EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4085, 28 June 1932, Page 28

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS.

THE PAPAL LEGATE WELCOMED BY VAST CROWDS DUBLIN, June 21. Vast crowds turned out to welcome the papal legate (Cardinal Lauri) on his arrival at Kingstown, where he was received by the Archbishop of Dublin and Mr de Valera. Thousands knelt at the roadside in emotional fervour as the papal legate passed sloyvly over the seven-mile route, blessing the multitude. This is the first time a papal legate has landed in Ireland for 290 years. It is expected that £3,000,000 will be spent in Dublin in connection yvith the Eucharistic Congress as there are 100,000 visitors from overseas alone and 1,000,000 from the Irish provinces spending at least a week in Dublin. Dun Laoghaire Harbour was ablaze yvith flags, every ship being fully dressed. Free State cavalry, in Hussar uniforms of gold and blue, with yelloyv plumes topping their busbies, yy heeled to a fanfare of trumpets to escort the legate’s ear; but not a single British flag was visible.

MANY SOCIAL FUNCTIONS STATE RECEPTION TO LEGATE. LONDON, June 21. The chief events to-day at the Eucharistic Congress at Dublin yvere social rather than devotional. Twenty thousand people attended a garden party at Blackrock College in perfect yveather, the college grounds, overlooking a blue sea like the Mediterranean, furnishing a perfect setting. The papal legate, in scarlet robes and sitting in the middle of a royv of purple gowned prelates, made a striking picture. Mr de Valera and his Ministers yvore lounge suits, but laymen yvore morning dress and silk hats. The women all wore long skirts. One of the most picturesque features of the day yvas Archbishop Mar Ivanios of Bethany, who recently returned to Rome’s fold aftei the Jacobite church to which he and thousands of his followers belonged had been regarded as heretical for several centuries. There was a striking scene yvhen thousands on the lawns dropped to their knees as Archbishop Ivanios gave the apostolic blessing.

There was a brilliant scene to-night when 5000 people attended a State reception at Dublin Castle in honour of the legate. The diplomatic corps and leading citizens yvere present, but no invitation was sent to the GovernorGeneral, which created much comment. The obtrusion of political prejudice is deplored. Mr de A’alera welcomed the legate, yvho yvill not be present at the Governor-General’s dinner party tomorroyv evening because he is attending only social functions in connection with the congress. The Archbishop oi Dublin announced that the Pope, on the occasion of the congress, had granted the following indulgences to the faithful throughout the yvorld in order to encourage them to make reparation to the faithful heart for the sins of the yvorld in accordance with the recent encyclical letter:—(l) Indulgence of ten years each time the faithful devoutly and contritely visit the blessed sacrament and recite five paters, aves and glorias and one each of these prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions; *(2) plenary indulgence, obtainable ’’nee a week by the faithful yvho, having received the sacraments of penance and the eucharist, shall for the entire week have visited the blessed sacrament and recited the prayers prescribed above. An account of the congress will be broadcast in Australia at 7 o’clock on the morning (summer time), of Thursday. ORNATE RITUAL THE OPENING CEREMONY DUBLIN. June 22. At the Dublin Pro-Cathedral the Cardinal Legate, in the name of the Pope, this afternoon declared open the thirtyfirst Eucharistic Congress, regarded as one of the greatest events in Ireland’s history. At a given signal all the visiting cardinals took their places behind the legate and his mission in the procession to the high altar. They yvere followed first by all the visiting archbishops and bishops, then by the members of the Dublin Metropolitan Chapter. Following an ornate ritual of opening prayers, addresses yvere delivered by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishop of Namur, and finally by the Cardinal Legate, after which there was the declaration of homage and loyalty to the Pope. NEW ZEALAND SECTION PAPER READ ON PIONEERS. DUBLIN, June 24. The principal event on the second day of the Eucharistic Congress was the celebration of pontifical high mass by the Cardinal Legate at the Pro-cathedral. The legate made another triumphal tour through cheering multitudes in perfect midsummer sunshine. The cathedra] service was again marked by resplendent pomp, and yvas attended by many notables, including members of the present and former Ministries, while apart from the legate there were seven cardinals, 30 archbishops, 100 bishops, and clergy

of all nations. The whole service was wirelessly relayed and heard through loud speakers. The legate, during the celebrations, used a magnificent gold chalice yvhieh the Pope himself used last I'riday. The chilli’e, yvhieh is a present to the Archbishop of Dublin, is beautifully embossed, and depicts scenes in the life of Christ, and it is inscribed in Latin: “Presented to Irish sons in Christ in memory of the Eucharistic Congress.”

