Consecration of Island Bishop

Chronicle (Levin), 19 April 1948, Page 3

Consecration of Island Bishop

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AUCKLAND, April 18. Witb impressive centuries-old ceremonial, the veteran priest of a comparatively young Ruman Catholic parish was consecrated Titular ' Bishop of Sertet in St. Patrick's Cathedral. He was the Most Rev. John David Lehman, B.D., who for the past 35 years has been in the Cook Islands mission and for the last nine years Prefeet Apostolic at Rarotonga. The mission has been given the status of vicariate apostolie and this provides for its adininistration by a Titular Bishop. His appointment to the Titular See of Sertet, an anoient diocese of Mauritania, was made shortly after "his reeent visit to I'ope Pius XII. Many Cook Islanders were among the large eongregation whic-h attended the elaborate and. symbolical consecration," a mass ceremoiiy rarely performed in New Zealand, bnt oue which has been witnessed twice in i the Cathedral in the past six pidnths. The consecrating prelate was Bishop Liston, of Auckland, and eo-eonseera-tors were the Most Rev. Peter Mc1 Keei'ry, D.D., wko was consecrated Coadjutor-Archbishop of Wellington in the Cathedral last October, and Bishop Lyons, of Christchurch. Mr. A. G. Osborne, M.P:, Parliamentary UnderSecretary to the Prime Minister, attended the service on behalf of Mr. Frasei who is Minister of Island Territories. Mr. A. L. Lewis, Auckland officer for the Department of Island Territories, and Mr. 0. Reid, secretary to the Resfdent Commissioner of Cook Islands administration, were also present. Bishop Lehman, who was born in Holland, is a member of the Missiohary Society of Saered Hearts of Jesus and Mary (known also as Piepus Fathers, of whom Father Damien Molokai, leper - priest, is oue of the most famous hgures) . His territory is 100 square miles of scatter'ed(islands and with him have been six priests, and live nuns. • .