FINAL RALLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1940, Page 7

FINAL RALLY

CATHOLIC FESTIVAL

CLERGY AND LAITY

INFORMAL GATHERING AT TOWN HALL

Intended to provide relaxation after the more formal business of the National Eucharistic Congress, the final rally, held in the Town Hall last night, was the same as every other Congress event in that it was a complete success, but it differed in its atmosphere of informality which brought the Congress to a close on a happy, and for nearly everyone in the hall, a personal note. To the 1500 people who attended the only disappointing feature of the evening was the inability of several of the visiting prelates to be present.

The Rt. Rev. Monsignor Connolly, chairman of the Congress executive, explained that Bishop Liston, of Auckland, had travelled north to represent the Church at the Waitangi celebrations, and that Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, and Bishop Whyte, of Dunedin, had also found it necessary to return to their respective cities. Archbishop Duhig, of Brisbane, and Bishop Bach, of Australia, had also left Wellington, and Archbishop Mannix, of Melbourne, and his Excellency the Papal Legate, Archbishop Panico, were unable to attend.

ARCHBISHOP'S THANKS,

His Grace Archbishop O'Shea, the host of the Congress, expressed his gratitude and his thanks to all who had helped to make /the Congress one of the most successful gatherings of its kind ever held in the southern hemisphere. He mentioned the work done by Monsignor Connolly and by the organising committees, and thanked visitors, both clergy and laity, for their attendance. Special praise was given by his Grace to the Congress Choir and its conductor, Mr. Maxwell Fernie.

His Grace also spoke of the honour done to Catholics in the broadcast addresses of his Holiness the Pope from Rome and of Cardinal Hinsley from London.

The piety of the Catholic laity was praised by Monsignor Connolly, in calling upon Mr. P. D. Hoskins, K.S.G., to speak for the laity.

Mr. Hoskins thanked the visitors for their considerable contribution to the success of the Congress and wished them all a safe return.

After referring to the joyfulness and the holiness of the Congress, a function which he said compared favourably with those held in recent years at Sydney, Melbourne, and Manila, his Lordship Bishop Gleeson, of Maitland, said that he would not like to single out any particular function of the Congress for particular praise for, he said, each in its own way fitted into its own place and contributed admirably to the beauty of the Eucharistic event in Wellington.

Bishop Gleeson referred to the work clone by Archbishop O'Shea in creating interest in the Congress overseas in the course of a -world tour, and he congratulated all concerned.

"AN INSPIRATION AND A CALL."

"The Eucharistic Congress is, and should be," he said, "an: inspiration to any children of the Church in New Zealand who have not been keeping step with the Church. The very appearance of the grand procession on Sunday should be an inspiration and a call to those indifferent children and the Catholic Church—if any such are to be found among the people of New Zealand—to come and take part in all the work of the Church and accept into their lives the good things of Christ." His Lordship said the Congress was also a call to those who had been faithful to be better in the future.

His Lordship Bishop Fox, of Wil-cannia-Forbes, expressed thanks for the welcome given to the visitors. He had attended other international and national congresses and he believed that the people of TS"ew Zealand had nothing to apologise for. "I have been edified again and again by the deep: spirit of faith manifested by the Catholic people in New Zealand," he said, and he added his congratulations to all concerned in the success of the Congress. It had riot only been of assistance to Catholics, but also must have been productive of great good in its effect upon non-Catholic citizens. ■ , • ■

Bishop Fox said he was deeply,impressed by the Catholic youth demonstration on Saturday night, and he referred also to the Maori function at Otaki. "The Catholic bishops • and priests of New Zealand are to be congratulated," he said, "in that they have not neglected their duty_ to the Native people of the country, its former owners. Unfortunately we in Australia cannot say the same thing."

The Rt. Rev. Monsignor Delany, national director of the Propagation of the Faith in New Zealand, spoke on behalf of the South Island bishops. His speech was the most humorously informal of all. In serious vein he congratulated all responsible for the success of the Congress arid expressed thanks for the hospitality given in Wellington.

■ After the speeches, the prelates and clergy met the people on the floor of the Town Hall, which was cleared for the occasion.