EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 10

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

DELEGATES IN AUCKLAND. MANY PROMINENT CHURCHMEN. EIGHT NATIONS REPRESENTED. Prominent dignatories of the Roman Catholic Church, representing eight nations, were passengers from Vancouver by the Niagara yesterday, on their way to attend the Eucharistic Congress in Sydney early next month. They were given a warm welcome in Auckland, everything being done to make their short stay in the city interesting. Included in the party are Bishop s L. Heylen, of Namur, and permanent president of Eucharistic Congresses; Count Henry D'Yanville, permanent secretary] le Prince F, de Croy, Dean of Hons, a member of the permanent .committee; Bishop Deschamps, auxiliary bishop of Montreal; Bishop Mikes, Count of Zabala, and Bishop of Szombathely, Hungary; Monseigneur H. Lamy, Abbott of Tongerloo, Belgium; Monseigneur J. E. Nunkist, of Berne, Switzerland; and 24 priests. Most of the priests are from various parts of the United States, but Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy are represented. Many of the party cannot speak English, French being the universal language.

Great War Recalled. The veteran of the party is Bishop Heylen, who has already addressed 15 congresses. At the age oi: 72, he is intensely interested in world affairs, and as a true patriot of Belgium is beloved by his people. Bishop Heylen was stationed at Namur throughout the war, and was in close association with Cardinal Mercier during the German occupation of Belgium. For assisting the Allies in many ways, he was decorated by the Kings of England and of Belgium. He was ordained 47 years ago. Another member of the party who was in the midst of war activities is le Prince de Croy, who remained at Mons throughout the war. His cousin, le Prince Leopold de Croy, was interpreter to the New Zealand forces during the war. He is a member of one of the oldest and most distinguished families of Belgium. He has been Dean of Mons for 23 years, and prior to that was "for six years attached to the court of Pope Leo XIII. at Rome. He was also stationed at Vienna for a time. Bishop Mikes is a member of a distinguished Hungarian family. Welcome to tie Visitors. Owing to the late arrival •of the Niagara, the visitors had little time to view much of the city, but an enjoyable hour was spent in visiting Roman Catholic institutions. Last evening, the delegates were accorded an official welcome in St, Patrick's Cathedral. There wa3 a large attendance, the ceremony concluding with Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. A welcome was extended by Monsigneur Cahill, in the absence of Dr. Cleary, Bishop Heylen and Bishop Deschamps responding. Both stressed the fact that people of all nations would foregather at the congress, united in the same faith, breathing the same prayers, and imbued with the same spirit and adoration. Bishop Deschamps said the congress would show to the world how the Roman Catholic Church was united, and how its people were united. He asked them to pray that the congress might ba a success.

Dr. Heylen was on the throne and was the celebrant at Solemn Benediction. He was assisted at the throne by le Prince de Croy and Monseigneur Nunkist. Bishop Heylen, Count D'Yanville and le Prince de Croy will go to Sydney by the Niagara to-day, while the remainder of the party will spend a few weeks in the Dominion. The programme for to-day will include sight-seeing trips around the city and suburbs. The party will leave Auckland to-morrow morning for Rotorua, and after an extended tour through the North Island, will join a steamer at Wellington at the end of the month for Sydney.