FERVENT SCENES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 9

FERVENT SCENES

CHURCH PAGEANTRY

SUNSHINE AND RAIN

THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

(From "The Post." Representative.!

SYDNEY, February 18.

More than 1,500,000 Roman Catholics in Australia and New Zealand have had, as their chief interest tor many weeks, the Regional Missionary,, and Eucharistic Congress now being held at Newcastle, New South Wales. It is the Roman Catholic contribution to Australia's 150 th anniversary celebrations, and the culmination of almost a year of planning, not only throughout Australia but also in Pacific mission fields and oversea countries.

The opening on Wednesday was Doth colourful and solemn. Five archbishops, more than 30 bishops, including several from overseas, almost 150 priests, and a congregation estimated at 6000, participated in the. Solemn Pontifical Votive Mass of the Holy Ghost, celebrated by the Bishop of Maitland, Dr. Gleeson, sponsor of the congress. The Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Panico, gave the opening address. The congregation included the Prime Minister. Mr. Lyons, and Dame Enid Lyons.

A morning of glowing ritual reached an impressive climax with the consecration of the Host at the huge congress altar erected in the opeD air ot the Newcastle Sports Ground. While almost the whole attendance knelt in reverence at the '•'-Consummate Moment of the Mass, 'tiree bandsmen on a stage from which the altar rose sounded a fanfare. A mild breeze, suddenly rising, blew out to its full width the. Papal -flag, flying from a flagstaff behind the altar.

A few moments later the sun broke through heavy clouds and illuminated the vivid colours of the spectacle—the purple robes of the Apostolic Delegate and the visiting heirarchy, the contrasting white surplices and black soutanes of the priests, the green and red and black court costumes of the two Papal knights -attending the Delegate, i the red vestments of Dr. Gleeson, the brown habiliments of the deacons assisting in the celebration, and behind all the cream and green of the flower-decorated, candle-bearing altar structure itself. The celebration was memorable to ears as well as eyes. The congress choir sang throughout the Mass in a manner which set high standard? of choral music, and boy trumpeters did work of conspicuous merit.

A letter from Pope Pius XI to Bishop Gleeson bestowing the Apostolic Blessing on the congress was read at the opening. The Apostolic Delegate delivered the opening address.

The congress altar, erected, on the hilly side of the ground, was the cynosure of all eyes. Rising from a huge staging, used as an open-air sacristy during the congress, the altar, painted in cream picked out with green, combined the most modern of streamlines in its architectural design with all the symbolism of the Roman Catholic Church. Hanging on a wooden cross erected above the canopy of the altar was an almost life-size figure of Christ, and the altar towered further up, to end in another cross 54 feet above the ground.

Giving no thought to pretty frocks and silk stockings, 8000 women and girls on Thursday trudged through mud and rain to the Sports Ground for a Pontifical Solemn High Mass arranged especially for them. It was the second great ceremony of the congress, and In the steady lash of rain from grey skies the organisers had to make a quick decision. The Mass, with all Its richness of vesture and wealth of ritual, not being possible on the unsheltered high altar.'it was decided to substitute a Low Mass in one of the grandstands, where at least part of the great throng could find-shelter. Fully 1000 of the women arrived by car Through a microphone, a priest urged them to stay in their cars, which they did. and. for the first time in Australia, part of the congregation participated in a Mass from a congested car-park.

While the ever-swelling tide ot umbrellas moved across the arena, priests and acolytes sped hither and thither, carrying brass candlesticks, vases of lilies and jonquils, and altar embellishments of the richest lace. The great high altar stood deserted on the wet grass. In one of the grandstands, on a platform used by broadcasters at sports gatherings, a new and temporary altar was set up on an ordinary office table. Archbishops and bishops, in their robes, walked through the rain to this hurriedly improvised altar Priests draped the table with lace and fine linen, candles were lighted in the dim and shadowy grandstand, flowers were set up, and organisation overcame the discomfort of a wet Newcastle day The Apostolic Delegate had to forsake his predella, with its richly-carved chair, and sit among the group of bishops on a wood tier of the grandstand.