EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1928, Page 1

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

PROCEEDINGS OPEN. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, Sept. 5. In a raging gnlo of wind, seventy thousand people congregated around Saint Mary’s Cathedral to-day to witness tho official opening of the Twenty-ninth Eucharistic Congress. There was a procession which marched from the Presbytery to tho Cathedral and composed of the prelates of all countries. It was highly impressive.

Cardinal Corrctti, gavo Benediction to the huge crowd ns they entered tho Cathedral.

As tho curs arrived containing the multi-coloured, robed Church dignatories, enormous crowds, which had been waiting for hours, cheered them to echo. It was late in the afternoon when the Papal Party, beaded by Prince Dceray, leading a solemn march of fifty Bishops, entered the Cathedral. A few minutes later Archbishop Kelly, of Sydney, entered tbe pulpit and welcomed the visitors.

THE OPENING ADDRESSES. SYDNEY, Sept. 5. Archbishop Kelly said: Tho purpose of our undertaking is strictly and simply religious—not social, not political, not secular in any sense. We meet in order to profess publicly the Catholie doctrine regarding tbe greatest of the Sacraments—the Eucharist, tbe fountain of super-natural life—and to offer to Jesus Christ— veiled yet truly present—homage and worship in reparation for tbe affronts, for tbe neglect, and for the sacrileges which He, with patience, suffers at our hands. To this end, the Congress employs solemn functions, public processions, conferences, and sermons in various languages, congregational singing, general Communions, and special devotion for tbe children of our schools. The Archbishop then extended a welcome to all, which lie pronounced “in the name of the Brethren of the Episcopate here and in New Zealand,” and he concluded by begging all present whole-heartedly to join in praising tbe goodness and mercy of Divine Providence which bad enabled this beginning, and which, they hoped, would accomplish the exalted purpose of reparation to Jesus in His great invention of love—the Eucharist, May Jesus in tho Blessed Sacrament he everywhere praised. After the Congress lmd been officially opened by Bishop Heylen, who is the President, the Papal Brief was read which was addressed to Cardinal Cerretti, the Papal Legate. After stating that Cardinal Cerretti bad been appointed Legate to represent the person of tho Pope, it briefly said that His Holiness entertained high hope for tho success of the Congress, and confidently expected a great manifestation of piety and a full harvest of spiritual joy and holiness. Tbe bi ief continued: "His Holiness looks forward, with joy, to the remarkable manifestation of reverence and loyalty with which tbe faithful people of Australia will receive the Vicar of Christ in tbe person of his Legate, and anticipates tbe splendid tribute of divine honour they will pay to the most Holy Sacrament in a land where it was so humiliated in tho older days, and where the Priests who are the dispensers of his holy mysteries were prohibited from tbe celebration of bis unbloody sacrifice.” The brief concluded by bestowing the Papal Blessing on all those participating in the Congress proceedings. Cardinal Cerretti then, in an impressive address, declared tbe Congress open, invoking God’s blessing on the works and the reunions that the Congress was about Li begn.

SCENES OF DBA’OTTON. SYDNEY, Sept. 5. The worship of the exposed Host was to-dav inaugurated at St. Patrick’s Church, Sydney (as cabled August 29) by the Papal Legate, Cardinal Ceretti. There was a remarkable scene outside the church. Thousands of the worshippers were unable to gain admission, and they knelt down in the street following the Mass with the help of amplifiers located outside the church. It was a wonderful scene as the wave of devotion spread from the Church to the kneeling crowds outside. Even the men who were driving carts past crossed themselves. It was ono of the most remarkable scenes of devotion even witnessed in Sydney. The Prelates from all countries were participating.