Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 11 September 1913, Page 47

Intercolonial

The golden jubilee of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Abbotsford, was celebrated on August 28 and following days. His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne presided at the High Mass on the first day, his Grace the Coadjutor-Archbishop pontificating. A notable addition to the ecclesiastical architecture of Sydney was opened on Sunday, August 31, by his Grace the Archbishop, who blessed the Church of Mary Immaculate for the Franciscan Fathers. The expenditure so far on the church has been over £12,000, but it will require another £6OOO to complete the original plans. v ' ■' Very Rev. Dr. O'Mahony, of Launceston, whose health has been very poor lately, has been ordered absolute rest. At a large meeting of citizens held recently, it was resolved to recognise his valuable work in Launceston by presenting him with a testimonial. A fund was opened in the room, and £145 subscribed, including £SO from his Grace Archbishop Delany of Hobart. The foundation stone of the new Church of St. Pius, Enmore, was blessed and laid on Sunday afternoon, August 24, by the Archbishop of Sydney, in the presence of a large gathering of parishioners. The pastor, Rev. Father Furlong, in a financial statement, said the cost of the new church would bo about £3500, and to this they had to add the debt of £IOOO on the presbytery. Towards the reduction of this they had collected about £620 during the past year. The City Hall, Melbourne, was packed at the splendid demonstration on the education question. The Lord Mayor (C. D. V. Hennessy) presided. The keynote of the meeting was the enthusiasm with which the demand for a Royal Commission on the present system was received. Masterly presentation of the Catholic case was made by Mr. F. E. O'Connell, Dr. A. L. Kenny, K.S.G., Messrs. W. L. Bowditch, M.A., and T. C. Brennan, LL.B. (editor of the Advocate). The organising work of the Catholic Federation was much in evidence, the Catholic laity speaking with one united voice on questions concerning the dearest interests of the Faith. : The members of St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir, the Victorian Festival Choir, and the National Operatic Society (says the Advocate) have subscribed for the erection of a bronze tablet in memory of their late conductor, Mr. Frederic Beard. With the consent of his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, the tablet will be erected in the choir gallery of St. Patrick's Cathedral. A memorial tablet to Mr. Beard has already been erected in St. Catherine's Church, Birmingham, by the members of his lady students' choir, Melbourne. The memorial funds subscribed by the Melbourne public will be devoted to the erection of a monument over deceased's grave in the Borella Cemetery, Colombo. Numerous friends mourn the death of Mother Mary Gonzaga Russell, of the Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent's Convent, Potts Point, Sydney. Born at Charleville, County Cork, she developed early in life the religious vocation, and joined the Sisters of Charity, in which Order she worked zealously for 45 years. The Auburn Hospital is one of the monuments to the memory of Mother M. Gonzaga, who built that institution. She was one amongst the senior Sisters who went over to Melbourne when St. Vincent's Hospital was first established there. Subsequently she held for six years the position of Mother Rectress at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, where : she endeared herself to all with whom her onerous duties brought her into contact. His Lordship the Bishop of Sale, writing to the Advocate, says:—'l see that the Ronald Stewart Testimonial Fund is closed, and that the balance sheet shows as a net result the magnificent sum of £1047 5s 2d. I claim the credit of starting that fund, and I . have never touched anything of the kind which makes me so proud. I now ask space to express my gratitude to those who contributed to the success of; the move-

ment, and to assure them that they would feel amply rewarded if they could realise the sunshine and happiness their action shed over the last days of Mr. Stewart. The result of the testimonial is that,Mrs. Stewart and her large family are living in their own house, with sufficient capital placed to their credit to tide them over the difficult period.'.■'.""■■•;". Captain Michael Carey, retired commodore of the U.S.S. Co., died at his residence, Bondi, on August 23, after an eventful career on the seas (says the Freeman's Journal). Deceased was born in Ireland in 1835. Early in the spring of 1836 his people emigrated to America. After spending sixteen years at Brookfield, sixty miles from Boston, young Carey secured a position in a whaling schooner. In 1857 he left his vessel and spent fourteen months on the Chatham Islands. Subsequently he worked his passage to Sydney. After serving on several vessels trading between Sydney and New Zealand he joined the Union Steam Ship Co., in July, 1876, and retired eight -years ago. His rernains were interred in the Waverley cemetery. Rev. Father-Bartly, 0.F.M., officiated at the grave. Referring to the golden jubilee of the Rev. Brother Roche, the Brisbane Catholic Advocate says:— Such an interesting epoch did not, however, escape the attention of the Holy See, and the following cablegram was received:—'Archbishop Duhig, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, —Holy Father lovingly imparts Apostolic Benediction to Rev. Brother Roche on golden jubilee entrance religious life and great work Christian education.—Cardinal Merry del Val. This kindly message has caused a thrill among all the Brothers, and is an indication that their magnificent work in Queensland has deservedly come under the notice of the Vatican. Since the news has been published Brother Roche has received very many congratulations. He received an appreciative letter from his Grace Archbishop Duhig, and messages from many of his old friends. From the fifty-fifth annual report of St. Augustine's Orphanage, Geelong, conducted by the Christian Brothers, we learn that there were 250 inmates in the institution at the end of June last, this being about the yearly average. During the previous twelve months 95 boys were admitted, and 97 were apprenticed, sent to service, or handed over to their friends. As to the work of the institution, the Inspector of Charities in his last report says: —'During their stay in the home the boys are taught to bo useful, in addition to being educated. There is a farm of 67 acres, where 24 cows are kept, and all the fodder for the cows and horses is grown there. The boys, under the guidance of one man, do all the work. There is a tailor's shop, where all the clothes are made by the boys, under the direction of a tailoress; a boot shop, where all the boots are made a sewing-room ; a laundry, where the boys assist; a very fine carpenters' shop, where they are taught to be useful with tools, so that when they are apprenticed they are generally handy boys, and are much sought after. The home cannot supply one in 50, the demand is so great. I saw 250 boys assembled in the hall. They were a.healthy, bright, and happy-looking lot of children. The dormitories'are large, well lighted, well ventilated, and very clean and orderly. The boys do all the work. There is a large swimming bath, where the boys can learn to swim. The management of this institution is excellent. The boys are taught to be respectful, methodical, and useful. Everything that would tend to their welfare and happiness has-been carefully designed and carried out. A carefully-thought-out system underlies every branch of the.daily routine, and yet there was no appearance of this being irksome. The moral standard is high. The greatest praise is due for the excellent management and condition of the institution.'