ARCHBISHOP REDWOODS JUBILEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1924, Page 1

ARCHBISHOP REDWOODS JUBILEE.

.SUNDAY’S CHEAT RELIGIOUS BAGEANT.

WELLINGTON, Eeh. 2 • ..sion to he held 11

Sunday,” '-ays a contributor to the "New Zealand Times,” should prove to be llie most attractive and interesting, a.s it will be the longest, religious pageant ever held in New Zealand. So many people have .signified their intention of marching the full distance in order to do honour to the venerable A rehbishop, that the head of of the procession will almost have reached St. Patrick’s College before tln* Arch! i-fop leaves llill street. Motor ears will appear in the procession, Jmt there seems to he a tacit understanding that only the aged and infirm are to avail themselves of them. Win-rever one umis with the question “are you going to march next Sun-

day the answer is a vigorous affirmative. Never before has the Catholic community of tho Wellington province been so deeply moved as by these coming festivities. Never was it

so wholeheartedly united. For fifty years Dr Redwood’s name has been a household word among Catholics. ft i* estimated that four-fifths of his (lock are born New Zealanders, it can therefore he safely asserted that ho laid his hands in Die sacrament of confirmation on the great majority of those who will parade on Sunday. The men and women who will march by were little children when his Grace was travelling the province from end to end in the exercise of his pastoral care. He witnessed their childhood, be saw them married and become the fathers and mothers of the sturdy voting New Zealanders who will form the van of the procession. The span of his life enfolds their lives as a Inline unfolds a picture. Not only as a great churchman do they honour him, but a.s a great New Zealander. The Archbishop's love for New Zealand has been a striking feature of his public pronouncement. He knows his adopted country as few ’men know it. Its lamia and flora have been to him a. source of perpetual interest. With what intimate knowledge has he not discoursed and written of every aspect ol the New Zealand landscape:' His life, too, is practically cn-extensivc

with the life of the .country. Thus 1 he coining celebrations assume almost, a national aspect. The capital city in honouring him oil Stuuhiv will honour

the memory of the brave pioneers who laid broad and deco the foundations ;f New Zealand. *