MASS FOR RELIGIOUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1940, Page 6

MASS FOR RELIGIOUS

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

BISHOP GLEESON’S ADDRESS

PROGRESS AND GRANDEUR OF CHURCH. WELLINGTON, This Day. Heavy rain overnight with no prospect of a clearance this morning resulted in some alteration in the Eucharistic Congress programme. The women's mass which was to have been hold in the open air at 11 o'clock was diverted to three of the city churches. The principal ceremony where His Grace Archbishop O’Shea presided, was at St Mary of Angels where Archbishop Duhig of Brisbane preached. The celebrant of mass was Bishop Fox of Wilcanhia-Forbes. The deacon and subdeacon were Father J. Kingan, S.M.. and Rev D. Ruane, respectively. The deacons at the throne were Dean Davis and the Rev James Gilbert, M.S.C.

The Mass for Religious was not affected by the weather, this being scheduled as an indoor function at StMary of Angels, and took place accordingly at 9 o’clock. The preacher was Dr Gleeson. Bishop of Maitland. In his sermon, trie Most Rev. Bishop Gleeson (Bishop of Maitland) said the gathering had a special significance and the authorities of Congress had given evidence of much insight in arranging that sisterhoods and brotherhoods should have a function entirely (heir own. with all the splendour of ritual the church could give it. “For the dear sisters and brothers, you represent agencies that played no small part in contributing to the progress and glamour.of the church in this country during the hundred years that have passed and today you might justly and proudly call upon all who are interested in God’s glory throughout this land and all who labour for Him and carry on His work on earth to join with you in praising Him for what he has enabled your order to do. Magnify the Lord with me and let us extol His name together.” The preacher spoke of works of charity and education that were entrusted to the religious and also referred to the value of the contemplative life. He praised God for piety and the’ work of men and women of the religious orders and institutes of New Zealand, and exhorted iiis hearers to take inspiration from the Eucharistic Congress for still greater things.