NEW LEADER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26596, 20 October 1947, Page 6

NEW LEADER

DOMINION CATHOLICS ARCHBISHOP McKEEFRY CONSECRATION CEREMONY P.A. AUCKLAND, Oct. 19. With symbolism and ceremony as old as the Roman Catholic Church itself, the Most Rev. Father Peter McKeefry, one of Auckland’s best known priests, was consecrated as titular Archbishop of the European see of Dercos and Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Within the crowded church over 1000 clergy and laity watched the ancient service re-enacted. In the streets outside another 500 listened devoutly to a relayed commentary for two hours until the newly-accepted prelate, with the mitre on his head and the crozier in his hand, appeared at the cathedral door to give them his first blessing. The congregation that awaited the episcopal procession, included nuns, priests, and brothers from every Roman Catholic order in the Dominion. Among the rows of white surplices worn by priests from parishes throughout the Dominion splashes of colour were introduced by the brown habit of an occasional Franciscan friar and a red sash that distinguished a missionary Mill Hill father. Among the sombrelygarbed nuns were two self-effacing Sisters of Mercy who were sisters of the new archbishop. Other members of his family sat equally inconpicuously with the laity. Papal Authority Received

Clad in the vivid scarlet of his rank, the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Gilroy, led the distinguished procession of archbishops, bishops, and monsignori into the cathedral. Attended by Bishop Liston and Bishop Lyons, the archbishop-elect was led before the cardinal. Doffing his white mitre, Bishop Liston asked for his promotion to “ the onerous office ” of archbishop. To the first question of the consecrator,

he replied that an apostolic mandate had been received. . In the tumbling, sonorous Latin phrases of the Vatican, followed by an English translation, the Papal authority was read from the pulpit by the- Very Rev. Dr Courtney, director of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel. Signed by the Pope’s cardinals in historic St. Peter’s of Rome, the parchment revealed the dual office to be held by the new archbishop. Under Catholic canons, two bishops may not be appointed to the one see. The consecration would, therefore, be not only as coadjutor with the right of succession to the ■77-year-old Archbishop O’Shea, Metropolitan of New Zealand, but also as titular Archbishop of Dercos. This is a Black Sea province of Turkey, where Christian influence perished when the Moslems over-ran the Crusaders’ outposts in the Middle East, but with many other similar territories, it has been preserved by the Vatican as a nominal province of the Church, and can be used on such occasions as an appointment of coadjutor.

Ancient Acts of Symbolism

On his knees before the consecrator, Father McKeefry took the episcopal oath of fidelity and obedience to the Holy See, and returning to his seat in the sanctuary, answered the prescribed interrogation to prove his faith and theology. The bishop-elect knelt before the Cardinal to have the Book of the Gospels placed over his neck and shoulders. It was another act of symbolism inherited from the early Church. Finally, at the close of Communion. Father McKeefry again knelt before the cardinal to receive the mitre on his head as a sign of dignity. It was an ornamental head-dress with two peaks, anciently described, as “ horns of strength ” to remind bishops, that they should appear terrible to all adversaries of truth. White gloves were placed on his hands as a reminder to preserve them free from the stain of sin. Now raised from priest to archbishop, the robed and mitred man was escorted to the altar seat that had until then been occupied by the cardinal. As the choir sang an exultant Te Deum he left the sanctuary, and with a bishop on either hand, moved through the church to bless the congregation. Clergy and laity genuflected in reverence before their new leader.

It was an archbishop who returned to the altar, and the future head of the Roman Catholic Church in New Zea land who pronounced a blessing and turned the crozier in his hand to be greeted with a happy smile by the cardinal who was once his fellow student at the International Missionarj College of Propaganda Fide in Rome.