ONE OF THEIR OWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 26 April 1928, Page 15

ONE OF THEIR OWN.

PRIEST FOR YUGOSLAVS.

WELCOMED BY BISHOP CLE ART

CONGREGATION OF 4000 WAITING.

Unable to speak more than one or two words of English, the Rev. Milan Pavlinovitch, of Yugoslavia, who has voluntarily left his native land to minister to 1 his own people in the Auckland diocese, greeted the Rt, Rev. Dr. Cleary in Italian, when the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland boarded the Marama on arrival at Auckland. Mr. M. A. Ferri, of the Auckland Yugoslav Committee, also welcomed Father Pavlinovitch.

Dr. Cleary interpreted for Father Pavlinovitch when newspapermen sought an interview. He stated that he was parish priest at Podgora for a number of years, and was educated at Splatzo, Zare, where he received a doctorship in theology. "I know nothing of New Zealand, save what I have read in letters from my relatives in this country," said the priest. "I have many relatives here. There is no means of reading about New Zealand in .Yugoslavia, because there are no books about this Dominion published in our language." For several years, Bishop Cleary has been making endeavours to obtain a priest to tend the Yugoslavian congregation in the Auckland diocese. ,From 3000 to 4000 compatriots are looking forward to meeting Father Pavlinovitch, who volunteered to come to New Zealand at the request of his mother's compatriots. All arrangements were made by Bishop Cleary. Father Pavlinovitch will make his headquarters at Auckland, for some months at least, and will reside at St. Patrick's Presbytery. The following speech of welcome has been prepared by a committee, which is to entertain Father Pavlinovitch at a social gathering-"Very Rev. and dear father, (Jrcat jov fills the hearts of the Jugoslav people in Sew Zealand at the arrival in their midst of you, a priest of their own nationality. We are separated from our beloved country by many miles of ocean, but we can never forget her, nor the grand old Catholic faith, first preached to our ancestors by Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius. That faith We value more than gold or silver, nay, ■>ore than life itself. We welcome you • s a priest of (4od, who will help us to fenu'-in true to that faith, and to pass it on strong and active to our children. We pre, indeed, deeply grateful for all

that has been done by the bishops, and priests of this country. We fully realise the great sacrifice you have made, dear father, in leaving your own country and coming to us across the sea, and we know that it is your great zeal for the salvation of souls that has prompted you to undertake this great mission. We pledge ourselves to assist ydu in every Eossible way to make your stay in this eautiful land as happy as possible, and we pray that the good God will bless you abundantly and spare you to us for very many years."