The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 29, 20 July 1905, Page 27

The Catholic World

ENGLAND— A Priest Honored There was a crowded meeting of Catholics in the Mechanics' Hall, Halifax, recently, for the purpose of congratulating the Rev. Patrick Mulcahy on his elevation to the dignity of a Canon. Dr. T. M. Dolan presented Canon Mulcahy, on behalf of the Catholics of the district, with canonical robes and a purse of gold. The Canon feelingly replied. Procession in Liverpool On the afternoon of Sunday, May 21, the fifty-sixth annual church parade of the Catholic Young Men's Societies of Liverpool and District took place on the Cheshire side of the Mersey. Upwards of 5000 people took parjb in the procession, and created quite a big stir in the somewhat quiet suburban districts through which they passed. The great procession made a most favorable impression on the crowds of spectators that lined the route, matay''of whom, no doubt, had never seen such a large gathering of Catholics before. UniverSal'praise was bestowed on the organisers of the procession for the manner in whacu the arrangements were carried out. GERMANY— St. Boniface His Grace Archbishop Bourne on visiting Fulda (says rtie ' Catholic Times') will join with members of the Getrman hierarchy in honoring the memory of St. Boniface. Englishmen of every class and creed should rejoice that England is thus represented. St. Boniface was one of the greatest Englishmen that ever lived— a man whose name to-day, after the lapse of 1150 years, is a wonderful power amongst Germans. And yet because he was a Catholic thete are multitudes of Englishmen who are unacquainted with his work ; } ea, multitudes of them who do not even know his name. Boniface was born at Credito'n, or Kirton, in Devonshire, about the year 680, and received at Baptism the name Winfnd. It was a time when missionaries from Ireland and England were carrying the cross through many of the Continental countries. Winfrid joined St. Wilebrord in Friseland ; then passed into. Hesse and Saxony, winning con"verts, destroying the temples of idolaters, and building Christian churches. Pope Gregory 111. commanded him to repair to Rome, confirmed the evangelist's change of name from Winfrid to Boniface, and gave him a general commission as a legate of St. Peter. Then the saint went fojrth aod earned the title of the Aposltle of the Germans, fixing the constitution of the Church in Germany. He was martyred by infidels in East Friseland at the age of seventy-five. SCOTLAND— Presentation to a Priest The Rev. Timothy O'Shea, who has been recalled toy his Bishop to his native diocese of Kerry, where he will begin the mission in Castlemain, has been stationed in Port Glasgow for the past eight years, where his zealous ministrations and kindly nature had won him the respect and affection of all. Before his departure he was entertained at a concert in the Town Hall, at which a large and representative gathering assembled. At the close he was presented with many souvenirs, and with a purse of sovereigns and accompanying address.

