GREAT FESTIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 13

GREAT FESTIVAL

CATHOLIC CENTENNIAL

With the approach of the celebration of the Catholic Centennial at Auckland this month comprehensive arrangements are reaching the final stages after several months of skilful organising by the many committees working under the Centenary organiser, the Rev. Dr. L. T. Buxton, administrator of St. Patrick's Cathedral,, stated the "New Zealand Herald" yesterday. By direction of the Catholic Archbishop, the Most Rev. Dr. T. O'Shea, S.M., and the Catholic bishops of New Zealand, Sunday, February 20, will be observed by the Catholic community as a day of national preparation for the Centenary.

Throughout the celebrations the city will be thronged with thousands of Catholics from all parts of the Dominion as well as visitors from Australia and other countries. About 70 prelates and priests from abroad will attend the celebrations, and there will be over 100 visiting priests from other parts of the Dominion. Apart from those who will be in Auckland throughout the celebrations, thousands more will arrive on one-day or week-end excursions from as far north as Hikurangi and. as far south as Wellington. The great number of applications from Wellington indicates that the two weekend excursion trains from that city will be heavily patronised.

The preparations for the celebrations have involved the expenditure of large sums of money in material for buildings, while several hundreds of workmen have been afforded employment. Carpenters and allied tradesmen have been employed in renovating the cathedral and erecting buildings, such as the stand and tower at Western Springs Stadium. During the celebrations the foundation-stones of two large institutions will be laid. The two new buildings will be the Franciscan Monastery at Hillsborough and the St. Vincent de Paul Home of Compassion at Herne Bay.