RELIGIOUS GATHERING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 175, 25 June 1932, Page 7

RELIGIOUS GATHERING

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS. GREAT SCENE AT PHOENIX PARK LEGATE’S TRIUMPHAL TOUR. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) DUBLIN. June 24. The principal event of the second day of the Eucharistic Congress was the celebration of Pontifical High Mass by the Cardinal Legate at the pro-Cathe-dral. The Legate made another triumphal tour through cheering multitudes, in perfect midsummer sunshine, and the Cathedral service was again marked by resplendent pomp. The service was attended by many notables, including members of the present Fi'-e State Ministry and the former Ministry. Apart from the Papal Legate, there were seven Cardinals, thirty Archbishops, and 100 Bishops and clergy of all nations present. The whole service (ns was yesterday’s) was relayed by wireless, and was heard through loudspeakers. The Legate during the celebrations used a magnificent gold chalice which the Pope himself used last Friday. The chalico is a present to the Archbishop of Dublin. It is beautifully embossed, and depicts scenes in the life of Christ. It is inscribed in Latin, “Presented to Irish sons in Christ in memory of the Eucharistic Congress.’’ The first meeting of the New Zealand section listened to a paper by Miss Eileen Duggan and Mr Paul Kavanagh on New Zealand’s pioneer Roman Catholic family. It was a moving story of the effort of an Irish settler, Mr Thomas Poynton, to obtain a priest for the pioneers. Mr Poynton reached New Zealand in 1828, and twice perilously crossed the Tasman Sea in a whaling boat, before the Bishop of Sydney was able to supply a priest. Archbishop Redwood added the information that Mr Poynton had a thorough knowledge of the Maori language, and was able to dissuade the Natives from attacking the first Roman Catholic missionaries. The non-inclusion of Mr James McNeill, the Governor-General, at the reception at Dublin Castle had a speedy sequel. Neither Mr de Valera nor any of his Ministers was invited to the Governor-General’s dinner at the ViceRcgal Lodge in honour of the Papal Legate. SEA OF LIGHTS AT PHOENIX PARK. NEW ZEALANDERS OF IRISH NATIONALITY. Received June 25, 9.20 a.m. DUBLIN, Juno 24. The streets continue crowded day and night. There was a great scene at Phoenix Park last night. A quarter of a million men marched to the park and assembled round a high altar. As the darkness came, every individual, at a given signal, lighted a taper and the vast park became a sea of lights as the Legate pronounced benediction. Six cardinals and one hundred prelates participated in the service. The previous day’s splendours in the pro-cathedral were repented this morning when Pontifical Mass was celebrated. Another paper by Miss Eileen Duggan and Mr Paul Ivavanagah, “New Zealand’s debt to Ireland,” was read at to-day’s New Zealand session at the University College. The writers traced the early history of Catholicism, from the landing of the French Bishop Pompallier in the North Island, when there w r ere only 350 white Catholics on the island, and nearly all of them Irish. The first Irish priest to arrive was Father O’Reilly. He reached Wellington in 1843. Archbishop Redwood, now known as the Patriarch of the Pacific, though an Englishman, was ordained in Ireland, and New Zealanders of Irish descent were proud of the way Archbishop Redwood had surrounded himself with Irish helpers and had himself ever remained the outspoken friend of Irish nationality.