The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1914, Page 55

The Catholic World

ENGLAND THE REDEMPTORISTS IN ENGLAND. For nearly seventy years the Redemptorists have been laboring in Clapham. The celebration of the titular feast of the Church of Our 'Lady of Victories recalled some interesting facts. Resides giving a Bishop to the diocese of Southwark, the Order has provided missionaries to serve in other parts of the country and in the colonies. Only three months ago three Fathers went to South Africa to open a centre of Catholic activity. A FINE SPIRIT. The Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral (Church of England) had their monthly collection for the upkeep of the fabric of that glorious pre-Reforma-tion building recently. They wrote to the papers to say that they had sent the whole of the sum received to the Chapter of Malines Cathedral, with a promise of more to follow, and they merely wish to make this act public in the expectation that many another English Cathedral Chapter will follow their example. The Chapter of Malines has been profoundly touched by this practical expression of sympathy. FRANCE ♦ GOD REMEMBERED IN BORDEAUX. In a parish of the diocese of Bordeaux the people have formed three centres for prayer since the beginning of the war—one in the parish church, the others in two villages. In each of these the parishioners assemble in large numbers every evening for the recitation of the Rosary, to implore. God’s mercy and help through the intercession of Mary Queen of France. In one parish, also in Bordeaux, there was a larger number of communicants than at Las er, and the daily communicants have increased five-fold. Every Monday there is a special Mass offered for the soldiers who are absent at the front and /or their families. The church is too small for the attendance. At Nimes during the opening days of the war Holy Communion was distributed both day and night, many of the soldiers remaining fasting-until late in the afternoon in order to have the privilege of communicating. A priest belonging to Nimes tells the touching story that he was asked by a number of soldiers in a camp starting for the front to give them Holy Communion, and that he acceded to their request in open field. At Rodey the cathedral is thronged both morning and evening for prayer and petition to the God of Battles. JAPAN THE SPREAD OF THE CHURCH. In Father. Bousquet’s Japanese mission, more than 600,. pagans attended a recent Christian conference, which lasted three hours, and was enlivened by magic lantern views of religious subjects. Father Bousquet has distributed some 10,000 invitations to other religious meetings; and as he has 500,000 souls to evangelize, these announcements will reach only a part of his flock. During the past year, the catechists of this mission have baptised 300 infants at the point of death, and the Catholics trust in the intercession of these little angels to obtain many graces' for their countrymen.: SOUTHERN NIGERIA V EVER FORWARD, t The) Prefecture Apostolic of Southern Nigeria is one of most promising missions in Africa to-day. It has extensive territory of over 70,000 square miles.

The population is estimated at no less than 6,000,000 people, mostly pagans. ■ Some of the interior tribes, addicted* to cannibalism, have net yet been totally subdued or brought under the control of the -British Government. . Not only is freedom of worship- permitted, but education is helped and encouraged. In some of the colonies the Church is hindered in her educational work; in Nigeria she is able to open schools as fast as she can find the funds necessary for them. The only resources at her disposal, unfortunately, are the annual allowances from the Societies of the Propagation of the Faith and of the Holy Childhood, and whatever money she can obtain from friends and benefactors and from the small fees of the schools. Ten years ago there were but three schools with a little over 300 pupils; to-day there are 54 schools .with over 7000 scholars. This number could be trebled in a short time, had the priests the means to respond to all the demands and solicitations of kings and chiefs to open up schools for the children of their respective, territories. The fact is that in some places the chiefs are so anxious to have schools that they erect the building themselves, then ask for teachers, trusting that by so doing they’will not be disappointed. UNITED STATES RELICS OF THE CURE D’ARS. A remarkable reliquary has recently come from Rome to Nazareth Academy, Nazareth, Mich, (says the New York Freeman) . It is a vial of the blood of the Venerable Cure d’Ars, with some of his hair, his clothing, and some of the furniture of his room. The clothing and hair have been shaped into floral designs and surround the vial of his blood. It is by far the most extensive relic of this great and holy priest that has ever been brought to America. It is to adorn the shrine of this venerable servant of God at Nazareth Academy. The reliquary is of silver, and measures 13 x2l inches. The Right Rev. Bishop of Detroit has certified to its authenticity. It will be placed in the chapel for veneration. The silver plate surmounting the reliquary bears the inscription ‘Ex Sanguine Capillis et Vestibus B. Joannis Bapt. M. A. E. Yianney Parochi Loci Ars.’ CHINESE MISSION SCHOOL. Those of our readers (says the Ave Maria) who are familiar with the Chinatown of San Francisco, will be gratified to learn that, thanks to the initiative of Rev. Father Charles Bradley, C.S.P., the encouragement of Archbishop Riordan, and the co-operation of some devoted lay Catholics, a Chinese mission school, organised a year ago, is doing excellent work. Chinese converts in their own country make admirable Catholics; they are notably fervent in Montreal ; and the size of the colony in San Francisco gives promise of a rich harvest of souls for the Church. FOR CATHOLIC SAILORS. The station of the Pacific reserve fleet of the United States Navy at Bremerton, Washington, is to have a Catholic Home for Sailors. The Catholic population, numbering sixty families, has provided a most desirable piece of building ground, valued at $12,000, commanding an excellent view of Puget Sound and the Navy Yard, and turned it over to a committee. The home to be erected on the property will be known as the ‘ Robert Monaghan Home,’ in memory of Ensign Monaghan, a native son of the State of Washington and a Catholic, who gave up his life -to rescue his wounded commanding officer from the enemy on the bloody battlefield of Apia, Samoa, on April 1, 1899. Right Rev. Edward J. O’Dea, Bishop of Seattle, has given the project his ‘warmest approval. .': The home will cost SIOO,OOO.