Evening star., 1939-08-22
Mission Burden Falls
On u. ). Catholics,
Youth Session Told
First General Session
AtC. U. to Be Held
At 8 Tonight

Arguing that Europe has aban-
doned its effort to convert the world
to Christianity" nearly 5000 high
school and college students gathered
at Catholic University today to in
itiate an American missionary cam
paign.
From Africa, India, China and the
South Sea Islands have also arrived
priests, brothers and sisters of mis-
sionary orders to tell the young peo-
pie during four days of sessions just
what work they are doing abroad.
Germany, formerly perhaps the
greatest supporter of mission work,
has brought its aid to a dead stop.
Strict prohibition of most exports
OF money across her borders has
effectively cut off German religious
men and money from work in the
Orient and elsewhere" warned
Father Giles Anthony Webster of
the Order of Friars Minor. This
mission labor must be taken up by
the United States"
Spain 'Powerless."
He pointed out that Spain, for
merly enthusiastic and able in
spreading the Catholic faith, has
been made ''powerless to continue"
by its civil war.
ITALY, torn by economic strains,
has also largely ceased her efforts
in propagating Christianity" Fa-
ther Webster declared.
One immediate step in the pro-
gram of having America take over
Europe's burden of mission support
was announced yesterday by Father
John T. S. Mao, S. T. L., priest
from Nanking, China.
Il have been assigned the task of
helping to convert the 80, 900 Chinese
in the United States to Catholicism"
Father Mao declared.
He said that this was part of
program to make China predomi-
nantly Catholic 'in the coming
postwar period"
L think we can make China Cath
olic within SO years." he said.
American Chinese are a strategic
element in such a campaign, he de-
clareG, because they are able to OBJ
tain large funds and are leaders
In the humanitarian movements
spreading to China.
Sees Mass Conversions.
There will be mass conversions
in China by this means during the
postwar period of suffering" Fa-
ther Mao predicted. THE Catholic
Church has been Transformed al
ready by its charitable work from
an 'unpatriotic' organization to one
regarded by both Chinese leaders
and the masses as highly patriotic. 3"
He asserted that the central gov
eminent has appointed Catholic
priest its general for public morale"
in all North China-"with the ap-
proval of Rome"
The first general session for the
50 organizations participating in
the crusade will be held at o'clock
tonight in the university gymna-
sium, when a greeting and message
from Pope Plus XII will be pre-
sented by the Most Rev. John M.
Mcnamara, D. D., Auxiliary Bishop
Of Baltimore.
Keynote Address on Program.
A keynote address, For the In
crease of Religion" will be deliv-
cred by the Most Rev. Frank A.
Thill, D. D., Bishop of Concordia,
executive counsel of the crusade,
after an opening prayer by the
Most Rev. Francis J. L. Beckman,
D. D., Archbishop of Dubuque,
chairman of the erusades National
Executive Board
The rector of Catholic Univer-
sity, the Right Rev. Msgr Joseph
M. Corrigan, will welcome the dele
gates.
Tomorrow's activities begin early
with 7 am. mass, to be held in
the crypt of the National Shrine
of the Immaculate Conception, for
the repose of the soul of Pope Plus
XI. After breakfast in Graduate
Hall a pontifical field mass will be
celebrated in the university stadium
by Archbishop Beckman. The choir
of the Marist College will be heard.
Panel discussions will be held at
pm. and 4 pm, and delegates
Will gather for a mission aid meet
Ing in the gymnasium at pm.
Common sense, not legal rights,