The first meeting of the Neyv Zealand section listened to a paper by Miss Eileen, Duggan and Mr Paul Kavanagh on Neyv Zealand's pioneer Roman Catholic family, a moving story of the efforts of an Irish settler. Thomas Poynton, to obtain a priest for the | neers. Poynton reached Neyv Zealand in 1828, and twice perilously crossed the Tasman Sea in a yvhaling boat before the Bishop of Sydney yvas able to supply a priest. Poynton had a thorough knoyvledge of the Maori language, and yvas able to dissuade the Natives from attacking the first Roman Catholic missionaries. The non-inchision of Mr James M‘Neill. the Governor-General, at the reception at Dublin Castle had a speedy sequel, as neither Mr de A’alera nor any of his Ministers yvas muted to the GovernorGeneral’s dinner at the vice-regal lodge in honour of the papal legate. The first Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in Neyv Zealand in 1838 under Bishop Pomp’-llier. SCENES OF SPLENDOUR TEXTS THROWN ON SKIES. DUBLIN, June 24. The streets continue to be crowded day and night. Buildings are floodlit, and searchlights are playing, throwing Latin texts on the skies. J here yvas a great scene at Phoenix Park last night when 250.000 men marched thither and assembled round the high altar. As darkness came, at a given signal every individual lighted a taper. The vast park became a sea of lights as the papal legate pronounced the benediction. Six cardinals and 100 prelates participated in the service. The previous day's splendours at the Pro-cathedral yvere repeated in the morning yvhen pontifical mass was celebrated.

Another paper by Miss Eileen Duggan and My Paul Kavanagh, “New Zealand’s Debt to Ireland,” yvas read at to-day’s Neyv Zealand session at the university college. The writers traced the early history of Catholicism from the landing of_the French Bishop Pompallier in the North Island, when there yvere only 350 white Catholics on the island —nearly all Irish. The first Irish priest to arrive was Father O’Reilly, who preached at Wellington in IS 13." Archbishop Redwood, noyv knoyvn as the Patriarch of the Pacific,” though an Englishman, was ordained in Ireland. Neyv Zealanders of Irish descent yvere proud of the way that Archbishop Redwood had surrounded himself yvith Irish helpers. He had himself ever remained an outspoken friend of Irish nationality.

CHILDREN’S DAY. AN ENORMOUS CONCOURSE. LONDON, June 25. The Australian press representative at Dublin says that children’s day at the Eucharistic Congress opened unpromisingly, but later there was brilliant sunshine and 100,000 school children, representing every part of Ireland, heard Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, celebrate High Mass at the altar in Phoenix Park in the presence of the papal legate. The latter later charmingly addressed the children, then slowly moved in an open ear through lines of massed children, blessing them as he passed, amidst ringing cheers. There yvas a memorable scene from the semi-circular colonnade yvhieh flanked the high altar. The legate sat on the throne beside the altar, attended by uniformed papal attendants. Three cardinals sat on a scarlet and gold bench on each side of the altar. The colonnade seats were filled by 130 archbishops, while immediately in front there was a solid phalanx of SOO surpliced priests on one side and a specially trained choir of 2700 yvhiterobed girls on the other side. An im pressive touch yvas imparted halfway up the altar steps by a line of smart Free State Army officers in greenish khaki uniforms and with drayvn swords, yvhile ar the foot of the steps there were four military trumpeters. Beyond the inner circle there was an enormous concourse. Members of the Ministry sat in a special loyv peyv next to the priests, then came yvhat could be described as a layer of adults, and then a long royv of children massed like a giant cross, the girls mostly in yvhite and the boys in flannels and school blazers. Each child held a yvhite and yelloyv papal flag, and yvhen these flags yvere waved they looked like a ro.v of daffodils. Loud-speakers carried the voices of the orators far beyond the actual assembly. ACTIVITIES OF THIEVES DUBLIN, June 23. The activities of thieves are marring the harmony of the Eucharistic Congress. Pickpockets, masquerading as members of the congress, and yvearing crosses, rob unsuspecting pilgrims while at their prayers, reaping a rich harvest.