AN HISTORIC EVENT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 117, 9 February 1924, Page 8

AN HISTORIC EVENT

CELEBRATION OF ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD’S JUBILEE

OLDEST LIVING BISHOP TO BE HONOURED THIS MONTH

Sunday, February 24, will be a red- , letter day in the history" of Roman Catholicism in New Zealand. On that day will commence a four days’ celebration of the golden jubilee as a bishop of His Grace Archbishop Redwood in Wellington, a name not only associated with the advancement of the Church in the archdiocese of New .Zealand, but one intimately associated with the beginnings of British life in these islands. \ As tho oldest living bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the world, Archbishop Redwood is to bo honoured by tho largest assemblage of the heirarchies of Australia and New Zealand ever brought together in the history of tho Dominion. From the farthest points of Australia, from Samoa, and all parts of this country eminent clergy will assemble to do homage to a groat,man and a unqiue personality, and many Catholics also will make the pilgrimage to Wellington. Impressive Services. The functions will commence at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, February 24, with the celebration of Pvntificial High Mass at the Hill Street Basilica. As it is impossible to find room for tho many thousands who will wish to be present on this occasion, it has been decided that the 500 seats left after the clergy aro accommodated will be reserved for the elected representatives of each parish in the Dominion. The celebrant will be the Venerable Jubilarian himself. Tho Rev. Dr. Clune, C.S.S.R., Archbishop of Perth. W.A., will preach tho sermon. The eloquence of this distinguished prelate is known throughout New Zealand through his work on several occasions as a missioner. Imposing Religious Pageant. At noon there will bo an official dinner at St. Francis’s Hall, and at 3 p.m. the greatest religious pageant ever witnessed in New Zealand will take place'in the form of a procession, which will march from Hill Street to St. Patrick’s College. Tho order of the procession will be as follows: — Bands Students of St. Patrick’s, College Children of Roman Catholic Schools Members of Hiberian Societies Marist Bros.’ boys Catholic clergy (300) Catholic laity Archbishops (10) Bishops (13) His Grace Archbishop Redwood. Everyone will march on foot the entire distance as a special honour to His Grace. The priests will wear their cossacks and surplices, and the prelates their full episcopal robes. The processional will proceed by way of Lnmbton Quav, Willis Street, Manners Street, and Cambridge Terrace. On reaching the College they will mass on the drive and tennis courts before a high altar to bo erected on the triangular lawn before the main entrance to the college. This space has been estimated to accommodate 6000 people There under tho open sky. will bo held a special Benediction service. A special choir from the city and suburban churches is being trained at present under Signor Alfred Iruda

and the Rev. Father Ryan, and the instrumental accompaniment will bo played by massed bands. To accommodate the bands an old two-storied wooden building on the section adjoining the college grounds, about halfway up the drive, has been demolished, and on this site a capacious band rotunda is being erected. The Soleum, Te Deum (Traditional Gregorian) by the big choir and massed bands is likely to prove an unforgetable memory to those present. At 7 p.m. special services will be held in all Roman Catholic Churches in Wellington, the chief of which (and tho one to be attended by Archbishop Redwood) will bo”held in St. Mary of tho Angels’ Church in Boulcott Street, where the sermon will be preached by His Grace Archbishop Duhig, of Brisbane. On Monday, February 25, the visiting clergy will be taken for a motor trip in the country, possibly to Titahi Bay, then across the range to Silverstream and the Upper Hutt. Congratulatory Addresses. At 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, there will be an official reception and presentation of addresses to His Grace Archbishop Redwood. The first address will be from the heirarchv of Australia, which will bo accompanied by the presentation to His Grace of a substantial cheque. Next will follow an address from the clergy of the Archdiocese of New Zealand, and the Roman Catholic laity, each of which will bo accompanied by a monetary oflornig. Wednesday, February 27, will he the children’s day. At 3 p.m. the children of tho Archdiocese will assemble at the Town Hall to meet His Grace, and the visiting prelates, and during the function an address will be presented to the Ven. Jubilarian. The celebrations will conclude the same evening, Iwith a conversazione to the visicing clergy. Visiting Prelates. • following is a rtnnpleto ol prelates who will attend the golden jubilee celebrations :—-The Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Cattaneo) ; Archbishop Keely, of Sydney; Archbishop Mannix, Melbourne; Archbishop Spence, Adelaide: Archbishop Duhig, Brisbane; Archbishop Clune, Perth, NV.A.: Archbishop Barry (Coadjutor), Hobart; Archbishop Sheehan Coadjutor?, Sydney: Archbishop O’Shea (Coadjutor). NVellington ; Bishop Darnand, S.M., Samoa ; Bishop Cleary, Auckland; Bishop Brodie, Christchurch ; Bishop NVhyte, Dunedin; Bishop Shiel, Rockhampton, Queensland; Bishop O’Ferr.yl, New South NV<des; Bishop R. Dwyer, Wagga NVagga; Bishop J. Dwyer. Maitland; Bishop O’Connor, Armidale; Bishop Macarty, Sandhurst; Bishop Foley, Ballarat, Bishop Haydon. WilcanniaForlies; Bishop Liston, Auckland; Monsignor Byrne, V.G., Brisbane; Monsignor Power, Hawera: Monsignor McKenna, V.G., Masterton; Monsignor Mackay, V.G., Oamaru; Wry Rev. Father Sullivan, S.J , Provincial of the Jesuit Fathers in Australia; Very Bev. Father O’Reilly, S'.M., Provincial of the Marist Fathers, Wellington.