Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 19 June 1913, Page 49

Intercolonial

A new presbytery was blessed and opened -at Eorbes on Sunday, June 8, by his Lordship tne Bishop of Bathurst.

The new Church of St. Brendan at Annandale* which has been erected at a cost of over £BOOO, was blessed and opened on Sunday, June 1, by his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney. His Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Melbourne says that if there is one thing more than another that has struck him it is the generosity and self-sacrifice of Australian Catholics. He came to Melbourne prepared to see much progress and activity amongst the Catholics of this country, but he could say with full sincerity that he never expected to find that they had achieved a fourth part of what they had. There was no country known to him that could point to such achievements within the last 50 years as this land of Australia. On Sunday, June 8, the ceremony of blessing and laying the foundation stones of the additions to St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, was performed by his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney in the presence of about 15,000 persons. Among the prelates who assisted were his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, his. Grace the Coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne, their Lordships the Bishops of Ballarat, Maitland, Goulburn, Armidale, and Lismore. His Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland (State Governor) was present. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's at 10.30 o'clock by the Bishop of Maitland, and the occasional sermon was preached by his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne. The Catholic Women's Association, inaugurated in Sydney a short time back by a handful of Catholic ladies with the interests of their sisters warmly at heart, in the face of many difficulties and innumerable obstacles, is making excellent progress, and already upwards of 120 names are on the membership roll (says the Catholic Press). The association, which is under the patronage of her Excellency, Lady Edeline Strickland, and has the special approbation of his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney, has for its aims and objects the promotion of the moral, intellectual, social and material welfare of members; it purposes also to create and foster a spirit of co-operation amongst Catholic women; to extend a sisterly welcome to Catholics from all parts of the world; to keep a register of voluntary workers willing to devote time to charitable work and social service in the Catholic cause; to provide daily and weekly papers, Catholic and other journals, for the use of members; to find employment, wherever possible, for Catholic girls and women; also the acquirement and control of premises for the purpose of the association, to provide for resident accommodation for Catholic girls and women. ' Is it not too bad that Catholics do not get fair play in Australia?' asked the Archbishop of Sydney at the opening of the new church at Annandale 'ln great things and in little things,' he went on, 'our religion brings us under penalties and disadvantages. When our Christian Brothers <™ to +u,« tt„;, ; A _ j__ take out a degree m order that they may improve the status of their schools they are not treated as the teachers of the public schools are. They are treated as people who had a pecuniary interest, in the matter, not as people who are devoting themselves to the public good The public school teachers have their salaries, which are not bad, though the status of the teacher cannot be too high, and they attend the University so that they may rise in their profession and secure more remuneration. The Christian Brother, on the other hand, has no purpose in taking a degree other than the promotion of the welfare of the children wno may be committed to his care for education. Yet from the very beginning he is met with fees, fees fees whilst the public school teacher goes in free for each subject and every term. The Christian Brothers who attend the University lectures have to pay just as much as anyone else-two guineas a term for each subject This comes to a good deal in a year, and there are other expenses as well.' ' "ijuoi