Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 1 July 1915, Page 51

Intercolonial

X ‘ 1 The total funds subscribed in Victoria for the war amount to £850,000. This is the estimate made by the Lord Mayor (Sir David Hennessy). • .■■■ \ : Mr Denis Downes, who was farewelled the other day by the staff of Messrs. Beale and Co., at Newcastle, is one of a family of nine (says the Freeman’s Journal) who have all joined the religious life. Mr. Downes": is now following their glorious example. ' I , The Very Rev. M - J ' O’Reilly, late of St. Stanislaus College, who recently left to take up the presidency of the Vincentian College, Dublin (says the treeman s Journal), has cabled his acceptance of the position of Rector of St. John’s College, within the Sydney University, rendered vacant by the death of Monsignor O’Brien.

On Sunday, May 30, the Right Rev. Mgr. Beeclnnor, of Launceston, celebrated the 52nd anniversary of his ordination as a priest, and received many tokens of the love and esteem of his own people and of the good wishes of all sections of the community. Ihe golden J " bi ee of Ven. Archpriest Hennebry was celebrated in Hobart on June 16.

he Rev. Patrick White, P.S.M., who has been appointed rector of the Church of San Silvestro in Rome, was for many years well and favorably known ll ! stern Australia as a member of the Pious Society of Missions, who devoted himself to missionary work among the aboriginals of the North-West, and was subsequently appointed pastor of the Bayswater-Mav-lands parish. He left Maylands nearly six years ago and proceeded to Rome. -

When Rev. Father Wientjes arrived here some months ago (says the Brisbane A ye) he was on his way to the land of his birth. Owing to the situation in Europe he postponed his trip, and acted as locum tencus for Father Breen, of Kangaroo Point, whose health had broken down. Whilst there, Father Wientjes had endeared himself to the parishioners, and had done much to help on the Hibernian Society. ’ The members of the local branch recognised his efforts, and tendered him a farewell social, at which the district officers attended. Several speakers referred in very eulogistic terms to Father Wientjes’ work in the district, and the branch members presented him with a gold, cross. A few evenings later the parishioners farewelled Father Wientjes at a meeting which was presided over by his Grace Archbishop Duhig. Father Wientjes was highly praised for his zeal by many speakers, and especially by Archbishop Duhig, and wished a pleasant voyage to the Netherlands.

Speaking of those at the front who would be grateful for our prayers (writes -the Sale correspondent of the Melbourne Advocate), the Bishop on June 6 mentioned a letter he had received from a distinguished convert whom he had prepared for reception into the Church a few years ago. That convert, Colonel Legge, is now on his way to the Dardanelles to take supreme command of the Australian troops. The letter was in part as follows: —‘I am to be food for powder again, after fearing I should be out of it, and so am just writing you a line because you were the cause of my being received into the Catholic Church, in which I hope to die. It is only through this that one really feels it does not matter when death comes. There are many Catholics on the ship, but no priest, so we had devotions together to-day (Sunday), read the Epistle and Gospel, and said the Rosary and Litany. lam going to get some hymns typed, so that we may have singing, too. My departure was very hurried —only 28 hours’ notice—but I was only too glad to start at once. Lots of us must give our lives before the work is finished, and I know that you will spare a prayer or your devoted son in the Church.’