Credo — the official film of the New Zealand Catholic Centenary

Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

CREDO, A Scenic Play by Joseph Boon, CSS.R. with music by Arthur Meulemans, was interpreted by the Catholic Youth of Auckland under the guidance of George Duke Walton and presented at Western Springs Stadium Auckland on Saturday, 5 March 1938, the year of the New Zealand Catholic Centenary, in the presence of His Excellency The Most Reverend John Panico, Apostolic Delegate for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

CREDO was written to be performed at the close of the 6th Catholic Congress of Malines held in September 1936. It became a play for the world. When news of it reached New Zealand, at the instigation of Bishop Liston, Dr Buxton then abroad, entered into negotiations with Fr Boon, for the New Zealand rights of the play, which was then translated into English and Auckland’s production became the first in the English language.

The film includes the following: The CREDO play with 400 players, choir of 200, and orchestra of 100. The Eucharist Procession in which 30,000 people took part. 40,000 people at the Auckland Domain Rally. The arrival of overseas delegates. The Totara Point celebrations. Archbishop Panico and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Archbishop Mannix of Melbourne. Fr. Owen Dudley of England. Dr Ryan of Belfast. Archbishop O’Shea, of Wellington. Watch the film, towards the bottom of the page to which this link will take you.

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