FLEET SUNDAY AT CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 32, 26 August 1925, Page 35

FLEET SUNDAY AT CHRISTCHURCH

ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY BISHOP BRODIE. (From our own correspondent.) Although there was no official church parade for the officers and sailors of tho American Fleet, it was arranged that those who were on leave should bo received by the various members of the respective congregations of Christchurch and be their guests during the day. Hie Catholic officers and sailors were met at the railway station and at the Y.M.C.A. and conducted to the Cathedral and to St. Mary’s. At the 11 o’clock Mass Bishop Brodie addressed words of welcome on behalf* of the Catholic community of Christchurch. He said that the programme of civic entertainments was so comprehensive and the courtesy of RearAdmiral Schofield and of his officers and men so generous in accepting the numerous invitations extended to them, it was found not to be practical to arrange any, special church parades. However, the occasion was one of such great significance for our city and v our Dominion- that he (the Bishop) deemed it his duty to express, on behalf of

the Catholic community, words of cordial V . - ■■■ <■ -J, - welcome to our visitors. ; c . ' ' xr ' r/ i -«- f "f-v: Some seventeen years ago New Zealand % had the privilege of a visit of the American Fleet; on that occasion our visitors w 7 ere welcomed as neighbors and friends, but in the intervening years events have happened which have brought closer those bonds .of friendship. In the Great War New Zealanders .and Americans fought side by side in a 7 common cause; they have laid down their lives that peace and victory might* crown their sacrifice, so that now our visitors are united with us by friendship sealed and cemented by blood and even by death inself. And if in 1907 New Zealanders received the American Fleet with kindness and hospitality characteristic of our young" Dominion, with much greater warmth and cordiality, should that reception be marked on the present occasion. : ■ . ■■; ■ Bishop Brodie dwelt on the wonderful advance made in America not only in the commercial but in the educational and .professional world, and he regarded it as one of his great privileges to have been able to pay'a —only too short — that wonderful country. He" concluded by endorsing the publicly expressed welcome of the Mayor, on the occasion of the civic reception extended to the Admiral, his officers and men, and he trusted that the members of the Fleet would have an enjoyable sojourn*in this young land. After Mass the visitors were the guests of various members of the congregation % who took them to their homes, entertained them to lunch, and spent the afternoon and evening in showing them round our city. The visitors expressed high admiration of the magnificence of the Cathedral, and said it was a surprise to them to find in such • a young country a building so vast in its proportions and so ornate in its architect tural design. - . Bishop Brodie announced that on the following Wednesday the Catholic members of tho Fleet would he the guests of the Catholic Club at a. social evening in the club rooms in Lichfield Street. - V 4 ■■ ■ ■■■ = - ===== = =F====r