10,000 GO TO WHITBY MASS

From a Special Correspondent
rrWO hours before celebrations were due to start at Whitby Abbey on Sunday for the 13th centenary of its foundation by St. Hilda the first of more than 10,000 people started to climb the 199 steps from the Harbour to the Abbey ruins.
Special trains, buses and cars took Catholics from Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire for the lirst Pontifical High Mass since the Reformation celebrated by Bishop Brunner of Middlesbrough, and a sermon from Bishop Heenan. Archbishop Elect of Liverpool.
Just before noon a long procession of priests including Benedictines from Ampieforth and Franciscans from Thirsk, entered the Abbey ruins while grey trails of sea mist swirled through the higher ruins of the East witidow.
The processional cross used was one from pre-Reformation days at Grosmont Priory which was dependent on Whitby Abbey, High Mass wns celebrated at a temporary altar and the choir was formed by Benedictines from Ampleforth who afterwards sang the De Proftendis for those who had served the Abbey In the past.
Bishop Heenan in his sermon said, " Daily our Church in this country becomes more impresshe. But as we grow stronger we must never despise the weak. We must never glory in the lack of unity-or weakness-of other Christian bodies. as If a modern Archbishop of Canterbury says thut he believes his religion is the same as that of St. Augustine and a modern Archbishop of York declares that his religion is the Name as that of St. Wilfrid, then we must accept their word.
"It is," he urged, " not for WI to Judge, but to love. We should pray for greater union between Roman Catholics and Protestants so that once again lids country me) embrace the Faith of that Church of which St. Hilda was such a faithful daughter."
At St. Hilda's Church, Whitby. on Sunday evening a Maas of Thanksgiving was offered by Mgr. Patrick Lannen recently appointed parish priest after serving as secretary to the Bishopof Middlesbrough since 1931. Bishop Brunner preached.