BIG YOUTH RALLIES HELD IN SHEFFIELD

AND MIDDLESBROUGH Massed Catholic Youth Rallies are now popular features in large towns in the Provinces, latest news to reach us reporting thousand-strong meetings from Sheffield and from Teesside.
Sheffield .
March* 1,000 strong behind the Papal banner, Sheffield youth packed the geound floor of a crowded City Hall last Sunday to hear outspoken words from Dr. J. C. Heenan at the local Youth Council's first 'big rally. Though he found a word of praise for Leeds diocese's efforts in social study, Dr. Heenan has not come to flatter youth.
" The greatest need of modern youth is discipline, Too many leaders to-day think youth is labelled ' Fragile, treat gently.' Perhaps small families are the cause. Children are treated as precious, not because they come from the Almighty. but because they are almighty scarce.
"Catholics are rather afraid of politics. But politics, the science of government, must not be left to non-religious politicians. We know that not only individuals have souls, but also the country, and all we hold dear must not be lost through the materialism of pollticians."
Ile held up for admiration some qualities of the Young Communists (not their elders)—" the wonderful enthusiasm and blind devotion with which they follow faithless, subversive and destructive doctrines.
" This is the generation of Catholic Action and the lay apostolate. Within limits, you are more powerful than your priests," he said, urging them to get familiar with Catholic social teaching. " The Church was teaching its social doctrine while Stalin was still studying under the monks he has since murdered."
Appreciating the Government's aid to voluntary bodies, Dr. Heenan warned them of the threat from some " who might be in power before the end of the war " who would sweep away all free organisations.
"A K AND 3 Ps" . Dr. II. J. Poskitt, Bishop of Leeds, who presided, urged the young people to take up the challenge to meet the giant of paganism, and gave to help them " a• K and three Ps ": Know your faith; Practise it; Propagate it; and Pray.
From Nora Connolly, girls' president of the Young Christian Workers, came advice to Youth Leaders not to neglect the spiritual guidance of youth. " You don't make boys into apostles by letting them play billiards with other Catholics, or dance with Catholic girls!"
The I.ord •Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor C. J. Mitchell, a Free Church?hen, was present on the platform and appealed to the young people tp act up to what they had heard that afternoon.
Tees-side
Over a thousand boys and girls from all parts of Tees-side attended a rally in the Gaumont Cinema, Middlesbrough, on Sunday, held under the auspices of the Young Christian Workers.
Mgr. Thomas Shine, Bishop of Middlesbrough, was the principal speaker.
Congratulating the Y.C.W. on the soundness and success of the local organisation, Dr. Shine said the hope of the future rested on such bodies. It was impossible to exaggerate the enormity of present-day evils, the disruption of family life, the widespread forgetfulness of God and rampant materialism.
" The present war has revealed a most striking vein of unselfishness and. generosity in the case of thousands of people throughout the land. Though many live without God, there are more who trust Him in their lives and hearts. The lamp of hope is burning and rising unquenchably because there is an army of God, and goodness will always, eventually be victorious," concluded the Bishop.
Fr. Corboy emphasised the responsibility of eaft Young Christian Worker to work harder than ever to make the world a little better, while Miss Teresa Mulholland and Kenneth Muir gave reports on the work of the Y.C.W. choral readings on " Mixed Marriages '' and Pope Leo XIII's encyclical were rendered by young members of the movement.
The boys and girls afterwards proceeded in procession to the Cathedral, where Pontifical Benediction was given by Bishop Shine.