CONSECRATION OF ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3840, 4 September 1928, Page 3

CONSECRATION OF ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL.

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. Sydney, September 2. In the presence of enormous crowds, Cardinal Ceretti opened the new St. Mary’s Cathedral -‘on Sunday. In the morning the Archbishop of Sydney, surrounded by the whole Australian Hierarchy, numbering 40 bi■shops and many overseas prelated, celebrated the opening Mass and in the -/afternoon, the Papal Legate officially opened the building. It was a most impressive sight,' with the packed cathedral surrounded by thousands unable to gain entrance. The speakers included Cardinal Ceretti, the Premier (Mr. Bevin), Archbishop Redwood, and many other visitors and prelates, who stressed the fact that the magnificent building /was the life-work of Archbishop Kelly, who had completed the work of raising in the youngest of the nations of Christendom a temple worthy ,of a great and ancient nation.

A chalice, presented by the Pope, was delivered by Cardinal Ceretti, who also ,read a letter from His Holiness, wherein he said: “In addition to the mission already destined to accompany our Legate-;at the Eucharistic Congress, we give the special charge of bearing and presenting to you, venerable brother, a chalice, which we desire to see used jn the sacred functions of the Congress. We, moreover, wish that it be afterwards kept in your cathedral as a perpetual memorial of our spiritual presence at an event of such importance.’,’ From an early hour of the morning crowds began to congregate and .when the opening ceremony commenced there were at least 50,000 people gathered in the vicinity of the cathedral.

The whole service was audible to all, as numbers of amplifiers were placed all round the cathedral. The function was unique for never before has there been such a gathering of overseas prelates in Australia. •