From a Staff Reporter
" ... The people from whom we expected the greatest support are those who have helped the least. I mean the parents of the students who are at present at the University." Fr. J. Ryland Whitaker S.J., chaplain to the University of Liverpool Catholic Society, makes this statement in the third annual report of the Chaplaincy, to be presented to the annual meeting of the society on Tuesday evening next week. "Surely Catholic parents who know that the Chaplaincy exists for the express purpose of helping their sons and daughters will not be content to leave to others the burden of-maintainlog it. Yet that is what many of them are doing," says Fr. Whitaker.
The treasurer. Mr. J. F. O'Neill, points out that the increase in She gross total front parents' has been brought about by larger individual donations rather than by any big increase in the number of individuals subscribing, and adds : " Wc are compelled to state that there are still three out of every four parents who fail to contribute, despite repeated efforts to stimulate the interCat of parents in our work.
" Every parent or guardian of a Catholic undergraduate should realise that attendance at a secular university of necessity exposes studentsto influences which might well have adverse and lasting effects upon their faith. The antidote to such influence is to be found in thc resident Chaplaincy where Catholic students may regularly meet the chaplain and meet one another."
The satisfactory state of the society's finances this year is largely attributable to a donation from the Archdiocesan Finance Board, and an exceptionally good return from a Christmas scheme organised by the graduates and students.
The Chaplaincy is open daily in term Little, and provides facilities for lectures, socials and study groups. A substantial proportion, though not the ideal. whole, of the Catholic student body makes use of these facilities.