Consecration of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 38, 21 September 1905, Page 4

Consecration of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney

Rarely, if e\er, in tho history of the Catholic Church in Australia has there been witnessed such impressive ceremonies as took place in Syidney in connection with the solemn consecration of St. Mary's Uathedral amd the opening of the Third Plenary Council. With the exception of the venerable Archbishop of Hob'art, all the prelates of the Australian Church were present. Tho consecration of tho altars and altar stones was performed on Friday, September 1, by his Lordship Dr. Dwyer, Coadju tor-Bishop of Maitland, assisted by the Rev. J. P. Moyinagh, deacon ; and Rev. J. Egun, subdeacon ; tho Roy. W. Barry and Rev. J. Sheahy were masters of ceremonies. Bishop Dwyer consecrated 153 altar-stonos, which is, perhaps, the groatest number'ever consecrated at one time in Australia, the next largest being at the RockhampVon Cathedral, where 150 were blessetd. The most essential part of tire rite consists of the anointing with chrism (to indicate the richness of grace) and the placing of relics in the sepulchre or repository made in the altar-stowe, and afterwards sealed up. The ceremony of the solemn consecration of the Cathedral took place on Saturday morning al seven o'clock. It was performed by his Grace Dr. Kelly (the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Sydney), assisted by the Rev. J. P. Moynag'h as deacon, and the Rev. J. Egan as su'b'dieiacon: The ceremony comprised the procession of the relics, the chanting of the litanies and psalms, in whidh a large mini her of the clergy took part / und while the consecration rites were be; ng carried out the edifice was closed to the public. The ceremonies extended over five hours. The edifice was consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, under tho title of l Our Lady Help uf Christians.' On Sunday, September 3, tihere were fully 5000 persons present at Pontifical High Mass at the Cathedral. Long before the appointed hour the s-aered edifice was crowded in every part, and hundreds haxl to be denied admittance. The prelates who had stayed overnight at Manly College were brought by special steamer to Sydney, and arr ved at the Calhedral grounds a little after 10 o'clock. Ttia following is a list of prelates who were present at ihe day's celebrations, and whose names are gjven in 1 Ihe older of seniority by consecration : His Eminence Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney ■, his Grace Thomas Joseph Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne ; Most Rev. Robert D^l'nl)e I Archbishop of Bristoainc ; Most Roy. John O'Reily, Arehbishon of Adelaide ; Most Rev. Michael Kelly ; Coadju-tor-Arch'bisho!pi of Sydney ; Right Rev. James Murray, Bishop of Maitland ; Right Rev. Stephen Reville, Bishop of Sandhurst (Vie.) ; Right Rev. Matthew Gibr*ey, Bishop 1 of Perth (W.A.) ; Right Rev. John Dunne, Bishop of Wileamnia ; Right Rev. Francis Corbet t, Bishop of Sale (Vie )'; Right Rev. Jeremiah Doyle, Bishop of Lisimo-re', Ripiht Rev. Jo<?nph Higfjiins, Bishop of Ballarat (Vie.); Right Re\ . Patrick Delany, Coad-jutor-Bishop of Ilohart (Tas.) ; Right Rev. John Gallagher, Bishojn of Goulburn ; Right Rev. James Maher, Bishop of Port Augusta (S.A.) : Ruriht Rev. P. Dwyer, > Coadiutor-Bishop of Maitland; Rifht Rev. J. D. Murray, Vicar- Apostolic of Oookiown (Queensland) ; Right Rev. William B. Kelly, 'Bi.sho'p of Geraldton (W.A.) ; Rie?ht Rev. John Dannie, Bishop of Bathurst ; Right R'Ov P. J. o''Connor, Bisb'op of Armidale; Very Rev. W. Walsh, Diocesan Administrator, Roclhmnnton (Queensland)' ; Very Rev. Fiilgentius Torres, 0.5.8., Abbot Nullius, New Norcia (W.A.).

Punctually at half-past 10 the prelates, cleorgy, and other members of the Plenary Council assembled at the presibytery. They were marshalled in procession, proceeding to the Cathedral by the eastern steps, thence round the building, entering by the main door in College street. The order of the procession was— Catholic Knights,, followed by the cross-bearer and priests acolytes, Monpignon, Bishops, the Archbishops, and finally Cardinal Moran. The procession proceeded along tho main aisle to the sanctuary, the choir, assisted by the -orchestra, meanwhile singing ' Ecce Socerdos Magnus. It is said that a more notable ecclesiastical gathering has not been seen inside the halls of a Catholic chu/rch in the Commonwealth, as there were seated in the sanctuary the representatives of every diocese in Australia. Among the historical figures in the sanctuary there might be noted the Very 'Rev Dr. Shee&y, who, as Vicar-General, blessed the (fcor-ner-stone of the Cathedral in September, 1882, and Bishop Murray, of Maitland, who was present at the laying of the corner stone in, 1868. H ! S T, G i ace f M()stl Rev - Dr - Kell y celebrated Pontifical Hugh 1 Mass, the Venerable Archpriest Sheehy being assistant priest. The Rev. Father J,. O'Gorman was deacon, the Rev. J. M. Kelly, sufbdeacon. The Right Rev, Mg,r. O'Baran (Adm. of the Cathedral) was master of ceremonies at the throne the masters of ceremonies at the Mass 'being the ' Rev Fathers W. Barry and P. Sheehy, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Stephens (St. Patrick's College, Manly) His Eminence the Cardinal presided, having as assistants at the fhrone the Right Rev. Mgr. Carroll V.G., and the Right Rev. Monsignor Beechinor (Launceston). The occasional sermon was preached by the Very 'Rev. Father O'Farrell, CSS R • Suj.erior of the Redemptorist Order in Australia. ' Among tho laymen who occupied seats in the sanctuary were the Hon. John Hughes, M.L.C., K.L.S.G { Vice-President of the Executive Council) Hon :. JAn Meaghe-r M L.C, K.C.S.G., Dr. Donovan; K.C^.G., Mr T. J. Dalk>n, K.C.S.G., Sir William P. Manning Colonel Freehill, and Mr. J. Lane Mullms (Papal Chamberlains), Messrs. E. O'Farrell and Tighe Ryan (Order of the Cross ol Leo XIII.) Briga-dier-General Gordon (State Commandant), and Baron tda-Hun^ar i° enninS ~0~ 0 ' CarrOll Vonm^ Genc^ fox AusImmediately after Mass in the Cathedral the Third Plenary Council was formally opened by his Eminence Cardinal Moran, the remaining sessions bean"- held during -the week at St. Patrick's College, Manly. Later in the afternoon the Cardinal visiting- nreatcs, and clergy, ar>d others were entertained at luncheon at Bai.maun's Cafe, by the Catholic laity Mr. Justice O'Connor presiding. Speeches were de^ hvered by his Eminence the Cardinal his Grace th#» Archbishop of Melbourne, the Archbishop of Brisbane, and others. The present St. Mary's was beejun in 1866. The cost, so far, has been £200,000, half of which has been expended since the advent of his Eminence Cardinal Moran. There is no debt on the Cathedral which, however, is not by any means finished The Xi r p!S pa m( S 1CT1! 1 ons M rc r LCTIRIh °' utside when " completed, ioOft. j length of part complete, 208 ft • eeneral ludth, 80ft ; length of transepts, 124 ft •' 'hef-ht of nave from ground, 08ft. ; height of eroined'ceiline 2m "T' M 4ft > : ? eiR J* ° f C °' mplOied tower! 127 ft , height of front lowers and spires to be,