CHURCH CENTENARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23442, 5 March 1938, Page 14

CHURCH CENTENARY

ROMAN CATHOLIC CELEBRATIONS SPECIAL MASS FOR CHILDREN A MEMORABLE SCENE ' (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Mar. 4. The Roman Catholic centenary celebrations this morning were marred by light showers. The children's Mass at the Western Springs Stadium was, nevertheless, a beautiful feature of the centenary functions. Ranged before a big white altar, thousands of children —the girls wearing white dresses and veils or a Guide uniform, and the boys in white shirts, blue shorts, and blue sashes, or a Scout uniform —made a charming sight, and added to this was the beauty of the Palestrina Mass sung by a choir of 500 children, under the baton of Professor Moor Karoly. Thousands of spectators on the terraces were entranced by the beauty of the scene as the procession of priests and prelates escorted the Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Panico) to the altar, the glowing colours of the vestments contrasting strikingly with the green of the arena and the white and scarlet of the altar. As solemn Pontifical Mass was said by Archbishop Murray, of St. Paul, Minnesota, the voices of the children rose sweet and clear, making a memorable impression on the listeners.

The sermon was preached by the Right Rev., Dr Farrelly, Coadjutor Bishop of Lismore, who spoke of the love of Christ and of the church for children, and urged those present to devote themselves to the propagation of the faith by the example of their own lives. As Bishop Farrelly was speaking a light shower of rain fell, but the children remained in their places, though some of the spectators sought the shelter of the trees. It soon passed, however, and Mass was continued without interruption. ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE SERVICE OF.THANKSGIVING (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON. Mar. 4. The staff and students of St. Patrick's College participated this morning in a Solemn High Mass, sung in thanksgiving for the blessings of the first century of Roman Catholic life in the Dominion, in which the college has played an important part. The celebrant was the Rev. Father T. Cleary, S.M., and the deacon and subdeacon were the Rev. Father M. Burke, S.M., and the Rev. Father C. Knight, S.M. The Rev. Father T. Bergin. S.M.. was master of ceremonies, and the music was supplied by the college choir. The sermon was preached by Father Cleary, vice-rector, in the absence of the rector, who is representing the college at the centenary celebrations at Auckland Father Cleary mentioned that during the college's short history no less than 125 former pupils had gone out as Marist priests to assist in building Catholicity in this country, with the Metropolitan of New Zealand, Archbishop O'Shea, at the head. In addition, many of the diocesan clergy—members of the Franciscan Order, the Society of Jesus, the Redemptorist Order, the Society of Mary, and Missionaries of the Sacred Heart—could be numbered. This was one of the college's proudest traditions—that it carried on the task of the pioneer missionaries in the work of the church in the sacred ministry. It was for the present boys to carry on the torch of faith handed down by the teachers of the Society of Mary over the past 100 years. The future of the church in New Zealand was largely in the hands of those still al school. THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE SUFFERING FROM SLIGHT CHILL (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Mar. 4. ' His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate (Archbishop Panico) has contracted a slight chill, and is at present in the Mater Misericordia? Hospital. It is hoped that he will be well enough to take part in the celebrations on Sunday. THE CATHOLIC FAITH * RELATION TO HUMAN REASON ADDRESSES BY OVERSEAS CLERICS (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Mar. 4. The Roman Catholic Church and human reason were discussed by the Very Rev. Father O. F. Dudley, of London, in an address at the Town Hall to-night. Bishop Liston presided over an attendance of 3000 persons. " When it comes to religion Catholics are the only really logical and rational people in the world," Father Dudley said. "The common dictum to-day is that it does not matter what a man believes. It is highly irrational to assert thus, for it obviously matters-very much." " There are many people to-day who give vent to the parrot cry that Christianity is a failure and, therefore, the Catholic Church is," Father Dudley said "They mean by it that the Catholic Church has failed to establish the universal Utopia of worldly prosperity on earth, and on this score they reject consideration of her claims. She is a failure from the utilitarian standpoint. To this our obvious reply is that Christ did not found a mere philanthropic society for curing public and social ills, although actually the Catholic Church has done more for humanity than all the philanthropists put together. Christianity does not exist to establish men in security and prosperity on earth. Its purpose is to nut men in possession, not of the things of this world, but of the things of heaven. The success or failure of the Catholic Church, if we may use such terms at all, is in proportion to the number of souls she sanctifies and saves. Her critics are scarcely in a position to judge of this." Father Dudley said that the Catholic Church was always out to convert people. There was no secret about it. " Some people do not like this," he continued. "They look upon the Catholic Church as a public nuisance, always going cbout disturbing people who want to be left alone. In a sense they are quile right. The Catholic Church is a public nuisance. She doe? disturb people; she does upset people. Did not the Apostles upset people? They were bent on converting them. In a sense the Apostles were a public nuisance, and they were looked up to for it. The Catholic Church, being the Church of the Apostles, is exactly the seme to-day. She will not let the world alone; she is out for the conquest of souls."

In the concluding stages, Father Dudley addressed himself particularly to non-Catholics, and appealed to them to get to know the Catholic Church. "There is not one person in ihio country who hates the Catholic Church," he said." "They may hate the lying caricature presented by her enemies, but that is not the Church. To know the Catholic Church is to love her."

The Most Rev. Dr J. D. Simonds, Archbishop of Hobart, said that there was a great deal of miiunderstanding on the question of the infallibility of the Church. He discussed the existing class struggle, which he said followed the rugged individualism of the philosophers of the eighteenth century. It

was the duty of the Catholic community to press always for recognition of the principles enunciated by the Pope in his recent encyclical. This was a means of benefiting society without the tyranny of Communism. "This country, as ours is. is a nonCatholic country." said Father J. M. Reardon, of Minneapolis. "Whenever seven New Zealanders are brought together in a group, one and only one is a Catholic, and on his or her shoulders alone falls the responsibility of preaching the Catholic faith. There is no doubt that the Church wants to make New Zealand Catholic. The Anglicans want to make it Anglican, and the Methodists want to make it Methodist. If the work is ever don* and New Zealand becomes a Catholic country, the glory and honour will be to the credit of Catholic laymen and women." Father Reardon said that about 400 priests had ample to do in ministering to the 200.000 Catholics in New Zealand, and the duty of spreading the faith rested without doubt on the shoulders of the laymen.