6 We thank God for

their parents .
UOUR Franciscans set out this week from St. Antony's r Friar:. Forest Gate, London, after the moving ceremony of departure in the Franciscan church on Sunday evening.
Three are on their way to the Zulu missions of Ermelo in South-east .1 ransvaal. The fourth is going to the Indian mission of Bellary, a vast mis. sionary territory of 30,000 square miles.
Waiting to welcome Fr. Pascal Rowland, Fr. Marius Banks and Fr. Athanasius Wilkie, 0.F.M., is Fr. Christopher Ullyatt, 0.F.M., Superior of the Ennelo mission. who was formerly Senior Catholic Chaplain of the R.A.F. in the South-East Asia Command.
The lone traveller to India is Fr. Reginald Clancy. 0.F.M., who will be greeted by Bellary's English Bishop. Mgr. John Hogan, O.F.M.
The Provincial, Fr. Justin McLoughlin, 0.F.M., preaching at the departure ceremony, said:
" Barely a couple of miles from this Church and Friary of St. Antony, the great East London Docks daily witness the departure of vast cargoes of merchandise, of material wealth, of all that we understand by the lucrative word 'export.' The very buses that pass the end of St. Anthony's Road indicate their terminus as ' The Docks.'
" But we here this evening are witnessing a departure of the greatest export this country could ever send abroad-missionaries with a mandate to go and teach the Christian religion to various nations.
" Even in difficult penal days." said Fr. Justin, when priests were needed so very much at home, at least twice in the second half of the 17th century the friars responded to the appeal for missionaries for Maryland."
From St. Antony's in modern times Franciscans have gone to the Holy Land and China, and to the Putamayo mission. " And for over 30 years, our brethren have been leaving our shores to work in the India that is today wrapped in so many complications for its Christian future.
" We must thank God," said Fr. Justin, "for the parents and Christian homes and schools He has given these missionaries. Those parents in their children go out to the harvest for which Christ Our Lord asked helpers.
" And We thank you, too, especially our parishioners of St. Antony's. You perhaps of all parishes have been most generous. These priests are yours. You educated them. You helped to mainlain them. You are sending them to two vast missionary territories.
" The story from beginning to end is one of charity, of the love of God and love of neighbour. Like a circle, it goes round the whole world. You are there. The Indian is there. The Zulu is there.
" It is a circle of sacrifice, and by the love of Christ none of us is left out."
MGR. PATRICK CRONIN, a Columban missionary, has left the Philippine Islands to be consecrated Bishop on September 18 at St. Columban's Seminary, Navan. Born in Ireland. Mgr. Cronin was recently appointed Prelate Nullius of Ozamiz.