Amazing Scenes at Catholic Centenary

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 49, 28 February 1938, Page 7

Amazing Scenes at Catholic Centenary

Archbishop Panico as Apostolic Delegate PICTURESQUE WELCOME TO AUCKLAND Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Amazing scenes were witnessed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral this morning when close on 2000 umu, members of the Holy Name Society, thronged the cathedral lor Mass and general Communion. Long before the appointed time, 7.30 a.m., long queues formed right from the door and hundreds were unable to gain admission. The gathering proved one of the most spectacular seen at a religious ceremony at Auckland and it formed a remarkable demonstration of faith by men. The celebrant of the Mass was Bishop Liston assisted by Rev. Fathers P. T. B. McKeefry and J. O’Reilly, as chaplains. During the offertory the cathedral reverberated with the strains of the stirring hymn of the Holy Name Society. Every doorway and porch and all aisles of the building were densely packed with men and every available area in the transepts was thronged. An eloquent sermon was preached by Very Rev. Father W. V. McEvoy, 0.P., director of the Holy Name Society for New Zealand and Australia. He urged the men to remain steadfast in their adherence to the objects of the society that they might _be * strengthened to bear any trials social changes in the future might inflict on the church.

CHEERING CROWDS GREET ARCHBISHOP Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. Four planes :ro*r the Auckland Aers Club, flying jv perfect cross formation swooped doWn over the Wanganella as she lay-to in Waitemata Harbour this morning. About her circled a dozen gaily-beflagged fishing craft. It win Auckland’s initial welcome to the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Panico, and the delegation of overseas prelates, priests and laymen, numbering several hundred, who were arriving for the celebration of the centenary of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. If the first welcome was picturesque the reception accorded the visitor! when the vessel berthed was overwhelming in its enthusiasm. A dense crowd packed the wharf space beyond the bar* riers, and from above, on the crane track, came the music of Thomai Bracken’s “God Defend New Zealand.” Cheers came in bursts from the crowd as Archbishop O’Shea, Metropolitan oJ New Zealand, and Bishop Liston, of Auckland, mounted the gangway—but they were as nothing to the cheers that came again as the Apostolic Delegate and his retinue of archbishops, bishopi and priests descended to the waiting cars. u Again came the sound of the band, that of the Waverley Orphanage, Otago, playing “Faith of Our Fathers.” Aj it rose, the crowd joined in till the wharf resounded with it Again there were cheers as the procession moved off, but they were small to the cheers that rose when the party entered Albert street. Never since the visit of royal personages has Auckland seen such an assemblage of people or heard such vociferous enthusiasm. Albert street was lined as far as Wyndham street with a tightly-packed throng of people. All that could be seen from the end of the road was a sea of heads, waving handkerchiefs and hands, through which moved slowly the cars of the delegation. Similar enthusiasm was present at St. Patrick's Cathedral, around which was Eathered a huge crowd throughout the morning. When approaching the coast of New Zealand, Archbishop Panico sent a wireless message to the Governor-General of New Zealand, Lord Galway: “I send your Excellency my kindest wish with the hope that our celebrations will bring many blessings upon the Dominion in which your Excellency is the personal representation of his Majesty the King.” To this the answer was received: “As Ihe representative of his Majesty the King in New Zealand, I thank you for your kind message of to-day and take the opportunity of extending to you a warm welcome to this Dominion. I sincerely hope that your mission in this country will Tie successfully accomplished and that you will find every reason for congratulation in the v/onderful progress which has been made by the Catholic Church in New Zealand during the first 100 years of its existence.Galway, Gcfvernor-Generai ” MEDIEVAL TOUCH Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. A touch of the medieval was lent the Catholic centenary functions during the week-end by the attendance upon the apostolic delegate, his excellency the Most Rev. John Panico, of two gentle-men-in-waiting clad in uniforms of Papal orders. They are both prominent Sydney Catholics and are Knight Commanders of St. Gregory. Mr. E. P. Hollingdale, beside being a Papal Knight, is aiso a Papal chamberlain, and serves at the Vatican for one week in each year. He was decorated by the Pope after the Eucharistic Congress at Sydney in 1928. Mr. Frank Gilmore, the other gentleman-in-waiting, is a prominent businessman in Sydney and was honoured by the Pope two years ago for special services rendered as a Catholic layman. The position of gentlemen-in-waiting is ceremonial and corresponds in some measure to that of aides-de-camp.