ipart throughout the celebrations of the Church, and a large choir of boys is being organised. Bishop Liston, who presided, said that the Apostolic delegate for New Zealand and Australia, Jiis Excellency Archbishop Panico, would come to Auckland for the centenary. The presence of this distinguished representative of the Holy Father would give much joy to New Zealand. Catholics. The eminent English priest and author, Monsignor Ronald Knox, had offered to consider the translation and adaptation of a religions presentation entitled “Credo.” This had been staged in a series of tableaux in Belgium, and was a great success.

Bishop Liston read encouraging let tors received from members of the Australian hierarchy. A publicity campaign was well advanced with a view to bringing large numbers of visitors to New Zealand, Referring to the proposed Maori celebrations at Totara Point, Holcianga harbour, on the site of the first Mass offered in New Zealand on January 13, 1838, Bishop Liston said that much depended on the provision of an access road. The construction of the road appeared to be practicable, as it bad long been desired by the settlers. It was proposed to erect a marble crosson the actual site of Bishop Pompallier’s first Mass. The Mill Hill Fathers, who conducted Maori missions, were training a native choir to sing the Mass. A party of about 100 Maoris would assemble for the Auckland celebrations. Numerical representation would be in the bands of tbe missionary fathers, but the actual personnel would be chosen by the Maori people themselves. , An essentially New Zealand element would be introduced at many of the liturgical gatherings, said Bishop Liston. Mass and prayers would be recited in St. Patrick’s Cathedral by narrives, who would sing the hymns and chant the Divine praises. The celebrations would bo financed on a subscription membership system. It was planned to create a perma-meut memorial of (be centenary by establisning a £IOOO bursary for students for the priesthood. Proposals for children’s processions and assemblies were outlined.

The main events of New Zealand’s 100 years of Catholic life would be depicted on a series of banners. A bursary for the priesthood would be presented by schools as a centenary memorial.