PAPAL LEGATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1940, Page 7

PAPAL LEGATE

PROPAGATION OF FAITH GREAT RALLY IN WELLINGTON. A BRILLIANT SCENE. i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. More than 2000 Wellington Catholics gave a tumultous welcome in the De Luxe Theatre last night to his Excellency Archbishop Panico, Papal Legate to the New Zealand National Eucharistic Congress, who attended the opening gathering associated with the congress, the Propagation of the Faith rally. More than 1200 persons were unable to obtain admission to the theatre. The applause greeting the appearance of the Legate lasted two minutes and was only stilled by the organist beginning of the National Anthem. There were three further great ovations for the Legate, before and after his short address, and on his leaving. There was a scene of great impressiveness at the conclusion of the rally when, with a photograph of Pope Pius XII shown on the screen, his right hand uplifted in blessing, hundreds ol voices were raised in the hymn. "Faith of Our Fathers.” The scene on the stage was brilliant, the scarlet robes of the Legate, bishops and monsignors contrasting with the black garments of the reverend doctors and priests and the lay evening dress of the members of the New Zealand Council for the Propagation of the Faith.

On the platform with his Excellency were the Most Rev Thomas O’Shea. Catholic Archbishop of the archdiocese of Wellington and Metropolitan of New Zealand. Bishop Bach, titular bishop of Eriza and former Vicar-Apostolic of the Gilbert Islands, the Right Rev Monsignor T. King, the Very Rev J. H Hannan. Sydney, members of the national council, clerical and lay. In the circle of the theatre were approximately 100 members of the priest- , - — ——-......

s F; V ti i t 5 F ‘ ivi cm oei s unnr—naxio~iuT"~cvtn icTI present were Dr Mcßae, archdiocese of Wellington, Monsignor Holbrook, diocese of Auckland, Dr J. Kennedy, diocese of Christchurch, and Dr H. O'Neill, diocese of Dunedin, who is also organiser for New Zealand. Lay members present were Mr P. D. Hoskins and Mr Felix O'Neill, Wellington. The Very Rev James H. Hannan, D.P.. Ph. D.. national director for Australia for the Pontifical Mission Works, was also present. Monsignor Delany said that two years ago when Archbishop Panico was at Auckland, New Zealand, on a Catholic population basis was second in the world in the number of adults belonging to the Propagation of the Faith; Holland was first. Now they were able to tell his excellency that New' Zealand was first. Holland’s percentage when first was 12.2; that of New Zealand was now 14.5. The 1939 returns were £1037 better than for 1938. The Propagation of the Faith. Holy Childhood and St Peter Society figures respectively or each diocese for 1939 were: Wellington: £1533, £833. £9O; Auckland. £941, £356, £3l; Christchurch. £lOl5, £319, '£2B4; Dunedin, £839, £331, £B9. In the 14 years of the existing organisation the three societies had contributed £50,502 for the missions. Not only was money being raised for the missions, but 67 New Zealand-born priests were in the mission fields in all parts of the world. At the time when New Zealand was second to Holland in Propagation of the Faith membership its contribution was £5625; in 1939 it was £.6667.

Following the addresses there were films shown depicting the coronation of Pius XII, 262nd Pope of the Catholic Church, and of the life of the late Father Damien, whose work among the lepers of Molokai made him an international figure and a martyr of modern times.