Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 37, 20 September 1923, Page 47

Catholic World

NEW PREFECT APOSTOLIC. OF THE EQUATORIAL NILE. The. Holy Father has appointed Father Antonio Vignato, of the Congregation of the Sons of the Sacred Heart, of Verona, Prefect Apostolic of the Equatorial Nile. The new dignitary was born at Gambellara in 1878, and ordained priest in 1902. After ordination he entered on missionary work in Central Africa. The Prefecture of the Equatorial Nile was established on June 11 last by a decree of the Propaganda, its territory having previously formed part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr-el-Ghazal.

THE MISSIONARY EXHIBITION OF 1925.

It is announced that, according' to the desire of the Holy Father, the Vatican Missionary Exhibition is to have a central part of a scientific character, containing maps, diagrams, prints, publications, reviews, etc., for the convenience of students and specialists in Missionalogy. Special rooms will be set apart for consultation and study, and those frequenting them will be assisted in their studies by competent scientists. It is intended to found a Missionary Library as a permanent memorial of the Exhibition.

Only the smaller part of the Exhibition can, it is found, be housed in the huge courtyard of the Pigna. The remaining part is to be placed in the Vatican Gardens, distributed according to the territorial divisions of the world, and the institutes which attend to their evangelisation.

HOPE FOP NATIVE MISSION CLERGY.

Great hopes are entertained in the Catholic mission field for the development of native clergy in mission lands under the inspirational influence of the "Pontifical Work of St. Peter the Apostle" (writes the Rome correspondent to an exchange).

The Work of St. Peter the Apostle, is looked upon as the most efficacious means for bringing about the formation of a complete native clergy. His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV., is remembered as having insisted on the timeliness of the Pontifical Work.

Convincing arguments in support of the Holy Father's attitude are furnished by seasoned missionaries, who have great hope for the fruition of the work. The question of a native clergy has been an important phase of missionary effort ever since missionary work was started in the fields concerned. Popes have always urged the missionaries to keep in mind the formation of a native clergy. Without it the opinion has been expressed that the conversion of pagan lands will never be complete, for Christian countries are unable to spare enough missioners for the work.

JUBILEE AT PAR AY-LE-MONIA L. An impressive jubilee is being celebrated at Paray-Lc-Monial this year. The famous sanctuary of the Sacred Heart is observing the fiftieth anniversary of the holding of pilgrimages to Paray, which are such a (prominent feature of Catholic life to-day. • The programme for the occasion provided for many notable exercises. These included a solemn novena of prayers closing on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, when provision was made for a Pontifical High Mass sung by Mgr. Chassagnon, the Bishop of Autun.

Another solemn rite arranged was a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament.. This was planned as one of the great outstanding features of the observance, and arrangements were made to make it a memorable demonstration of faith and piety.

The programme also embraced a Triduum preached by the Abbe.Journoud, in thanksgiving for the happy return of the nuns to the Convent of the Visitation.

It is announced that a Triduum in honor of St. Margaret Mary will be held on October 14, 15, and 16.

ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC VISIT. The historic visit made by St. Francis of Assisi to the famous precincts of Subiaco, a place itself noted in Catholic religious history, has just been commemorated there. The celebration was that of the 700th anniversary of the coming of St. Francis to that place, and the exercises of the commemoration were carried out with great solemnity and impressiveness. The place and the surroundings, together with the rites of the day, assisted to make the historic nature of the celebration especially appealing. The Saint came to Subiaco in 1223. Records are still preserved in the Chapel of Gregory IX. which are eloquent memorials of the memorable sojourn. In the sacred grotto at Subiaco, there is a famous painting of the Saint, and two well-known living writers have been drawn to the grotto to see it. he programme arranged for the commemoration of the historic visit provided a celebration replete with various exercises, all of which were of a religious natrue. All the faithful took part iii them, and the spirit of fraternal charity so frequently inculcated by the Saint was splendidly manifested.

REBUILDING CHURCHES IN WAR-RUINED AREA. His Eminence, Cardinal Vico, returning in July from Lisieux, where he presided at the festivities in honor of Blessed Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus, stopped in Paris, where he presided at the general assembly of the Committee for the Relief of the Devastated Churches. With him were the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, and several prelates including the Bishop of Arras and' the Auxiliary Bishop of Rheims, and M. Jenouvrier, vicepresident of the French Senate. The Municipal Council of Paris was represented by one of its members, and the Minister of the Liberated • Regions was also represented. The report read by the general secretary shows that this year the committee has received 1,600,000 francs in gifts, which has made it possible' to restore worship in 185 new parishes and send to the clergy 4200 packages of articles for their churches, sacristies, and rectories. In the seven years of its existence, the committee has distributed funds and articles to the value of 16 million francs. Its task is not completed, however, for there are still 20,000 churches to be furnished.

The report paid a tribute to the wonderful assistance which the work has received from America, especially from the New York committee, under the direction of Mr. William D. Guthrie, whom the Parisians were happy to greet during his stay in France.

Examples of splendid charity in this connection were commented upon at the general assembly by the eminent novelist Henri Bordeaux, of the French Academy, who pointed out the great importance of the rebuilding of the houses of prayer and the renewal of religious life as part of the restoration of the nation. He paid tribute to the heroism of the clergy of northern and eastern France who, after all the privations and suffer of the war, returned the first clay after the armistice to say Mass in provisional shelters and live in temporary huts of wood, without comfort, practically without furniture, and subject to the cold. After five years of. this existence, the huts are falling to pieces and the reconstruction of the churches and houses is far from being complete. More than ever, he said, it is the duty of Catholics and even non-Catholic citizens to think of the churches and rectories ruined by the war.

The reconstruction of the churches, as of all material, property destroyed during the war, is the work of the State, which, according to the peace treaty, is to be reimbursed from the reparations credits. The State is not failing to fulfil its mission, and no complaint on this subject has arisen among the French Catholics. But as it is impossible to obtain the total amount claimed for the reparation of the immense disaster, the execution of the work can not be completed for many years.