SOUTH AFRlCA— lmpressive Ceremony On Lady Day a most impressive and solemn ceremony took place at St. Dominic's Catholic Church Wynoerg, Cape Colony, when four Irish novices pronounced their vows. Ihe names of the young ladies were :_ Miss L. O Connor (Sisiler M. Malachy), Cashel, County np, P erary; Miss K. Nagle (Sister M. Columbkille), Rathnjore, County Kerry ; Miss M. M. Halliden (Sister M Agatha), Lyre, Banteer, County Cork; MiJfe S. h ~ ( fi! et Jf' GabEiel >. Belfast. The ceremony fook jlace in the afternoon, the Right Rev. Dr. Rooney offirfeu^twyn^r- c MlCarthy ' * DSPAIN—The King's Birthday w«?%W ng congratulations of the Senate on «£♦ « tM . a V he ,Xx, Xxn ® . of . Spain w** 1 * I h °Pe wit* you that my forthcoming visits abroad will serve to strengthen the ties of friendship, of good feeling, and of cor operation towards universal peace which unite us- to other peoples. Our action will thus respond a t home as well as albroad to the needs and desires which our country feels for its and for the development of its agricultural- and industrial wealth and its oommerce, those noble weapons which civilisation places in the bands of peoples to stimulate them to the fruitful humanitarian struggles of our times. As for that event fraught with happiness for my country anS my he-arth, which you await wit>h ruoh anxious desire, I have confidence in God that it will be realised for the good of the nation, for family love is so closely united in my mind with love for my country that" I can have no other idea of my marriage than tha.t of two* people loving} ana seeking the happiness' of the country and its greatness. UNITED STATES-Archdiocese of St. Louis ... At a reception tendered by the citizens of St. Louis to his Eminence Cardinal Gibiians on the occasion of his) usit to the city in connection with the investiture of Archbishop Glennon with the pallium it was announced that a sum amounting to 600,000 dollars (about £120,000) w&s in hand for the fcrection of a new Cathedral. Mr. R. c. Kerens, a prominent Catholic, made the pleasing announcement at the gathering that thirtytwo prominent Catholics had subscribed 260,000 dollars (£52,000), the amouht being handed to Archihishoip. Glennon, who was both surprised and pleased with the gener rosity of the donors. Later on the Arahbishop announced that the clergy had, that afternoon, tendered a sum of 60,000 dollars in cash (£12,000) for the same purpose, with the assurance that the sum would reach 75,000 dollars when the amounts promised had been nanded in. The Arohbishop then stated that 'with the sum of 250,«v*0 dollars, the amount of the fund started by Archbishop Kenridc, the total of available funds now in hand for the erection of the new Cathedral was 600,000 dollars. Catholic Population Recent statistics show that there is an enormous increase in the proportion of the Catholic population in the United States, as compared with other denominations. In New Mexico the Catholics represent 96 per cent, of the population ; in Montana, 85 per cent. ; in Art-ona, 74 per cent. ; in Nevada, 72 per cent ; in Massachusetts, 71 per cent. ; in Rhode Island, 69 per cent. ; in New York State 58 per cent. ; in California, 55 per cent. ; in Colorado, 54 per cent. ; in Connecticut! 53 per cent. ; in Minnesota, 53 per cent. ; and in Michigan, 50 per dent. 'In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York State fifteen years ago Catholics were in a great minority. A Venerable Priest Monsignor Bernard O'Reilly, whose 93 years make him the oldest living prelate of his rank, lies very ill at the house of the Sisters of Charity at Mount Vernon, New York. Monsignor O'Reilly is best known as a historian and biographer, having written the official ' Li\cs' of Pius IX. and Leo XIII. A New See It is reported that the Holy Father has assented to the petition of the Archbishop of Milwaukee ana his suffragans, to divide the parent diocese and establish a new episcopal See, either at Madison, Fond dv Lac, or Racine. The diocese of Milwaukee has now 349 priests, 293 churches, and a Catholic population of 294,000. GENERAL Tending the Lepers It is a forceful commentary on the self-devotion and self-sacrifice of Catholic missionaries to hear from the Lazarist missionary, Frere Praneuf, in Farafangana, in Southern Madagascar, that only the Catholics have hitherto ventured to fight the scourge of leprosy which is rife in that region. The Sisters of Charity, says

Frere Praneuf, writing to ' Les Missions Catholiques,' 1 willingly face death in the pursuit of their labors. They were five in number a few months ago ; three hav e . passed to their reward and two remain to care for some 200 lepers of all ages and sexes. Many of these are able to walk to the dispensaries to receive treatment. In the majority of oases, however, the Sisters have to make a daily round of Usits to the homes ot the-, stricken ones, and it is a common sight to s.ee them kneeling on the sand, washing, oiling, powdering, and bandaging the victims, some of whom are without hands, others without feet, and most a mass of bodily corruption aftecung the entire body. Then task finished, the Sisters return home, themselves ill from the nature of the wor/k, only to begin their work again the next day. They have also established a school for some hundred children, attending to the instruction of their charges when their labors of healing; the sick allow them.