CATHOLIC ENVOYS. DUE TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22337, 26 February 1938, Page 18

CATHOLIC ENVOYS. DUE TO-DAY

Start of Centenary

Celebrations

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

AT AUCKLAND

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND. February 25.

The arrival in Auckland to-morrow of thousands of visitors from other parts of the- Dominion and abroad will herald the beginning of the celebrations for the centenary of the Roman Catholic . Church in New Zealand. Many months of prepai-ation have gone into the organisation, and the opening gatherings will be strikingly picturesque; The major item on the first day's programme, the arrival of the Wanganella, is expected about 8.30 a.,m., with the Apostolic Delegate for Australia an J. New Zealand (Archbishop Panico) and' a delegation of overseas prelates, priests, and laymen. These will number several hundred in all. Among the most notable figures will be Archbishop Gilroy (Sydney). Archbishop Mannix (Melbourne.), the Very Rev. Father Nerney, S.J. (Melbourne), director of the Children -of Mary Sodality in-Australia and New Zealand, and the Rev. Father McEvoy, O.P. (Melbourne), director of the Holy Name Society in Australia and New Zealand.

The Wanganella will also bring Bishop Brodie. of Christchurch. arid Bishop Whyte. of. Dunedin, Who are returning from Congress meetings at Newcastle.

Special arrangements have been made' for the greeting of these distinguished travellers. Aeroplanes will fly in salute over the Wanganella and the fishing vessels of the Catholic Jugoslav community of Auckland will assemble to accompany the vessel in. When the Apostolic Delegate and other members of the party disembark about 10 'o'clock, there will be a procession to St. Patrick's Cathedral. The route will, be lined by children of the Catholic schools. At St/ Patrick's an official welcome will be given by Archbishop O'Shea. S.M., Metropolitan of New Zealand, after the singing of a "Te Deum" by the centenary choir. In the afternoon a garden party will be. held at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Remuera, and in thd evening the Catholic schools' centenary concert will be held in the Town Hall. Throughout the day special traihs will be bringing visitors from all over the Dominion to the city.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

TOMORROW

FORMAL OPENING CEREMONY

IN CATHEDRAL

AUCKLAND, February 25,

The Roman Catholic Centenary will formally open at 11 a.m. on Sunday with Solemn Pontifical Mass, celebrated in St. Patrick's Cathedral, by the Most Rev. Thomas O'Shea, Catholic Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand. His Excellency the Apostolic delegate will preside. The preacher Will be Bishop Listoh. Because of the limited accommodation this service will be attended only by about 1000 representatives of parishes throughbut New Zealand.

In the afternoon, in the Town Hall, the opening session of the first national congress in New Zealand of the St. Vincent tie Paul Society, a worldwide Catholic organisation engaged in charitable works, will take place. Solemn vespers _will be held in the Cathedral at 7 p.m. The Apostolic Delegate will preside and the celebrant will be the Right Rev. Dr. J. Whyte. Catholic Bishop of Dunedin. The sermon will be preached by the Very Rev. A. H. Ryan, Professor of Philosophy at Queen's University, Belfast.