COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1921, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

NEW SOUTH WALES. Parramatta was not alone in its rejoicings during th» week, in the celebration of the silver jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of its revered pastor, the Right Rev. Mgr. J. O'Gorman, P.P. (says the Freeman's Journal for June 30). Possessing a genial personality, Mgr. O'Gorman has made lifelong friends in every parish which has been fortunate enough to profit by his unique organising gifts. From various parts of the archdiocese and the suburban centres whole-hearted congratulations poured in to the presbytery in the historic town during the week. In the public life of the State Mgr. O'Gorman has won the esteem and respect of the lending citizens, while in the tremendous undertaking of the completion of the Cathedral his unselfish labors and inspiring example are bright records illuming that great work. It was no wonder, then, that in Parramatta Town Hall there was a very representative assemblage to do honor to the jubilarian on Thursday evening. A delightful entertainment preceded the presentation of addresses and gifts.

St. Ignatius's College, Riverview, and St. Joseph's College, Hunter's Hill, are well represented in the Liguori case. Mr. G. E. Flannery, K.C., assisting Mr. J. L. Campbell, K.C., is one of the bright ex-students of Riverview who has made a splendid name for himself at the Bar. As Acting Judge his decisions on intricate points are always respected, and when the distinction of "taking silk" became his there were expressions of gratification from all members of the Bar. Mr. Tom Purcell, who is one of the hard workers in the case, is one of the best known and liked ex-students of St. Joseph's College. Mr. Purcell is an enthusiast in matters of law, and it is —and with reasonthat the Bar lost a bright advocate when he took up the profession of a solicitor.

VICTORIA. Bro. John Barnabas Lynch, one of the pioneer Christian Brothers of Australasia, died at St. Vincent de Paul's Boys' Orphanage, South Melbourne, early on Saturday morning, June 25, aged 82 years. A native of Carlow, Ireland, he abandoned a business career for the religious life, and was professed a Christian Brother on September 8, 1863. In 1867, at the request of Melbourne's first Catholic Archbishop, Dr. James A. Goold, whose appeal was supported by Cardinal Barnaba, Prefect of the Propaganda, Rome, the Superior-General of the Irish Christian Brothers consented to establish a branch of that famous teaching Order at Melbourne, notwithstanding that a similar foundation at Sydney in 1843 had failed for want of adequate support. The late Bro. Patrick Ambrose Treacy, of Tipperary, was sent to Melbourne at Superior of the Mission. He was accompanied by Brother John Barnabas Lynch, Brother Dominick Fursey Bodkin (Galway), now of West Australia, and a lay Brother, Bartholomew Joseph Nolan, of Kerry (since deceased). This little pioneer party arrived at Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) by the famous clipper ship, "Donald McKay," on November 19, 1868. School was opened "by them in Melbourne's first Temperance Hall, at the rear of St. Francis's Church, Lonsdale Street, on January 25, 1869. The building, which had been used as a school under the old denominational system, failed to accommodate the large number of scholars who applied to the Christian Brothers for tuition, with the result that though the Brothers had arrived in Melbourne penniless they bravely undertook the erection of their Australian Alma Mater at Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, which at the time of its opening on January 30, 1871 ,had cost £5300. The late Brother T. R. Hughes arrived from Ireland on April 16, 1870, and with the three pioneers canvassed Melbourne and suburbs, outside the school hours, for subscriptions. Brother Lynch, then a young man of fine physique, subsequently rode through the country districts of Victoria, as did also Brothers Treacy and Bodkin at intervals, with the result that the whol* debt was cleared off the original building by September 8, 1872.

A new fortnightly paper, The Small Nation, the

official organ of the Self -Determination for Ireland League of Australia; has just been published* in 'Melbourne, price one penny. The editor is Mr. P. J. O'Leary, well-known in Melbourne journalistic walks as a cultured writer and thinker.

It is definitely announced that his Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix (Archbishop of Melbourne) will arrive in Brisbane on Friday, August 5, and in Melbourne by the Sydney express on Saturday, August 13. Very Rev. Dean Hegarty, P.P., D.D., V.F., and Very Rev. Dean Martin, representing the priests of the archdiocese, will meet his Grace in Sydney. Representatives of the Catholic laity will also meet his Grace in Sydney. On Saturday, August 13, a special train will leave Melbourne for Seymour at 8.44 a.m. It will return in the afternoon with his Grace on board, and is due to arrive at 3.3 p.m. On arrival his Grace will proceed to St. Patrick's Cathedral, where a Solemn "Te Deum" will be sung, and addresses will be presented on behalf of Archbishops and Bishops of Australia and New Zealand, and of the clergy of the province and archdiocese. On Sunday, August 14, Archbishop Spence (Adelaide) will sing Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral, and Dr. Mannix will preside and impart the Papal Blessing. Solemn Pontifical Vespers will be sung in the evening, and it is anticipated that one of the visiting prelates will preach on that occasion. On Monday evening the laity will tender his Grace a welcome and present him with addresses, and on Tuesday, he will be entertained at a dinner by the clergy. Last Friday (says the Melbourne Tribune for June 30) was a red-letter day for Catholics of Carlton and for the priests and people of Melbourne in general. That day was made a joyous occasion by clergy and laity in honor of the golden jubilee of Very Rev. Dean Hegarty, P.P., D.D., V.F. For 50 years the venerable jubilarian has labored in the vineyard of the Lord, and has.played a great and noble part in placing the Catholic Church in Victoria on its present broad-based and unshakeable foundation. The Very Rev. Dean has the hearty congratulations and the best wishes for very many more years of service for God and Holy Mother Church of the Catholic people of every part of the Commonwealth. Only two of the clergy of the archdiocese have so far attained this golden distinction—the late Very Rev. J. H. O'Connell, P.P. (predecessor of Dean Hegarty at St. George's, Carlton), and the Rev. M. C. Gough, P.P. (Elsternwick). Priests of the archdiocese and the people of Carlton alike joined enthusiastically in fittingly honoring the jubilarian. Distinction was given to the celebrations by the receipt of congratulatory cable messages from the Apostolic Delegate (Most Rev. Dr. B. Cattaneo) and the Archbishop of Melbourne (Most Rev. Dr. Mannix).

WEST AUSTRALIA. It will be recollected that in these columns last December (says the 17.1. Record) reference was made to the departure of the Rev. Mr. Consterdine, an ex-Anglican minister stationed in the Nor'-West, to College Beda, Rome, to enter upon studies for the priesthood. It is a pleasure to convey the information to readers that Mr. Consterdine is, of course, already settled down, but his particular pleasure at the time he wrote arose from the fact that he had just had no less than 35 minutes' private interview with Archbishop Mannix subsequent to that prelate's visit to the Irish College in Rome. He (Mr. Consterdine) was, like many others would be if they were so disposed, astounded at the views so calmly and sympathetically expressed by the Archbishop upon all topics, the conversation being directed towards Australia most' of the time.