BRITISH Railways, London Transport. carpenters, caterers and traffic police are making plans to ensure the biggest Catholic exhibition ever staged in this country runs I smoothly.
For Challenge 65, to be held
in Earls Court from June 27 to July 4 will be far more than another Vocations Exhibition displaying pictures of priests saying Mass and Sisters teaching in the missions.
Besides these traditional
ingredients, aiming to show the
world what religious life is all about, Challenge 65 will give, according to Cardinal Heenan of Westminster: "a graphic course of religious instruction.
The pulsating life of the Church of God will be on display".
Men, women and children from nearly all the major Catholic societies of southern England will march round Britain's largest exhibition hall during the week. Many will have their own stands. The Apostleship of the Sca, for example, plans to build one in the shape of a boat.
Concelebration
Mass and Benediction will be said each day. Cardinal Heenan will concelebrate with 12 priests a solemn High Mass on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, June 29.
Choirs from six dioceses will fill the hall with music. So will organists and brass bands'. Stalls are being built by 175 different groups, 130 of them religious communities.
British Railways and London Transport have promised to send special trains to Earls Court at reduced rates for parties. Caterers are already taking orders for food and traffic wardens are beginning to worry about parking. Crowds of 5,000 to 7,000 are expected to attend each evening.
Next week 100.000 tickets will be distributed at parish churches. A month later 30,000 copies of the exhibition catalogue will be available.
Four goals
A thousand Catholic schools have been invited and in many areas Legion of Mary groups are going round to homes inviting parents to send their children who attend non-Catholic schools.
Fr. Bernard Slevin, C.S.Sp., organising secretary, says the exhibition will try to meet four goals: 1. "Demonstrate to Catholics in a visible way the spiritual strength of the Church throughout the world." Talks. photos. models will show the work of priests, religious, secular institutes and Catholic Action.
2"Inspire young people with
• a desire to consecrate themselves for special work for God. As the Church grows in this country there is an ever-increasing shortage of vocations. To maintain the present needs of the Church without considering adding new parishes. we will
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