MEMORABLE SCENE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 13

MEMORABLE SCENE

EXULTANT PEOPLE THOUSANDS AT TOWN HALL UNSURPASSED ENTHUSIASM Six thousand Catholics united in nil exultant welcome to the Apostolic Delegate, His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. .T. Panico, and visiting prelates, clergy and laity in the Town Hall last night. Nearly 4000 people packed the hall long before the commencement of the function; thousands more waited optimistically for entrance, and, when this hope was unrealised, listened to the enthusiasm within on the footpaths of Queen Street or in the vestibules of the hall.

Unsurpassed in the history of Auckland was the concourse of people, the enthusiasm of the children, the splendour of. the procession of prelates as they moved amid thunderous applause to take their place on the platform. 'I here they were joined by the Prime .Minister, Mr. Savage, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and Lady Davis, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sulliv an, several members of Parliament and representatives of local bodies. A Rush for Seats An hour before the reception was timed to commence, crowds lined Queen Street awaiting admission. When the doors were opened there was a rush for seats and any who arrived even half an hour before the start of the proceedings found it almost impossible to secure even standing room. A Iscore or more of monsignori, bishops and archbishops, representing dioceses in Europe, Asia and the islands of the southern seas, were greeted with round after round of applause as, clad in their colourful robes, they took thoir places on the dais.

Four hundred children, grouped around the grand organ, led the clapping and the cheers as Ca.ptain Auplian and a group of officers from the French cruiser, Jeanne d'Arc appeared. There was a significance that was fully appreciated. France was remembering a pioneer bishop who, to New Zealand Catholic eyes, was one of her greatest sons. The officers were accorded an ovation as they proceeded up the aisle. Tumultuous Welcome Spontaneous as this welcome was, it proved but a prelude to the tumult that arose when the Apostolic Delegate, accompanied by a group of archbishops and Bishop Listou, who acted as chairman for the function, arrived. Simultaneously, thousands of men, women and children rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. Long after the party had reached the platform the nnroar continued, to subside only when Bishop Listou called for silence with upraised hand. A message received from the Gov-ernor-General. Viscount Galwa.v, was read by the Archbishop of Wellington, the Most liev. Dr. T. O'Shea, S.M. His Excellency said: "I send to you my very best wishes for the success of the Catholic Centenary celebrations which are about to take place and my warm congratulations on the outstanding progress made by the Catholic Church in New Zealand since its establishment by Bishop Pompallier. The splendid record of achievement made by the Church in such a comparatively short space of time is one of which all may well feel proud." His Grace spoke of the sincerity of the welcome to the representative of His Holiness the Pope from all sections of the Catholic community—clergy and laity. With His Excellency they desired to associate the many other distinguished visitors. The cheering was renewed as he spoke of the expectation that the presence of Archbishop Panieo would give fresh zest to the efforts of the Church in New Zealand.

"The largest and most amazing; assembly of distinguished ecclesiastics," was the description applied by Sir Ernest Davis to the gathering, but the scene of majestic enthusiasm was contrasted by the three speakers who followed. They were representatives of the Catholic laity—Mr. Justice Callan, Mr. Justice O'Regan and Mr. It. McVeagh—and they reverted to the humble beginnings of the Faith in New Zealand in the simple home of an Irish settler. For them the presence of members of the complement of the French cruiser was of signal moment. "The goodwill of all New Zealanders who know the history of their country is assured," stated the Prime, Minister. He referred to the historic occasion of the Centenary, and said that in pioneering service the Catholic missionaries and the Church and its great institutions for social welfare, which were their enduring monuments, had played a full part, He hoped that the centenary festival of remembrance would stimulate the whole country to greater effort on behalf of human kind and in fulfilling the Divine purpose of life on the earth. Speaking in fluent English, Captain Auplian showed how the Church, the sea. and the sons of France had all played a part in the establishment of the Faith in New Zealand. Missionaries, he said, ready for any sacrifice, allowed the world to emerge from its primary wild condition, while sailors assisted and protected them. One might think that Bishop Pompallier, serving his God so far away from France, had but little reason to be useful also to hip native land, said Captain Auplian. Yet, he felt sure that the pioneer bishop was somehow responsible for the fact that New Zealand broke into the Great War and had sent to France her best and beloved sons. France associated them with her own sons iu her everlasting gratitude. Choirs from Catholic schools and colleges were heard during the evening. This was one phase of the welcome which appealed particularly to the Apostolic Delegate and. it was at His Excellency's request that a party of Maori girls from St. Joseph's Convent, Napier, repeated a native song of welcome.

FAITHFUL PIONEERS i MEMORIES RECALLED • FATHER HURLEY'S SERMON Revered names of Catholic pioneers were recalled by the Very Rev. Father 1). H. Hurley, S.M., Provincial of the Society of Marv iu New Zealand and Australia, when preaching at the Solemn Pontifical Mass of Requiem offered for departed prelates, priests, religious and people in St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday morning. The peoples' debt of gratitude to those who by their faith had established their religion was stressed by the speaker who reminded the congregation of their obligation of offering prayer and sacrifice for the eternal rest of those departed. The names of such distinguished prelates as Bishops Pompallier, Croko, Lenihan, Cleary, Verdun, Grimes and Moran were mentioned by Father Hurley, who also spoke of the contribution to the work of the Church of the late Archbishop Redwood. "Then there is the glorious body of our laity who have been the pride, the treasure and the crown of our Church in New Zealand," he added. "There were excellent parents and young men and women and even children who have received the grace of God in its fullness. How grateful we are to them. "We thank Almighty God for the things of 100 years of glory," added the preacher, "and we remember our debt of gratitude and the obligation of prayer and sacrifice that we owe those who laboured with Him and for Him.." TO-DAY'S EVfiNTS mass' for religious CONFERENCES AND ADDRESSES Thri C.'itholic centenary celebrations will be continued to-day, and the first function will be the celebration of Solemn Pontifical Mass for religions at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the morning. The Mass will be attended by the members of the various Orders, and the celebrant will be the Rt. Rev. Dr. J. Darnand, S.M., Vicar Apostolic of the Navigator Islands. The preacher will bo the Very Rev. Father W. J. Schaefer, S.M., of Rome, and formerly of New Zealand. At the same time, 10 a.m., the Hibernians' conference will be continued in the Manchester Unity Ha'll and the conference of the Catholic Women's League will be opened ip the league rooms, Customs Street. In the afternoon, at three o'clock, there will be a garden party in the grounds of St. Mary's Convent, New Street, Ponsonby. In the evening, at 7.30, there will be a grand gathering of Children of Mary at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the devotions will be conducted by the Very Rev. Father Ncrney, S.J., of Melbourne, who will also deliver an address. At the same time the St. Vincent de Paul conference will continue at the Manchester Unity Hall. There will be a Maori concert in the Town Hall at 8 p.m. and at 9 p.m. there will be a Catholic Women's League reception in Milne and Choyce's Tudor Hall.