EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 36

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS.

ITS PERFECT ORGANISATION. ARCHBISHOP O’SHEA’S IMPRESSIONS. „ WELLINGTON, September 25. It was undoubtedly the greatest international gathering that has ever taken place south of the Line,” remarked Archbishop O Shea, of Wellington, when speaking of the recent Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. Hi s Grace, who returned by the Marama from Sydney to-day, has now attended two congresses, his fiist being that at Rome six years ago. Archbishop O’Shea, like all the other visiting prelates, clergy, and lay members, was deeply impressed with the organisation of the congress, which he described as simply amazing. He mentioned that after the congress wa s over the Sydney Morning Herald, in paying a tribute to the management and work of preparation and the way in which the proceedings were carried out, stated in the course of an article: “ Now we are convinced that, we nave men in Australia who can organise. The archbishop said the organisation in Sydney was far superior to that ate Rome when he was there, while those who had attended the Eucharistic Congress at Chicago three years ago had told him they were fa r more impressed with the organisation in Sydney. The orderliness of the great crowds that witnessed the processions and the reverence of nonCatholics greatly appealed to- the archbishop, who also paid a tribute to the kindly consideration of the Government, the civic authorities, and the press. Everybody was out to do what they could to assist.

The archbishop went on to say that the congress represented the greatest assembly and variety of peoples that had ever been in Australia at any one time. It was estimated that the New Zealand representatives at the congress, including the clergy and the laity, numbered 1000. For three days preceding the congress there were eight special expresses each day from Melbourne to Sydney conveying people to the congress. Referring to the financial aspect, the archbishop mentioned that one Sydney business man had informed him that the y ?.r was a slump one for the city, but that the congress had saved them all, the money spent by the large assemblage of visitors having blessed Sydney financially. When the Host was taken from Manly five aeroplanes had flown over the procession in perfect formation in the shape of a Southern Cross.

One incident which, he thought, was unparalleled in the History of the church was referred to by the archbshop. He sad that on the Sunday of the congress Mr T. R. Bavin, Premier of New South Wales and a non-Catholic, had spoken from the pulpit of a Catholic cathedral. “ I had the opportunity of a few moments’ conversation with Mr Bavin after the service,” said the archbishop. “ I then told Mr Bavin that 1 understood he was born in Wellington. He replied that he had lived there as a lad, and I told him I was proud of him after hearing his a-ddress that day,” The archbishop stated in conclusion that the congress had done good to Australia and would do likewise to every country in the world. People from America and many of the European nations had no conception of the development and pro-

gress and advancement .of Australia until they had seen it for themselves. The congress had not only done good religiously, but economically and in every "other way.