ALL SORTS, By Fr. Basset, S.J.

TWO ANGELS AND HANDCUFFS
FIRST, a word of gratitude and
regret. Very many kind readers sent Christmas cards, and each gave great pleasure and was suitably displayed. Alas, time is insufficient and I find it impossible to answer them all. The funniest card of the year came from a member of the C.I.D. and showed a policeman and a thug disguised as angels and singing "Peace on Earth to men of Good Will". The two angels were unobtrusively united by a handcuff.
WALKERN
FAREWELL for ever to Walkern and its bus. Last week a photo of the bus was published, and Fr. Dvvis has sent me a description of the blessing, which was a nice mixture of liturgy and gaiety. Fr. Davis writes: "A very good crowd came (66) including some visitors from Stevenage. The blessing of the bus after Mass was unusually impressive, since the darkness was illuminated by the porch light and the dipped headlights and interior lights of the bus. The bus was drawn up in front and Mgr. Dunderdale with the servers stood above it at the top of the steps with the crowd behind them. A very joyful occasion which everyone really enjoyed. As Mgr. Dunderdale said in his sermon, ' our religion is a religion of joy.' Once more I must thank you for having made it possible and our thanks to all the readers of your column who helped so generously."
LOURDES LECTURES
WITH the centenary of Lourdes
fast approaching. Catholics ought to feel it a duty to study the story of Bernadette. Articles will appear in many journals, questions will be asked by those who do not fully understand. Do we understand ourselves? Try such questions as these. Are Catholics bound to believe in the apparitions? Is it of faith that miracles have happened at Lourdes? Is the evidence for the
miracles scientific? Did Bernadette see Our Lady standing before her or did she have an intellectual vision? To discuss and to explain some of these questions B.
G. Sandhurst and Hilda Graef have kindly agreed to come to Southwell House on February I. A priest will explain the theological position of Lourdes, and these two distinguished writers will deal with questions about the apparitions and the miracles. It is an occasion not to be missed, so please note the date.
THE FIVE HALLS FESTIVAL
TH IS Well known and pleasing title is now happily out of
date. Newcastle has joined the circle and has stolen a march on the five other cities by inviting the celebrated Cy Grant to sing Pere Duval's song. Birmingham has Nancy Evans and Victoria Sladen taking the solo parts in the Cantata, while the soprano part at the Albert Hall will be sung by Sylvia Fisher. Latest news, and it will be out of date before this is printed, is that Manchester has arranged a third performance, that Liverpool is trying for a second, and that the Albert Hall will be filled twice on the same night. A few tickets may become available if those who do not need theirs send them back
ART COMPETITION
As part of the Six Halls Festival, girls of about St. Bernadette's age were invited to submit paintings and drawings on the
subject of Pilgrimage ". Some 70 pictures arrived just before Christmas, from many parts of the British Isles. The standard attained was very high. Mr. Norman Swift, the well known commercial artist, selected the winners and he is reproducing five of them in the souvenir booklet "We and Bernadette" which will be on sale at all the six hails.
TAILPIECE
FR R. Clifford Howell, if he sees THI, CATHOLIC HERALD in Australia, will laugh at the crack of a friend of his when told of his journey: "Tr. Howell will love Australia; he'll he able to say Mass upside down."