Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 27, 12 July 1923, Page 47

Catholic World

POPE'S INTEREST IN SEAMEN'S WELFARE. After spending two months in Europe, for the purpose of furthering the apostolate to Catholic seafarers, Professor W. H. Atherton of the Catholic Unuiversity of Montreal, has returned to Canada. Dr..Atherton has given a great deal of attention to administrative methods in the chief educational and civic centres in Europe. While Professor Atherton was in Rome he had the privilege of a private audience with his Holiness, who showed a particular interest in the works in which Dr. Atherton is engaged, particularly in the club for sailors at Montreal, of which the Professor is manager. Dr. Atherton is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the Apostleship of the Sea, and he received from the Holy Father a special message for the members of the Glasgow society, which has already been approved by the Holy See for its work on behalf of the spiritual interests of Catholic seafarers. "I want you to go back," the Holy Father said to Dr. Atherton, '-'and tell every worker , and all those in sympathy with the work, that I send my personal blessing to each one of them, not only generally, but individually." "And," added his Holiness, "don't forget the sailors themselves." The Apostleship of the Sea has its headquarters in Great Britain, but the society is international in its scope, and is Operating at many centres abroad. Its ship visitors are at work in France, Italy, Belgium, South America, and Canada. Of the 600 seamen's institutes throughout the world, only.about 12 are Catholic, and apart from active naval service, there is not a single priest devoting the whole of his ministry to the seamen. So that Catholic sailors, cut off from the ordinary parochial organisation of their Church, stand in special and urgent need of this apostolate. The headquarters of the work are at 32 Hill Street, Anderston, Glasgow, where the lion. Secretary may be addressed. INTERESTING A XNIYERSARI ES. Two interesting religious anniversaries of great historical importance fall this year, one of which has been celebrated. This is the 503rd anniversary of the first religious professions made in the Abbey of Syon. Syon, of course, is no more, Henry VIII. saw to that; for he not only put the abbey chaplain to death, but drove out the nuns and gave their home to the Duke of Northumberland. A vast and dreary mansion stands by the Thames at Isleworth, on the site of ancient Syon. it is a heavy burden to its present owner, the Duke of Northumberland, who has rented it furnished to a prosperous picture dealer from Paris. But the nuns of Syon still exist, and their community retains an unbroken link with the first community founded by the Plantagenet kings. At their abbey at Chudleigh they still possess the key of old Syon and a little statue from the chapel. Nor are the.nuns forgetful of benefits; for they still have celebrated the' annual Masses for Henry of Agincourt, though the endowments for the Masses were centuries ago swept into lay pockets. The second anniversary, which takes place later in the year, is the 700th anniversary of the founding of the Dominican monastery in Ho'lborn. All • traces . of the site vanished centuries ago, indeed, the chief foundation of the Dominicans in London was at Blackfriars, on the site of which the publishing office of the Times now. stands. But when "Friar Gilbert of Fresney and his 13 companions first landed in England, where they were sent bv St. Dominic seven centuries ago, they came on from Canterbury, where they had been favorably received by the Archbishop, Cardinal Stephen Langton, and stopped at London on their way to Oxford. The Earl of Kent gave them land at Holborn, and here a small house was founded, though it does not seem to have existed for long. It is interesting to know that St. Dominic was' an English parish priest, though he never visited his benefice.

The Pope of his day, who had the patronage of the benefice, appointed the Saint as Vicar of St. Oswald's, at Nostell in Yorkshire. SLOVENE CATHOLICS TO HOLD CONGRESS. During this coming summer the fifth Slovene Catholic Congress will be held at Laibach, or Ljubljana, as it is called in the Slovene tongue (says Catholic News Service, London). ' » The first of these congresses was held in this town in 1892. It marked the beginning of a new era in the social and economic life of the Slovenes. For there were then founded the different; Catholic organisations • destined, on the one hand, to protect the people, and more particularly the peasants, from •the grip of usurers. At this time were started certain co-operative societies. On the other hand, there came into being organisations for the intellectual] religious, and ft moral welfare of the young Catholics—Catholic clubs, for instance, and societies for university students. The second congress was held at Laibach in 1900 the third in 1906, and the fourth in 1913. Their object was to complete and perfect the different enterprises begun at the 1892 congress. The forthcoming congress will occupy itself with pre-sent-day problems. The war and its outcome have brought about a new state of affairs, religious, political, social and economic, all entirely different to pre-war conditions. There is need for a new orientation in the religious, social and political life of the Slovenes, and it is these problems that will-be tackled this summer. All the preparatory work is now going on. Commissions have been appointed for each section, charged to study and prepare the various resolutions that will be submitted to the congress. DEDICATION OF POSTULATE OP SOCIETY OF MARY. Much interest (says the Brooklyn Tablet for May 26) is centring around the dedication of the postulate of the Society of Mary, known as Marianist College, at Beacon, N.Y., on May 30. This newest foundation was inaugurated only last summer to receive aspirants for membership in the Society of Mary. On July 25, 1922, it opened its doors to 28* voting men from New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore. Marian College is snugly nestled on the east bank of the Hudson, which, at Beacon, slopes gradually from the river's edge to the foot of Mt. Beacon, a Revolutionary War landmark. The postulate is ideally located for its purpose. It enjoys the advantages of modern city conveniences and of seclusion from distractions. The natural beauty of the property and the healthfulness of this region exercise their cultural, stimulating, and strengthening effects upon soul, mind and body. Until lately the postulants at Marianist College were accommodated in a frame building arranged temporarily to answer their needs. The construction of a modern building was immediately begun, and has been'completed and equipped. In it are offices, study hall, club room class rooms, laboratories, dormitory, wardrobe, baths, and heating installation. All the apartments are lightsome, roomy and airy The chapel and dining room are. located in another building. Young men who feel, attracted to the religious life as teachers, and desire to consecrate themselves and their services to God in the Society of Mary, enrol at Marianist College, Beacon, N.Y, Here they receive their preliminary religious and vocational training. When they have completed the required course of studies, they are admitted to the novitiate, where for a whole year, they intensify in rehgious formation. Then follows their normal school and college education. The Society of Mary' to-day counts 600 members, priests and Brothers educating 20,000 Catholic youths in 20 archdioceses and dioceses of the United States and Canada It studies and assimilates the best methods of instruction" and its members are found in the advance line of. march to educational improvement. Every year some member are sent to Universities at home and abroad to special according to their aptitudes. The National Catholic Educational Association numbers Brothers of Mary among its faithful and efficient laborers. "* '. f& among lts