EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17503, 10 September 1928, Page 7

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

WONDERFUL SCENES. GREAT RELIGIOUS FERVOUR. THE STREET PROCESSION. ' (By Telegrapn—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association). SYDNEY, Sept 9. A congregation of more than 200,000 people attended a special open-air Mass for women at the Royal Showground yesterday' in connection with the Eucharistic Congress. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev. J. Duhig. Dr. James Whyte, Bishop of Dunedin, preached the sermon. W-onderful scenes of religious fervour were witnessed to-day in connection with the progress of the Host through the city streets from Circular Quay to St- Mary’s Cathedral. Thousands of people fired with religious enthusiasm lined the route.

A canopy borne by eight Victoria Cross winners covered the Papal Legate, Cardinal Ceretti, who carried a monstrance containing a sacred wafer. As I his passed remarkable scones were witnessed. The crowds, which included members of all denominations, bared their heads, and thousands of men and women dropped to their knees to secure a benediction from the cardinal as lie passed.

In the early morning the colossal pilgrimage commenced, and- “all roads led to Rome.” Thousands ol’ people thronged the approaches to the Cathedral hours before the ceremony commenced. The Host was brought from St. Patrick’s College, Manly (where Cardinal Ccrclti, at the immense high altar on the steps of the college, celebrated High Mass), by a Papal barge, which was a converted ferry steamer, to Circular Quay.

The scene coming up the harbour was magnificent. The Papal barge was painted snow white with a yellow hand all round, these being the Papal colours. In its stately progress up the harbour it was accompanied by an immense licet of small boats and numbers of aeroplanes overhead. The fo-reshores of the harbour and every vantage point were thronged, and as the stately procession passed the Heads the people reverently bared their heads. On reaching Sydney a procession was formed at Circular Quay, and thence to the Cathedral tiic Host was reverently borne. The scene in t.he vicinity of the sacred edifice was indescribable. As the procession passed tiie bareheaded multitude it provided a scene remarkable for ecclesiastical splendour. Princes and prelates of the Church from all countries, in gorgeous robes, accompanied by priests and monks of all Orders, with members of all the Roman Catholic brotherhoods, paced majestically through the packed streets. The latter were lined by Children of Mary in veils and robes.

All this gave a kaleidoscopic effect to a scene of religious solemnity such as never before had been witnessed in Australia as the procession wended its solemn way to life cathedral, Ihe raising of which was the life work of Archbishop Kelly. The strains of sacred music were broadcast from the cathedral and this lent an added touch of solemnity lo the scene. As Archbishop Kelly passed the enthusiasm of the spectators reached fever-heat. Cheer after cheer greeted him. The culminating point of the day was reached when the Papal Legate appeared on the steps of the Cathedral and after declaring the Eucharistic Congress closed, blessed the waiting multitude. People from all parts of the Commonweal! h and New Zealand and from other countries had flocked to the city for the week’s activities, and accommodation was taxed to the utmost. From early morning to late at night St. Mary’s Cathedral has been thronged by worshippers, and such a wave of religious enthusiasm has swamped the city that all other issues have been crowded out. Although many wild threats of violence were made, to-day’s proceedings passed off without a hitch.