ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA: FIRST VISIT TO ROME

New Zealand Tablet, 16 March 1922, Page 31

ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA: FIRST VISIT TO ROME

A large and representative gathering of Catholic laymen of the Wellington Archdiocese, accompanied by the Rev. Father Mitchell, of the Redemptorist Fathers, and the Rev. Father Cullen, Adm., waited upon his Grace Archbishop O'Shea on Sunday afternoon for the purpose of bidding him farewell and God-speed on the eve of his departure on his first visit to Rome.

Mr. P. D. Hoskins, on behalf of the laity, Voiced the appreciation in which they held the Archbishop's wholesouled and self-sacrificing work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. They recalled with gratitude the strenuous work for the cause of Catholic education and the organisation of the Catholic Federation, his kindly help and encouragement in the various other Catholic societies, and his fearless and outspoken remarks and leadership in regard to the Bible-in-schools movement, conscription of the clergy, the Marriage Amendment Act, and other matters. They desired tli£ Archbishop to convey to his Holiness the Pope their loyalty and filial obedience to the Holy See, and to solicit for them the favor of the apostolic blessing. They wished him a good trip, and trusted that he would safely return to continue his work with renewed vigOx*.

The Rev. Father Mitchell, C.SS.R., on behalf of the Redemptorist Fathers, supported the previous speaker in his appreciative remarks and good wishes. Archbishop O'Shea- on rising to reply, received an ovation. He thanked them for their kindness and for their appreciative remarks and good wishes. Reference had been made to his strenuous work and his fight in the attacks made against the Church, but he had only performed his duty. As a man of peace, he naturally' disliked fight, but much as he disliked it, he found it his duty to do%o! and in these movements he had the hearty support' of the clergy and laity of the archdiocese. He was looking forward to Ins first visit to Rome, and when he visited the various shrines of the Apostles in the Holy City he would not forget them. He would also visit America and another land very dear to him—lreland—but under very different conditions, for now she was a Free State and a nation once again. He would have liked, if his own wishes were consulted, to slip away quietly without any fuss, but they had decided otherwise, and he was grateful to them for their kindness.

The Marist Fathers of New Zealand also presented the Archbishop with a cheque, which, together with the cheque subscribed by the laity, made a total of nearly £IOOO. Archbishop O'Shea left by the Marama, and will be absent for about nine months.