CATHOLIC CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22972, 25 February 1938, Page 12

CATHOLIC CHURCH

CENTENARY EVENTS INFLUX OF VISITORS FIRST FUNCTIONS TO-MORROW With tho arrival of tho Apostolic Delegate, tho Most. Rev. J. Panico, and a largo contingent of Australian prelates, priests and laity on the Wanganella to-morrow, tho first function of the Catholic centenary celebrations will bo held. An official welcome will be extended by the Most. Bev. Dr. Thomas O'Shea, S.M., Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, and Metropolitan of New Zealand, at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Several hundred visitors have already arrived in Auckland from all parts of tho Dominion and from abroad, and with tho arrival of tho Wanganella and special trains, tho numbers of visitors should increase to thousands over tho week-end. The first of the special trains to roach AucklanijJ from tho South will arrive from Wellington to-morrow with Catholic Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, and a special week-end excursion train will arrive at 11.15 to-morrow morning from Wellington. Accommodation in tho city and suburbs will bo taxed, and several Auckland hotels have mado arrangements to incrciiso their staffs in order to cater for tho influx of visitors. Both 'male and female assistance have been secured throiigh tho Placement Service. Hundreds from all over the Dominion, have been allotted accommodation in private homes through the special accommodation committee formed by the centenary organisation, and nearly, all private hotels and boarding houses aro heavily booked. The official party on the Wanganella will bo first greeted to-morrow morning by an aerial salute from aeroplanes from the Auckland Aero Club and by a fleet of fishing vessels. When tho Apostolic Delegate and the other jnembors of tho party from the Wanganella disembark at about 10 o'clock a procession will bo held through the streets to St. Patrick's Cathedral. An address of welcome to tho Apostolic Delegate and the other visitors will then bo extended by Archbishop O'Shea after the singing of the To Deum. In the afternoon a garden party will lie held at the Convent of tho Sacred Heart, Ilemuera, and tho laity will be given an opportunity of meeting the Apostolic Delegate. In the evening the Catholic schools' centenary concert will bo held in the Town Hall.