Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 1 December 1921, Page 30

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. The Very Rev. Dr. O'Reilly, CM. (Rector of St. John's College, within the University), left Sydney on Tuesday, the 16th ult., by the R.M.S. Orvieto, to represent Australia at the Irish World Sinn Fein Conference, to be held in Paris in January. Dr. H. M. Moran and Mrs. Moran . and their little son Paddy were also passengers. Dr. Moran will represent Tasmania at the conference. There was a great gathering of priests and laity to see them off, and the wharf and boat were bright with Sinn Fein flags and emblems. As the boat moved from the wharf, the two distinguished delegates were enthusiastically cheered. The reunion of ex-students of St. Vincent's College, held at the college on Sunday, the 14th ult., was one of those successful events that encourage the members to .further efforts to do honoFto their alma mater. A Mass for deceased members opened the programme of the day; it was celebrated by Rev. Father P. J. Murphy (Adm. St. Mary's Cathedral). Later, came the presentation of a cheque for £IOO to the library that at present finds its home in St. John's College. This library belongs to the Catholic girls who attend the University. The Very Rev. Dr. O'Reilly, CM., has undertaken to buy the most suitable books for it while he is in Ireland, so he was, of course, present to receive the cheque. The Very Rev. Dr. M. J. O'Reilly, CM., having been selected as National Delegate by the Federal Council of . the Irish Self-Determination League, Mr. P. S. Cleary was, on the 9th ult., chosen by the N.S.W. State Council to be the State representative. Mr. Hugh Mahon is to be the State representative from Victoria, and Mr. T. O'Dea from West Australia. Mr. Cleary is well known throughout New South Wales as president of the Catholic Federation and as sub-editor of the Catholic Press. He will probably travel by the Osterley, which is to leave Sydney on December 13. In the course of his address at the blessing and opening of the magnificent new Church of St. Brigid, at Coogee, Sydney, on Sunday afternoon, the 13th ult., his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney said that the new church at Coogee was really wonderful. Last March his Grace was at Coogee, and the work was then already started. Now he was present to bless the ohurch. He was surprised at its' beauty when he entered it that day for the first time, and he asked God to bless Father Gilbert and his geneorus helpers, so that the wonderful success attending this spiritual enterprise might be continued, until it was free of all responsibilities. There was nothing like love, if we could only direct our love rightly, and love what was really good. But we are often deceived. We are not deceived when we love God, even when our love was tested by sacrifice; and when our sacrifice was accepted by God, we are none the poorer for what we gave to God. We were all the happier. We were free from many evils, and filled with a consolation that the world would not give us, and we have laid up riches in heaven, where the rust doth not consume. These were the returns that God makes for a sacrifice, and love of God had led the parishioners of Coogee to sacrifice in erecting this church. It was through avarice that contributions were sought for church purposes. They should believe that they were putting it up in store in heaven; and they should believe that God was the giver of all these things. He gave us our health. He gave us love and peace and rest in society, and it was only God who could do that. A person had once said in his Grace's hearing that there was only one Manly in Australia. There was, too, only one Coogee in Australia. His Grace did not believe that Coogee was quite safe on the way to heaven. He knew a certain Minister of the Crown, who at one particular time would not allow the Catholics to meet for Holy Mass, although he allowed people to travel in trams to. the beaches. He knew another beautiful spot by the Mediterranean Sea, but it was the home of gambling. Coogee was another kind of Monte Carlo. When blessing the church that afternoon, he had prayed as fervently as he could, and he hoped it would do a lot of good. He hoped that the young people would get sense. Young people must be allowed certain latitude. They only liked what they thought was best. Unfortunately, now they had pioneers in going further and further, and even going too far;

In conclusion, his Grace wished a blessing on the architect of the new church at Coogee, and every other good and sincere citizen of Australia, so that we might all look up to God as the common father. He thanked God for having given them the opportunity of doing what they had done in the erection of their church, and hoped that they would continue on until they had wiped out the debt. VICTORIA. v The Rev. Father Durcan is bringing to Australia a replica of the famous processional Cross of Cong, which is to be presented to Archbishop Mannix, on behalf of the Irish priesthood (says the Cathblic Press). The Cross of Cong, with the Tara Brooch and the Ardagh Chalice, represent the best in Celtic art. The Cross of Cong was made for the church of Tuani. It is likely that some Irish prelate who attended the Lateran General Council in 1123, brought back a relic of the True Cross, which was enshrined in an Irish processional cross, made to the order of King Turlough O'Connor. This view is borne out by an inscription, partly in Latin, partly in Irish, engraved on the Cross of Cong. The shaft of the cross is 2ft 6in; the breadth across the arms, Ift 6*in. It was made of oak, covered with eight copper plates, and one plate of brass, all adorned with a richly interwoven tracery. There were jewels along the edges, and a convex crystal in the centre. The Cross of Cong, which was lost sight of for centuries, was found in an old oaken chest in Cong in 1839. - Rev. Father James O'Connor, S.J., a member of the professorial .staff of Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne, for the last 30 years, died at the college on the Bth ult. Father O'Coimer was born in 1841, in Co. Wexford, Ireland, and was educated at Clongowes Wood College, Ireland He was ordained at St. Beuno's College, North Wales, England, and entered the Society of Jesus on September 7 1861 He arrived in Australia in 1885, and for some years taught at St. Patrick's College/East Melbourne; at Riverview, Sydney; and Xavier, Kew. The Solemn Office and Requiem took place on the 9th ult., in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Hawthorn. There was a crowded congregation, including the alumni of Xavier College and pupils of the F.O.J. Convent, Cotham Road, Kew. Archbishop Mannix presided, and paid a graceful tribute to the dead priest, who, ho said, had loved the college, where 30 years of his life had been spent. The burial took place at the Boroondara Cemetery, where the students of Xavier College had assembled. QUEENSLAND. It is gratifying to announce (writes the Brisbane correspondent of the Catholic Press) that his Grace the Archbishop has-secured the service of three additional priests to cope with the ever-growing work in his vast archdiocese. Ihe steamer Anchises, which reached Brisbane on November 7, brought as passengers Rev. Fathers Michael Hayes Lynch and McDermott. These priests were recently ordained at All Hallows College, in Dublin. Rev Father Keane also was a passenger by that steamer," and his mission will be in the Rockhampton diocese. Other priests who have been chosen to serve in New South Wales and Victoria, arrived by the Anchises. * In the presence of a gathering numbering some thousands of persons the new college which has been erected in West Street for the Christian Brothers was officially opened by his Grace the Archbishop on Sunday the 30th ult in the afternoon. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by a distinguished prelate in the person of Monsignor Cattaneo, the Apostolic Delegate to Australasia, in 1918, but it was some time later before the erection of the Building was commenced. Now that it has been completed it forms a fine addition to the architecture of the city Asuberb view of the city and its encircling hills is to be obtained from the wide balcony facing West Street, while the roomy and well-lighted classrooms should prove extremely popular with both masters and pupils