Archbishop O’Shea To Visit Rome

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 8

Archbishop O’Shea To Visit Rome

SEASONS EXPLAINED IN PASTORAL LETTER 1940 CATHOLIC CONGRESS Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Aug. 3. Archbishop O’Shea, Metropolitan of New Zealand and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, is to leave for Rome toward the? end of August. He will thus anticipate the visit “ad limina,” which he would be bound to pay in 1940. During his absence the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Connolly will act as Administrator of the Archdiocese. Archbishop O'Shea will be joined in London by the Rev. Father Gascoigne, and they ( will go on to Rome together. In a pastoral letter the Archbishop j gives the reasons for his decision as j follows: “First the New Zealand centennial j celebrations are to take place in 194 u and, with the approval of the other members of the Hierarchy, it has been decided that the contribution of the Catholic Church shall take the form of a Catholic congress in Wellington during the first days of February, 1940. It will, therefo-e he »v>nv*»nient for me to make my visit to Rome as soon as possible and at the same time it will be of advantage to our undertaking to have the personal encouragement and blessing of the Holy Father. "A second reason for going now Is that my visit overseas will help to draw attention to the proposed congress as well as the centennial itself in the countries of Europe and America, and perhaps induce some prominent Catholics to come to New Zealand in 1940 and thu3 promote the success of the

"Still another reason arises from the fact that my episcopal silver jubilee occurs on the 17th of this month, and It is my wish that there should be no formal celebration to mark this event now. Rather do I desire that all should reserve their efforts and concentrate on one big function in 1940. I ask only that the priests and religious, the people and children remember me and the deeds of the archdiocese in their masses, communions and prayers on August 17. "During the period of my absence from the archdiocese let the Litany and our Blessed Lady be sung or recited in all churches and oratories of religious houses whenever benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is given that success may attend my efforts on behalf of the congress and that God may protect me on my journey to Rome, and back to you."