The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-04-11

the international meeting, for the
purpose of providing the Congre-
cation with ideas and suggestions
concerning religious life in pres
ent-day circumstances.
The scope and purpose of the
Congress is described here as the
deepening and strengthening of
the religious life as an added ele-
ment in the Holy Fathers present
crusade for the Christian renewal
of the world. Ii will discuss prob
lens of religious life and the apos-
tolate In modern times, with the
view of finding solutions which
will leave intact the essential prin-
ciples of the religious life itself.
National committees have been
formed among both the men and
women Religious to promote the
congress and arrange the details of
the program. II provides for joint
and separate sessions of men and
women on the South Bend campus.
Honorary chairman of both nation
al committees is the Rev. John J.
Csvanaugh, csc, President of
the Notre Dame University.
Executive chairman of the mems
committee is the Rev. Adam c. FL
lis, S.J., of st. Mary'S, Kans., who
is Consultor of the Congregation
of Religious in Rome. For the Sis
tefs' committee, the executive
chairman named is Mother Mary
Gerald Barry, 0P., Superior Gen
eral of the Dominican Sisters of
Adrian, Mich. Provincials and lead
ers among the various congrega-
tions and communities of both men
and women will compose the com
mittees.
General and specialized meetings
are planned, it is stated mere, to
cover all phases of the religious life
and the problems created in mod
ern times especially for religious
formation and the apostolate. Spe-
cialized sessions will be devoted to
such subjects as education, mission
aries, parish work, seminary train
ing, novice masters and niistresSes,
hospital work, schools of various
levels, and so on.
II is considered worthy of note
here that what might be called the
first extension of the work of the
International Congress, the holding
of purely national meeting, has
been assigned by the Roman Con
gregation TO the United States. The
congress held here during Holy
Year aroused great interest among
the Religious of the world. Ii pro
vided much satisfaction to those
who attended both with respect ia
the nature of the problems studied
and the quality OF the discussions
Many and solid were the beneficial
results oil the sessions. in the opin
ion of the majority who were pres
ent.
The holding of the first National
Congress of Religious in us. is con
sidered significant here in that the
US, being the most youthful coun
try and having the newest and
freshest life and viewpoint, may
better be able to make contribu
tionS to this kind of activity than
other countries marked by centur
les of tradition and deeply imbed
ded viewpoints. II is also pointed
out that this will be the first time
that the Secretary of the Congre
cation of Religious, as such, ha'
ever visited the US. and that he il
going to attend congress called
by the Congregation for the pur
pose of gaining suggestions ant
ideas.
AT the time of the Holy year
Congress of Religious, the even
was Iikened by leaders here to ,
world general chapter of all con
gregations rather than Just one
The Congress was described as ;
general session for the purpose o
putting-in-order, making sugges
tons for changes and improve
mentS in the techniqueS of relig
ious life and apostolate.
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