CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21923, 18 January 1946, Page 4

CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS

SERVICE WELFARE

WORK IN PEACETIME

(P.A,,) WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. Of 31 Catholic chaplains Who served with the New Zealand forces in the Middle East and Pacific during this war 16 of those returned have been conferring in Wellington for the past three days to establish ways and means of obtaining under peacetime the work they undertook for the men with whom they served overseas.

This conference, sponsored by the hierarchy, was presided over by Monsignor Connolly. The outcome of the conference is to be a nation-wide organisation of what already has been attempted in each diocese in the form of “Catholic service welfare.” The conference agreed that though the successful reabsorption of ex-ser-vicemen into civilian life depends largely on the individual effort of the ex-serviceman himself, he nevertheless required, and certainly has the right to expect, Ihe maximum cooperation of everyone able to help him spiritually and materially. In order to assist in catering for

such heeds, the hierarchy of New Zea-

land has inaugurated a “Catholic ser--1 vice welfare” as a practical gesture of gratitude on the part of the Catholic community for what the serviceman has done.

The aims of Catholic welfare are:’(1) TO make, available to returned men the advice and assistance of exchaplains and all other priests throughout New Zealand for their personal spiritual guidance. ;<2) To co-operate with existing national and local government organisations in the excellent work they are doing for the material rehabilitation of ex-service personnel. Ex-Chaplains already have been deputed for this work in each diocese, and since the cessation of hostilities much has been done for the spiritual and material welfare of the returned men. It is the hierarchy's intention that this work shall continue as long as there is need for it.