Cardinal Gilroy’S Praise

For Missions

And Native Clergy

IN a special interview before he left Port Moresby after his re cent tour, Cardinal Gilroy said he had been impressed by the dignity of the five native priests of Papua and New Guinea.

“All of them served me either as deacons or sub-deacons,” he said, “and they were as dignified and competent as any European priest.”

He said everywhere he met with magnificent hospitality and that Administration officials, mission hosts and natives had given him a memorable welcome. His greatest surprise had been travelling with Bishop Arkfelt in his own aircraft.

“Twice a day we would set off to visit an outstation. We would taxi up to the church, spend a little time with the people, give them our blessing, and take off for another station One day, Bishop Arkfeld suggested that we take a look at the Sepik River and see a typical village from the air. When they saw the aircraft, the people began running towards the airstrip until in a few minutes there was a crowd of several hundreds. Rather than disappoint them, the Bishop landed and stopped for a few minutes.”

The most memorable incident of his trip, the Cardinal said, had been a mass baptism of fifty catechu mens in the Sepik District at which he had officiated. On this and other occasions he found the natives to be wonderful listeners. They listened with acute attention to every word although in many cases the address had to be translated into pidgin and then into the local language.

“There is no doubt of the appre ciation of the native people for the work of the missionaries,” the Cardinal continued. “Twice, when I was travelling with Bishop Noser, we were approached by native lead ers who asked that Fathers be sent to their areas. In each case the leader was a pagan. In another place the leader, a prominent Catholic, expressed his thanks to the missionaries for having taught his people a new way of life. This was only one of several, similar public statements that give a clear indication of the missionaries’ im pact on the people. I believe it is typical of all areas where the missions have extended their activities.

“In some places progress has been amazing. Twenty years ago the first missionaries at Menindi were killed.

Now there is a faithful congregation of five thousand. But in spite of this the missions have a clear pic ture of all that remains to be done There is no feeling of complacency among them. Everywhere there are

big schemes for development. Their vitality is extraordinary. Being their guests has been a most stimu- COC&RA e NE P 6r ‘ 6 n ° e "-™ TA