The power and influence of the Catholic Press are so great that even seemingly insignificant activity in its favour is of great importance. Anything fou do for the Catholic Press I will consider done for me personally.—Pope Pius X L
In vain will you found missions and build schools, if you are not able to wield the
J
offensive and defensive weapon of a loyal Catholic Press.—Pope Pius X .
MalaOFFICIAL
ORGAN
OF CATHOLIC
PUBLISHED 20 Pages.
ACTION
WEEKLY.
SINGAPORE, SATURDAY, J U N E 15th, 1935.
No. 24.
10 cents.
International Press Exhibition in Vatican City APRIL
TO
OCTOBER,
1936.
Every Catholic knows the particular attention which has, of late, been bestowed upon the press by the Sovereign Pontiffs. The press is the most powerful means at our disposal for the spreading of our Holy Faith, and the maintenance of its morals. A t the same time it proves to be the most effectual defensive weapon against the attacks of our enemies. In their Encyclicals and Briefs, in their audiences to the thousands of pilgrims who flock to Rome every year, Popes with untiring perseverance pressed upon the faithful the duty of supporting a "loyal Catholic Press" whenever it existed and of creating it in the countries which were still without any Official Catholic Organ. Such is the importance attached by Our present Pope, His Holiness Pius X I . , to the Catholic Press that he went so far as to say: "Anything you do for the Catholic Press, I will consider done for me personally." His Holiness is well aware of the magnificent effort made in Mission-fields for the organization of a Catholic Press. His will is that it should succeed and thrive. With this object in view, Our Pope has decided that a Universal Exhibition of the Catholic Press would be held in the Vatican City, next year, from April to October. For the enlightenment of oiir readers, we publish in extenso an article from "Lumen Agency" in which is clearly laid down the scheme of the projected Exhibition. Rev. F r . R. Cardon has been appointed by H. Exc. Bishop Devals Correspondent of the Committee for the Vatican Catholic Press Exhibition. Plans for Vatican International Catholic Press Exhibit Completed Vatican City.—The Organizing Commitee has drawn up and published complete plans for the International Exposition of the Catholic Press to be held here from April to October 1936. The exhibition is to be a universal review of the Catholic Apostolate in the field of the periodical press. It will have a three-fold aim; to make the importance of a periodical press better understood; secondly, to draw attention to the best initiatives and most fruitful realizations in this field; thirdly, to stimulate further endeavours. It will illustrate all the vital <projplems o f ethics, organization, technique, %tc. of interest to Catholies in the field of the Press. This result is to be reached i>y means of photographic views* graphic demonstrations, statisti&r pictures, object lessons, and films. The Exposition will comprise three principal sections; (1) The General Section; (2) The Section i:
;
of National Departments; and (3) The Systematic Section. The General Section. This will exhibit the historical development of the periodical press in its technique, its evergrowing potentiality, and its increased social functions. It will make known the present state of the press all over the world and illustrate the daily and periodical press. The conditions under which Catholic journalists work to-day will be shown. Special prominence will be given to efforts for the training of journalists. In this section the public will also be able to examine all the "cog-wheels" which constitute the mechanism of a newspaper. A film' is being prepared which will illustrate in all its details the organization and life of a great modern journal. The Section of National Departments. Each nation is to have its department under the direction of a
•
SOLE
SIME D A R B Y
AGENTS:
8c C O . . L T D .
SINGAPORE & BRANCHES
co-ordination centre constituted in the respective country. These na« tional centres wiH be free £ql choose ^nd order the exhifcis within the general? limits of the plan of the Exposition. With the object of facilitating their work, the Central Organizing Committee has prepared a series of suggestions embracing the chief points to be illustrated. They are (a) the progressive development of the national Catholic Press and a documentation of the principal press campaign carried on in each country in defense of the Church and her institutions, the family, schools, the social order, etc.; (b) the present state of the Catholic press of the country, with statistical data drawn up in such a way as to define the actual situation; (c) the initiatives, however modest, of a typical and characteristic nature worthy of study aftd imitation; (d) the services the Catholic press renders the Church, Catho-
lic life, and the cause of intellectual^ moral, civil and social progress in each country. * la- these national departments samples of periodicals and newspapers will be exhibited in as far as they serVfe to reconstruct the general picture starting the historical development and present state of the Catholic press in any given country. A special part of the Secofcd Section will be dedicated to Mission Countries, for which, under the direction of the Sacred Congregation bf Propaganda, are being collected characteristic and original materials which will be a surprise to many, since they will bring to light problems not generally appreciated. In this Section will also be found place for special pavilions exhibiting individual journalistic undertakings of note and prfefcs institutions of exceptional importance. (Continued on page 12)