CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 5

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

FEBRUARY CONGRESS.

STA7EMENT BY ARCHBISHOP.

RESERVES OF STRENGTH.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

An official statement 011 the New Zealand Centennial National Eucliaristic Congress to l»e held in Wellington from February 1 to 4, 1940, was made to-day by his Grace the Most Rev. Thomas O'Shea, Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand. It was the proud privilege of the Catholic Church in New Zealand to sponsor a National Eucharistic Congress., said the Archbishop. Its implications grew in importance now that the world was at war. It stood as a source of "reserves of strength" not only for this young country but for the darkening and war-torn world. Had the war not come, France would have sponsored the International Eucharistic Congress in Nice in September, 1940, but now that, once again, the French nation was fighting for its liberties, this outstanding event -of the Catholic world unfortunately had to be postponed. With the exception of possible regional congresses in the United States, the National Eucharistic Congress in Wellington would be the sole Eucharistic Congress in a year momentous not only for Christianity but for civilisation.

More and more was mankind being led to realise that salvation for the world lay in a return to the saving and ini]>erishable doctrines of Christianity; that tlie sole antidote to the niaterial"i of the a«e lay ii. a deepening spirituality; that the sole remedy against the deification of the .State, the Christian valuation of the individual, was of infinite worth. In the consideration of such estimates, rested the importance of the Eucharistic Congress, not merely for the Catholic section of the community but for all men of goodwill whatever their creed. Religion and Nation. "It is indeed fitting that in this Centennial year, amid the commemorations of New Zealand's material progress as a nation, the great part that religion has played and must play in the future (if we are to consolidate that progress) should worthily be recognised," continued Archbishop O'Shea. "In furtherance of this need che Catholic Church, in sponsoring the Eucharistic Congress, would make a striking contribution to the New Zealand Centennial celebrations. The Church throughout New Zealand's history had played its part, working in harmony with the State, in the building of the nation."

Only one intimately associated with the organisation of such a congres* could appreciate the tremendous amount of work entailed. For nearly two years preparations had been in hand. It was the intention of his Holiness, but for tlie disturbed international situation, to honour New Zealand by the sending of a Prince of the Church to represent him, but with the outbreak of war such a (K-sirc was impossible of fulfilment. His Holiness, nevertheless, had graciously granted to New Zealand a Legate invested with the same powers for the occasion as a cardinal in the person of his Excellency, Archbishop Panieo. His Holi ness has thus gone to unprecedented lengths in his manifest desire to give not only New Zealand, but the world, the fulle«t blessinars of a Kucliaristic Congress in a year fraught with momentous possibilities for mankind. Problem of Residence. It would thus readilv be appreciated that the fitting reception of the Papal Leoiate in February had greatly increased the responsibilities of the organisers of the congress. It was customary that one appointed to the high office of legate should have his own special residence, which then took rank as an embassy. In this instance the problem of providing a suitable residence had been obviated by the gracious offer made to him by Mr. and Mrs. Lan Duncan, in virtue of which their home in Hobson Street would become the official residence of the Papal Legate. Accompanied by his suite, including the Rt. Rev. Monsignor King, 0.8.E.. and Dean Crowley, of Sydney, his Excellency would take up residence on his arrival on January 23, and would almost immediately, as the representative of a king, pay his official call upon his Excellency the Governor-Ge/ieral. In his residence, the legate would have his own private chapel and would also have means of fulfilling official formalities associated with the representative role that he fills. "I am indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, who have thus ensured that the personal representative of the Pope will be accorded the dignity and the hospitality in keeping with his high office," said Archbishop O'Shea.

Preparations were now far advanced for the opening of the congress. Every effort was beinr made to ensure that in its external setting this great event would be worthy to rank with other Centennial assemblages of Dominionwide interest.

Evidence was daily accumulating which indicated that the official congress organisers in Auckland, the Rev. Dr. Buxton, C'hristchurch, the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, and Dunedin, the Rev. Father •J. Hally, had been working most efficiently. Throughout New Zealand there were encouraging signs of an evergrowing interest. It was expected that with the added attraction of the Centennial Exhibition, and notably of the Catholic Pavilion, many thousands of Catholics would be coming to Wellington for the first week in February.