Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 15, 19 April 1923, Page 47

Catholic Worl d

TO REBUILD QUEBEC CATHEDRAL. A Quebec cable states that donations amounting to 100,000 dollars have already been made in behalf of the rebuilding fund of Notre Dame Cathedral, destroyed by incendiary fire a few days before Christmas. The contributions came spontaneously, as no organised steps have as yet been taken towards the. rebuilding of the edifice. The inquiry into the fire is proceeding, and numerous witnesses have been called before the commission. Among those who sent messages of regret to Cardinal Begin as a result of the fire was the Governor-General of Canada, ford Byng of Vimy. ABERYSTWYTH CATHOLIC COLLEGE. His Grace the Archbishop of Cardiff opened recently the new St. .Mary's College, Aberystwyth, Wales, whi/n is to take the place of the college at Holywell, and which was originally known as "Castell Brychan." The new college stands on a hill overlooking the town, and has a line view of the sea, whilst, in addition to the gardens, there is ample ground that might be converted into a recreation ground. The Archbishop, after the formal opening, addressed the boys and the friends of the college, and said he could not help reminding them that this college was to continue the work that had been done so well at Holywell during the past 18 years. Thanks to the energy of the past rector, Monsignor Hook, who was now parish priest of the Catholic church at Aberystwyth, and Father Lofthouse, the present rector of the college at Holywell, many hoys had been turned out who were zealous in pursuit of their study of theology at such places as Oscott and the English College at Pome. His Grace added that a great interest had been taken in the college by the present Holy Father, Pius XI., who had not only given them a signed portrait of hirns.-".'', but had also presented them with a handsome crucifix, which was to be hung in the principal classroom. SPANISH WOMEN'S ACTIVITIES. Founded only three years ago, the '"Accion Catolica de la Mujer" (literally. Catholic Action of Women) is the only national association uniting all the Catholic women of Spain under the. banner of Christ and the Church, and guiding, more especially, the activity of those who labor in the field of social action, for the chief object of this organisation is the defence of the religious, moral, legal, economic, and political interests of Spanish women. With a central headquarters in Madrid, 42 diocesan committees and local committees, through which the work is carried into every town and village of the diocese, the Catholic Avomen of Spain are thoroughly organised, and it is, therefore, not surprising to find how much useful and practical work they have accomplished in the last three years. ■ The Education Section, for instance, has made a study of educational problems,.and has been vigilant in regard to the maintenance of the Catholic character of the national schools. On several occasions this section has successfully opposed measures advocated by the enemies of the faith. The Labor Section has been very active in organising Catholic labor unions for women, and has given splendid support and encouragement to those already in existence. As regards social action, the Catholic women have not only been active in propaganda work to promote the development and extension of the Accion Catolica de la Mujer throughout Spain, but a national secretariat has been established, which is in charge of correspondence with foreign countries and relations with ' diocesan and local committees, for which it acts as a service bureau. This secretariat has compiled complete statistics on women's labor unions and affiliated associations, and is now compiling a directory of relief and charitable organisations. The Accion Catolica; de la. Mujer has two representatives in the Spanish Institute of Social Reform, and a recent Royal Decree has given them the faculty of having one member on the Committee for the Protection of Childhood. The

recent order issued by the Ministry of the Interior, increasing the pay of women telegraph operators throughout Spain, was the result of a petition 'presented by the Accion Catolica do la Mujer, which has also presented a request to have labor performed by women inspected by women instead of men, and to secure the passage of legislation regulating piece work clone in the home. If Spain' is facing the future with greater confidence than almost any other country in Europe, undismayed by the economic upheavals and destructive forces at work in other nations, it is due above all to the splendid organisation of the Spanish Catholics, whose conservative and stabilising influences are among the greatest safeguards of the national welfare. DUNDEE CATHEDRAL. The formal declaration of the raising of St. Andrew's, Dundee, to the dignity and status of a Cathedral was made on Sunday last (says the London Catholic Times for February 10), when the ceremonial took the shape of a Pontifical High Mass at noon. Bishop Toner being the celebrant. At the conclusion of the Pontifical Mass Mgr. Turner read the Roman, document issued by the Consistorial Congregation, and signed by Cardinal do Lai, Secretary. The British text of said decree is in the following terms: "When George Rigg was appointed first Bishop of Dunkeld in the restored Scottish Hierarchy, the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith by letters dated July o, 1886, decided that episcopal functions should take place in St. Andrew's Church, Dundee, and that the Bishop's Throne should be set tip in that church. St. Andrew's was to serve as a Cathedral until such times as a new and fitting Cathedral should he built for the Bishop, an undertaking which the Sacred Congregation looked upon as necessary and urgent. However, i.n the course of time the church was greatly enlarged, adorned with beautiful marble work, and enhanced by the addition of an artistic new choir and sanctmry. In consideration of this the Most Rev. Father John Toner, Bishop of Dunkeld, humbly and earnestly besought the Holy See that St. Andrew's Church should he raised to the status of a Cathedral, especially as it is the first church in the diocese, and is situated in its chief city, where the Bishop himself resides. "Pope Pius the Eleventh graciously acceded to this request in an audience which lie granted to Cardinal do Lai, Secretary of the Consistorial Council, on November 17, 1922." After reading the above decree, the Monsignor gave a brief but interesting history of the Cathedral since its foundation in 1836, indicating the administrators who have guided till the present the destinies of the Cathedral congregation, with an outline of the notable events of which St. Andrew's was the centre. In concluding, the Monsignor assured his Lordship Bishop Toner of the appreciation by the Cathedral clergy and congregation of the honor conferred upon them, and promised increased loyalty to the See of Peter, and devotedness to his Lordship. The Bishop then gave the Pope's blessing to the large congregation, and after the devotion of the Holy Hour at the evening service, the Bishop again officiated and gate Pontifical Benediction. THE MARTYRS OF SCOTLAND. During the centuries of persecution in Scotland following on the Reformation, some 80 or more priests and lay people suffered death for the faith at the hands of the State. The Cause of these Scots martyrs is to he brought before the Sacred Congregation in Rome, and to further the Apostolic Process a committee was set. up last year to enquire into the Acts of the Martyrs. • These investigations, which have been entrusted to a special committee established by the Scots Hierarchy, are long and involved, necessitating the examination of a vast •number of State Papers, and a close inquiry into historical and private records. The special committee has recently held a meeting, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Glasgow, and it is learned that a good deal of progress has been made in drawing up the historical records of the Scots Martyrs. The presentation of-the Acts for the examination of the Sacred Congregation is not likely, however, to take place for a few years. '. 4