Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 24 December 1908, Page 43

Intercolonial

During the past few months the Ballarat diocese has lost by death no less tha.a four priests— viz., Father Gmlfoyle, Father McAuley, Father Lynch, and Father FerrisAccording to the statistical abstract for the quarter ending 30th September, the population of Victoria on that date was 1,269,060, of whom 637,356 were males and 631,704 females. Mr. George Halpin, who has been re-elected president of the Geelong branch of the Catholic Young Men's Society. has had a unique record in connection with, the society, having occupied office continuously since 1889. Dulwieh Hill, in the archdiocese of Sydney, has been created a new parish, and takes in portion of the Lewisham, Mariickville, and Canterbury parishes (says the Catholic Press). The Rev. Father William Hayden has been eppointed first pastor. His charge at Albion Pane has been transferred to the Rev. Father Peter Power, whose place at Gotford will be taken by the Rev. Fathe' John Egan, who administered Mount Carmel during the absence of Father Collins in Ireland. The recent ordinations at Manly (says the Adimcate), when eleven young Australians were ordained by his Eminence Cardinal Moran, prove that the missionary vocation is gaining ground in Australia. One of the students, Rev. M. O'Connor, went to be ordained at Sale by the Bishop of the diocese, thus completing the number of the original apostolic college, twelve. As many as twenty-four priests with the Cardinal imposed hands on the candidates. Despite his advanced age, eighty, his Eminence showed no fatigue throughout the long ceremony. The cost of the maintenance of the 108 Catholic primary schools of the archdiocese of Melbourne for the year ended September 30, was £24,840. Two new schools were built during the year at a cost of over £1600. On subtsantiaJ alterations, repairs, and furniture a sum of £1976 was spent. The total outlay for the year on maintenance, alterations, repairs, and new buildings was £28,425. The total number of children attending the schools during ths year was 20,660. The number of teachers (exclusive of 30 visiting) was 424, of whom 251 were members of religious Orders. The Hon. John Meagher, in a speech at the opening d" the Christian Brothers' Novitiate, Strathfield, said lie knew some ex-students of swell Catholic colleges and conventswho would not carry a Catholic paper without first taking off the cover lest their Protestant friends might see a Catholic paper in their hands Children brought up in such schools— girls as well as boys— swelled the ranks of weak Catholics, the Friday meat-eating Catholics, and were no good for God or man. * They were not educated at all, for their characters were not formed, and the highest type" of character in rrmn or woman was the true Catholic character, which did net attempt to compromise between truth and error. Rev. Mother Mary Xavier Dooley, of the Presentation Convent, Launceston, recently celebrated her silver jubilee as a religious. Her friends and pupils gathered around and honored her enthusiastically. A combined entertainment was given in her honor by the different city schools and some of her admirers. It was a striking demonstration. An address was presented by the friends and pupils, past and present, of the Launceston and outlying convent schools, also a purse of sovereigns. Monsignor Beechinor, who presided, replied eloquently on Mother Xavier's behalf. In return, the Rev. Mother and Sisters gave a social evening to the members of the jubilee committee and their friends. Major the Hon. J. V. O'Loghlin, V.D., who has just been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces' officers' longservice decoration, V.D., has had 25 years' service in tho military foices of the State (says the Adelaide Southern Cross). Seven years he served in the ranks, private, corporal, and sergeant. In 1890 he received his first commission as Lieutenant in the Militia, and has worked' up to his present rank. of Major, for which he passed his theoretical and practical examination in 1903. He was instrumental in raising and commanded the Irish Corps till the end of last year. Major. O'Loghlin has risen from the bottom to the head of the military forces, having been Minister of Defence for four years. He holds a commission signed by himself ih that capacity. .