60 YEARS A BISHOP

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 13

60 YEARS A BISHOP

Diamond Jubilee Plans ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD Although the golden jubilee of his Grace, Archbishop Redwood, as a bishop, celebrated with marked pomp and circumstance 10 years,ago, ranked as an outstanding event in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand, the addition of another decade to the record calls for special recognition. Archbishop Redwood, who will be Do years of age on April 8 next, had, when his goldefi jubilee as bishop was celebrated, no senior iu the church in that office. How much more remarkable is the great record to be celebrated in February next, when his Grace will be able to claim what is probably a world’s record—6o years a bishop! Early Distinction. Archbishop Francis Redwood, S.M.. was born in Hanyard, Tixall Estate, Staffordshire, England and came to New Zealand with his parents, Henry Paul and Mary Redwood in 1842. They called at Wellington, but settled in ■ Nelson. Archbishop Redwood attended Father Garin’s school in Nelson, and, in his early ’teens, brought Father Garin to the conclusion that he was destined to be a great churchman. Soconvinced of this fact was the old French priest that he prevailed on the parents to allow the young Francis to take passage by a small sailing vessel for France, there to study for-, the priesthood. His brilliant career at St. Chaumond (Loire) and at Monthei College in the South of France, where he took philosophy and divinity, and subsequently as student and teacher at Maynooth, are well known. He was ordained at Maynooth on June 6, 1865. Nearly 10 years later he was about to return to New Zealand, when the Right Rev. Bishop P. Ward, the first Bishop of }Vellington, who had been there from 1842, died. The. young priest, Who was fervent in his faith, and had given proof of the highest educational attainments, theological and otherwise, was at once singled out for elevation, and when only 35 years of age, he was appointed by the Holy See Bishop of Wellington, the ceremony taking place at St. Ann’s, Spitalfields, London, on March 17, 1874. ■ Honour has since been done him at several Eucharistic congresses which he has personally attended in various parts of the world. This veteran of the church is still fairiy active and mentally as clear as However, he now has to avoid all exertion. Early in 1933 he became troubled with au affection of the ear. He consulted the leading specialist in Australia. Radium was applied week after week, for so many hours a day, with amazing results, and finally a complete cure was effected. Jubilee Arrangements. The diamond jubij.ee celebrations will not be on quite such an elaborate scale as i those for the golden jubilee. For one thing the times are inopportune for costly rejoicings, and the age of his Grace has to be considered. The programme of events has been planned as follows: — Sunday, February 25: Celebration of High Mass at the Basilica at 10 a.m. In the afternoon a procession through th_e city to an open-air site, yet to be arranged, when benediction will be pronounced. Visiting prelates will probably occupy the pulpits of the city churches In the evening. Monday, February 26: Visiting prelates will be taken for a motor drive to Otaki, proceeding via Paekakariki and returning via , the Akatarawa Valley. or vice versa. , Tuesday evening, . February £7: Grand congratulatory gathering at the Town Hall. Wednesday afternoon, February 28: Children’s gathering at the Town Hall. In view of the coming celebrations the Hill Street Basilica has been completely renovated, Inside and out, under the direction of-Mr. T. J. McCosker, architect It was found that the Oamaru stone facings to the interior walls-were deteriorating. These have been cleaned up. treated with a special protective fluid, and then painted. Walls, and the very beautiful steel roofj.which was found to be iu .good condition, have also been painted, and to-day the Basilica, looks like a new building. St. Francis Hall adjoining has also, been subjected to considerable alteration and enlargement and will probably be used for minor functions during the diamond jubilee celebrations.