imposing plans are under way for 1940 Eucharistic Congress in Nice. Although the Congress is still a year off, schemes for the success of this gigantic religious event for which 200,000 delegates are expected, are already being worked out, Mgr. Remand, Bishop of Nice, is personally supervising all details. It has been decided that the principal events will take place in the open air.
Among the ideas which have so far been accepted are a long procession on the waterfront, leaving from the church of Sainte-Helene, and a procession on the sea itself, from Cannes to Mentone. Mgr. Remond believes that at least 300,000 seats can be arranged on the beach. and by making the fullest use of the great space at his disposal, he thinks he can achieve remarkably picturesque effects: for example, drawing up the delegations in national units along a long line of march, with their banners and national costumes, while a procession of 100,000 pass them by. He also intends to include the numerous orders of penitents of Provencal France, in blue, white, black, brown, red, etc., and the sisterhoods in the various habits.
EXHIBITIONS
Added importance will he given the International Eucharistic Congress in Nice through the organisation at the same time of various exhibitions, notably one of ancient and modern religious jewellery for which an appeal is being made to the treasures of churches and museums, an exhibition of religious art, both retrospective and modern and, an entirely new idea, an exhibition of stamps having religious subjects.
As at least 150,000 visitors a day are expected at Nice during the Congress week in addition to the 200,000 delegates, the French Department of Bridges and Highways is undertaking important work in the region, improving roads, doing away with level railroad crossings and, as Marseilles has only one bridge across the Var leading to Nice, an entirely new bridge is being built by the Department of the Maritime Alps.