Russian Embassy gives visa for young American Assuniptionist
FR. GEORGES BISSONNETTE, a 31 year old American
Assumpiionist priest, ordained only four years ago, has been chosen to go to Moscow to replace Fr. Arthur Brassard, another Assumptionist, who has been in the Russian capital just on three years.
C.Y.M.S. LEADER DIES AT 79
Mr. Edward Lamas, K.C.S.G.
Mr. Edward Lomas, K.C.S.G., J.P., a former national president of the Catholic Young Men's Society, died last week at Macclesfield, aged 79.
Mr. Lomas was created a Knight of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XI and the present Holy Father created him a Knight Commander.
A convert to the Church in 1892, Mr. Lomas, managing director of a silk firm, gave a fortune to churches and charities. He and his wife built St. Edward's Church, Macclesfield, and later gave £20,000 for the parish hall there.
Mr. Lomas died at Sutton Hall, which he bought about two years ago with the intention of restoring the historic chapel there. On the day he was buried the Bishop of Shrewsbury was to have said the first Mass there since the restoration.
On Sunday afternoon the people of St. Edward's Church visited the chapel where Mr. Lomas lay to pray for him.
On Sunday evening his body was received into St. Edward's Church by the Bishop of Shrewsbury and on Monday morning, in the presence of the Bishop, Solemn Requiem Mass was offered by the Vicar General, Mgr. Provost Curran, at which a large number of clergy were present.
Mr. W. P. Nicholson
Mr. William P. Nicholson, twin brother of Fr. George Nicholson, one of the best-known Redemptorist preachers. died on Monday at Westbury-on-Trim, aged 87.
I Ie will be the only F. nglishspeaking priest in Russia. He plans to fly to Helsinki and go on to Moscow by train.
The Russian Embassy in Washington, however. has granted an entry visa valid for only two months. Application for it was first made six months ago. It was obtained with the help of Mr. Michael Francis Doyle, a lawyer who since 1933 has helped the American priests in Russia.
Before granting the visa the Soviet Government insisted that Fr. Brassard should leave Moscow before Fr. Bissonnette arrives. Mr. Doyle resisted this on the ground that there should be continuous religious ministry there.
Fr. Bissonnette is the fourth American priest to go to Moscow in accordance with the RooseveltLitvinov agreement in 1933.
Fourth priest
First of the four was Fr. Leopold Braun. He was followed by Fr. George L a b e r g c. After he had reached Moscow, Fr. Brassard was debarred from saying Mass in the Church of St. Louis of the French— the church of the French Embassy, which is the only Catholic church open in Russia.
Since his ordination, Fr. Bissonnette has been teaching at Assumption College in Worcester. Massachusetts.
He has also been studying at Laval University, Quebec, Fordham University, New York, and Georgetown University. At Fordham he took a course in Russian language and culture.
Asked what he thought of his appointment to Moscow, he said he regarded is at a "great privilege."