CHURCH AT CANBERRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 11

CHURCH AT CANBERRA.

FOUNDATION-STONES LAID. ROMAN CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Jan. 31. The laying of the foundation-stones of the first Roman Catholic church, school and convent at Canberra was the occasion yesterday of a national pilgrimage of Roman Catholic representatives of all the States. • r Store than 5000 people were present, including the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr.. Kelly, the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr. Mannix, and the Archbishop of Brisbane. Dr. Dubig. The new Roman Catholic church at Canberra is to be erected on the brow of a majestic eminence overlooking the Federal capital. It will be only a temporary structure, and will be used as a school. It i& the intention to build a cathedral in accordance with the importance of the Federal capital. The new church will be dedicated to St. Christopher, patron of Catholic motorists. With the object of erecting a magnificent shrine at Canberra to their patron, Catholic motorists throughout Australia have been appealed to for funds. Many legends are related of Christopher. A man of enormous-strength and S;reat piety and charity, he showed his ove for. his God by bearing pilgrims across a broad river. One day Christ came to him in the form of a child, to be borne across. Christopher marvelled at the weight of the burden till the child said, " Marvel not, for thou hast borne Him who'bore the sins of the world." Hence the name Christo-phoros—" Christbearer." This saint ,is always depicted crossing a turbulent stream carrying a child on his left shoulder and a staff in the right hand. The priest in charge of the Federal capital Roman Catholic area, and who was responsible for the organisation in connection with the new church and Sunday's function, is the Rev. Father Patrick Heydon, of Queanbeyan, a young Australian and a member of a pioneer Parramatta- family. ■