not confined within the imaginary lines of the parochial unit or the boundaries of jurisdiction.  They will not be met with rightly and successfully, if the Church as a unit does not agree on a uniform plan of action.  For, to prevent a deplorable waste of potential powers, of misdirected energies and of overlapping work, to forward the great cause of the Church and realize its Catholic aspirations, to present a united front to common dangers, the union and co-operation of all the parishes and all the dioceses are an absolute necessity.

Never has the Church in Canada felt so keenly the necessity of this union and co-operation.  An acute sense of uneasiness has spread, far and broad, apathy and lethargy.  Instinctively eyes turn to the heights from whence they have a right to expect direction and help.  The necessity of some INTER-DIOCESAN ORGANIZATION, along the lines of the National Catholic Welfare Council of the United States, is the outspoken conviction of many and the unexpressed desire of all.  We are weak in our divided strength.  The criticism of both clergy and laity in this matter is widespread and very often justifiable.  We could willingly endorse what Cardinal Newman wrote to a friend:  “Instead of aiming at being a world-wide power, we are shrinking into ourselves, narrowing the lines of communion, trembling at freedom of thought, and using the language of dismay and despair at the prospect before us, instead of the high spirit of the warrior going out conquering and to conquer.”—­(Life, by Ward II, p. 127.)

“Ut sint unum!” “That they may be one!” This is the supreme solution of the weighty problems now facing the Church at this crucial period of readjustment and reconstruction.  A general Congress would crystallize, we believe, our desires for unity into a concrete fact.  It would help to group the various thoughts and workable schemes around a definite plan and stimulate activities in view of its realization.  Some may find it rather presumptuous on our part to formulate such a proposal.  Our sincerity and loyalty to the great Cause in view is our only excuse.

What is a Catholic Congress?

A Catholic Congress—­be it provincial, regional, national or simply diocesan—­is the meeting of Catholic clergy and laity under the guidance of the Hierarchy, for the study of various problems, the development and coordination of energies, the unification and concentration of purpose.

The members of the Congress are delegates from the various parishes, from social, mutual and diocesan organizations.  It is of absolute necessity that the laity be well represented, for the Congress is the great school of “social action,” the great medium of educating the Catholic body and developing the sense of Catholic social responsibility.

The guidance of our Fathers in Christ, the Hierarchy, ensures to the Congress its value, its authority—­Posuit Episcopos regere Ecclesiam Dei.