WOOD GREEN CELEBRATES RERUM NOVARUM SUNDAY

By a Staff Reporter Rerum Novarum Sunday, May 15, was commemorated at St. Paul's, Wood Green, London, when the Wood Green Deanery of ACTU held a rally in the parish' hall. At Benediction, which preceded the meeting, Fr. Joseph Christie, S.J., was the special preacher.
The hall was packed to capacity for the rally, and members of various local societies supported on the platform. Speakers were the Rev. H. Dodd, of Ruislip, Mr. Gerry Sherry, of THE CATHOLIC HERALD, and Mr. John Ciano, a member of the Catholic Social Guild Executive, who was deputising for Councillor John Brannigan, who was indisposed. "Catholic workers must give the lead by practical Christianity in their daily lives," said Mr. Sherry. "It is no use professing Catholicism and practising materialism. Rerum Novarum was issued over 58 years ago, and yet the vast majority of people are still ignorant of its message," Working life must be infused with
a spirit of service, he said. Not merely for personal gain or office, but so that the mass of workers could realise their dignity as sons and daughters of God.
" We don't want pressure groups within the trade unions," declared Mr. Sherry. "Our task is not to split the working class but to unite it so that it can become an instrument of good. Being negatively anti-Communist will do us more harm than it will Communism.
DIGNITY OF MAN
Our responsibility is to be proficient in our jobs; accepting duties as well as rights. It seemed strange that most people only bothered about Papa) utterances when it
affected their rights. We have a great mission, but it will only be accomplished if we apply justice and charity, not only to our fellow workers, but also to employers.
Fr. Dodd spoke of the life of Pope Leo XIII and the implications of his encyclical. The changes brought about by the industrial revolution necessitated guidance from the Church. Rerum Novarum laid down principles concerning the rights and duties of workers and employers. It also emphasised the dignity of man. Mr. Ciano speaking on the principles of the encyclical declared that it was the duty of Catholics to study It and realise what it meant to them. But study was not sufficient; it was also necessary to apply the principles. With a sound knowledge of the Church's social teachings, Catholics could give the lead in solving the many problems which beset us today. It was a friendly meeting, and many questions were put to the speakers. The questioners were not out to score points but only to learn the truth. It was that same spirit which had prevailed throughout the whole proceedings.