EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1928, Page 2

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

A RECORD PAGEANT. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, September 8. A congregation of over two hundred thousand people attended the special open-air Mass for men at the Royal Showground yesterday. Pontficial high mass was celebrated by Archbishop Duhig, of Brisbane. Bishop White, of Dunedin, New Zealand, preached the sermon. SYDNEY, September 9.

The Eucharistic Congress was to-day brought to a triumphant conclusion with the grand procession from Manly across the harbour to Circular Quay, and thence by way of M,acquarrie Street to St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is estimated that something like half a million either took part of watched the procession. More than one million persons have been carried to and from the Sydney showground by rail and train during the past three days. The procession ivas headed by Catholic Boy Scouts from all parts of Australia, included Westralia, the expenses of whose contingent were raised by the people of that State. Next came the Children of Mary in groups from each parish carrying banners, such as Balmain, Pyrmont, Surry Hills, all dressed in blue and white, and numbering-, about five thousand, singing hymns as they proceeded. The Hibernians, Foresters, and other societies and sodalities followed, after whom came the visitors in turn from Tasmania, South Australia, Westralia, Queensland, New Zealand and overseas. A picturesque contingent wero one hundred and twenty Japanese, dressed in white with purple rosettes. The Maoris of New Zealand came later. University graduates and under-gradu-ates were followed by a special guard, and then came the lay religious, Christian Brothers, Marists, De Ealle Brothers, in order of seniority of their coming to Australia. Next were the priests, well over a thousand, including Passionists, Dominieians, Redemptorists, Marists, Franciscans. The Bishops made a fine picture as they marched wearing their mitres and enrrying their crosiers, each with two chaplains and two acolytes, and each in order of their appointment. The singing of “ Faith Of our Fathers ” by the immense chorus of Children of Mary was most impressive. It was easy to realise that these congresses are the world’s greatest pilgrimages. A modern touch, was the sight overhead of a squadron of aeroplanes, as the procession began, which flew in the form of a cross over the harbour, and later over the line of the procession they flew both in mass formation and in that of a cross. Every group in the concourse carried its own flag, and there was a banner for every diocese in Australasia carried by its pilgrims with the name and a painting emblematic of the diocese. The New Norcia Benedictine Monk (the most successful of all educators of the Australian Blacks) were represented, they have been 80 years in Westralia. The men of the procession sang the hymn “To Jesus Heart All Burning.” The American delegation included four bishops and 22 priests. Mats were worn by the Maori contingent, who were most impressive. There were Czecbo-Slovakian, Belgian, German, Italian, French, Austrian, and other delegations in the line. The day was wonderfully fine, and perfect organisation combined to make the spoctacle wonderfully' solemn and magnificent.

At Maniy in the morning, Cardinal Cerretti, Papal Legate, celebrated Mass. On the Papal Barge, in which the Sacred Host was conveyed over the harbour, were one thousand Knights of the Southern Cross. Tho barge was a , beautiful , sight, painted gold and white (the Papal colours), ana was commanded by Captain O’Connor, of the Sydney Ferries, .Ltd., who lent the vessel, which can make the trip to the Quay in 35 minutes. "

After a gap in the procession, came a banner bearer with the Australian flag, followed by Priests who served in the Great War, wearing thenmedals. Then, came Returned Soldiers in hundreds, carrying their national flag, and wearing all manner of decorations, such as D. 5.0., D.C.M., and V.C. The route at Hyde Park was black with people. The ’Varsity students were twenty abreast. Four Judges—Judge Murray (Governor o'f Papua), Judges Edmonds, Heydon and Coyle—marched and took seats at the high altar. The Patrican Brothers followed them. Tho secular clergy wore white surplices and black cassocks, and recited from their Breviaries the office of the Sacred. Heart. Boy pages in white and gold sashes distributed flowers on tbe route. • Then tame the Papal Knights, and the, Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Cattaneo. Eight Victoria Cross winners carried the canopy over the Host, and Cardinal Cerretti gave solemn Benediction at St. Mary’s. In conclusion, speaking .with emotion ho said: —My. dear people: In the presence of this spectacle, 1 cannot refrain from expressing from the bottom of my heart, my gratitude for the great manifestation of love and faith in our Loid Jesus Christ on the part of yourselves, your families, and of all Australia. I will never forget it, but will pray all my life for you all, and for your wonderful country, God bless you!” His Eminence then bestowed the Apostolic blessing on a vast, reverent, kneeling concourse, estimated at that point fin front of the cathedral) at no less than half a million.

A WONDERFUL FINALE

SCENES OF RELIGIOUS FERVOU

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) SDYNEY, September 9. Wonderful scenes of religious fervour and ijdorntion were witnessed. during the progress of the Host through the city street from Circular Quay to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Thousands upon thousands, fired with religious enthusiasm lined the route, and as the canopy, borne by eight Victoria Cross winners covering the Papal Legate, carrying the monstrance containing the Sacred Wafer, passed, remarkable scones were witnessed. The crowds, containing members (if all denominations, bared their beads and thousands of men and women dropped to their knees securing the Benediction from the Cardinal as he passed. Prom early morning a colossal pilgrimage commenced, and all roads literally led to the rooms. Representative thousands thronged the approach to St. Mary’s Cathedral, hours before the ceremony commenced. The Host was brought from St. Patrick’s College, Manly, where Cardinal Corretti at .an immense high altar on the steps of,, the College, celebrated high mass, alter which he entered tho Papal barge, which .was a converted ferry steamer, to Circular Quay.

The scene coming up the harbour was magnificent. The Papal barge, painted snow white with a yellow band all round (being the papal colours) in its stately progress up tlie harbour, accompanied by an immense fleet of small boats, with number of aeroplanes overhead.

The foreshores of the harbour and every vantage point was thronged, and as tire stately procession passed, heads were reverently bared.

Reaching Sydney the procession formed at Circular Quay and thence to die Cathedral, the Host was reverently

borne. The scene in the vicinity rtf the sacred edifice was indescribable. As the procession passed, the bareheaded multitude provided a scene of remarkable ecclesiastical splendour. Princes and prelates of the church from all countries, in gorgeous robes, accompanied by priests arid monks of all orders, with inemebrs of all Roman Catholic brotherhood, pacing majestically through the paved streets, lined with the Children of Mary in veils and robes, gave a ' kaleoskopic effect- to a scene of religious solemnity never before witnessed in Australasia.

As the procession wended its solemn way to the cathedral, the raising of which was the life work of Archbishop Kelly, the strains of sacred music, broadcast from tbe cathedral lent an added touch df solemnity to an almost overpowering scene of religious fervour.

As tbe aged Prelate, Kelly, passed tbe enthusiasm of tbe onlooking multitudes reached fever heat, and .cheer after cheer greeted the Archbishop. Tli culminating point of the day which made history in Australasia was reached, when tho Papal Legate appeared on the, steps of the cathedral, and after declaring the Eucharistic Congress closed, blessed the waiting multitude, who fell oil their knees to receive the Cardinal’s benediction.

To-day’s extraordinary devotion marked the close of a week’s devotional fervour, never before witnessed in this country. People from all parts of the Commonwealth and New Zealand and other countries flocked to city, and accommodation was taxed to its utmost. From early morning to late at night St. Mary’s, which is the perpetual monument of the. life of Archbishop Kelly, lias been thronged with worshippers, and such a wave of religious enthusiasm swamped the city that all other issues were crowded out altogether. Mam- wild threats of violence were made, hut to-day’s proceedings passed off without a hitch. It lias bee memorable week, which will live perpetually in the history of the Roman Catholic faith of Australasia.'