THE NUNS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, MELBOURNE, AND THEIR MISSION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 81, 14 November 1874, Page 10

THE NUNS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, MELBOURNE, AND THEIR MISSION.

The sanctity of the Catholic Church has always been manifest in the mnlfciplicitly and variety of its good works. These are fruits which in all ages have borne witness to its Divine origin. That charity which m the Church is a vital principle of its existence, is an active one in every clime and among every people. In its dispensations it knows no distinction of race, creed, or class ; it adapts itself to every unna Ppy circumstance in which the human, being may be placed, and there is no vice or disease, however odious or repellant, from which it withdraws its helping hand. Of these facts there are illustrations innumerable in the Church, but for the purpose we have in view it is only necessary for us to refer to one or two bright examples of the kind. Some eleven years since a band of the Good Shepherd Nuns arrived in this Colony, and settled down at Abbotsford, where their convent is. Their mission, more especially, was to rescue from the streets those fallen creatures who lead a life of sin, shame, and wretchedness, and to that work the good Sisters have since devoted themselves with unflagging earnestness. They have made a sacrifice of their lives to the services of the Good Shepherd, and their only reward is, that they have brought to His knees many — very many, penitent Magdalens. They have brought peace to many souls distracted by remorse, and hope to many hearts weighed down with shame and despair. The co-operation which was indispensible to them has been generously rendered, not alone by the Catholic community, but also bj members of other crpeds, who held in just and liberal appreciation the great Christian work accomplished at' the Abbotsford Convent. With the help of a generous public, the good Nuns have be enenlarging tboir premises, and extending the benefits of their institutions to vastly-increased numbers. They have never been deterred by pc uniary embarrassments from throwing open their door to an applicant for admission, and they have never yet missed an opportunity of drying a penitent tear and pouring balm on a -wounded heart. Ministers^cf grace they have ever been when the fallen sister wished to return to the fold of the Good Shephead. Their confidence in the Divine help has never been disappointed, and they do not fear that it will be now. Relying upon it, they have largely extended their accommodation for those erring children who are committed to thpir care, and whom they reform and train up on sound religious and moral principles. For tliut purpose they have just erected a large, substantial brick building, at a cost of £5000. It forms three sides of a square, at two sides of which it is two storeys high, and on the third three storeys, the highest floor in the latter case being used for storage purposes. The second floor is employed for dormitories, and being spacious, lofty, and well ventilated, is admirably fitted for that purpose. On the ground floor are two large school-rooms, a work-rooru, and refectory, besides other smaller apartments, such as infirmary, laundry, dressing and bathrooms, the fittings in all being so arranged as to coutribute to the health and comfort of the inmates, and to facilitate an observance of the system of management that prevails in the office — a system which is as mild as it is strict, as anyone must perceive from the cheerfulness of the children who are so well trained under it. The erection of this fine building has heavily involved the community, as they are now iv debt about £4000. On Tuesday, the 27th instant, a bazaar will be opened at St. George's Hall, the proceeds of which will be applied »o a reduction of the amount, and it is -witli the object of urging the public to come generously to the assistance of the good Nuns' in this undertaking that we refer to thelaige amount of good they are effecting. It is now two years since a bazaar has been held on their behalf, and if they could possibly avoid it, they would now refrain from appealing to the public. But the appeal ia absolutely unavoidable.

Although the community have expended many thousands on the erection of Industrial and Reformatory Schools, and children from all parts of the Colony are sent to them by the magistrates, the only grant for building nurposes they have ever received from Government was one for £1000. They are allowed ss. per head for each child, and they are obliged to show an expenditure of 7s. 6d., whilst for each child in the other Industrial Schools of the ColoDy tho expenditure is at the rate of about 13s. per head. In Ireland the cost is ss. per head, and the Abbotsford Nuns do not receive a penny more. A child cannot be supported here as cheaply, and the Nuns are obliged to find the additional amount necessary. It is idle, ac an excuse for this injustice, to say that the children taken by the Nuns will be received into the other Industrial Schools, if desired. They are at least as well treated at Abbotsford, and why should they not be paid for on the scale of cost elsewhere ? Under an arrangement illiberal, but not so flagrantly unjust as that in force, their allowance should be equal to the cost of maintenance in the other schools, and it is below it, Then, again, they are not paid for teaching the children ; and why this Bhould be so, no just or impartial person can explain. Several of the thirty Nuns in community devote their whole time and attention to (he care of the 217 chiHren in their Industrial andßeformatory Schools, and surely some allowance should be made for tho services of these ladies. The number of inmates in the Magdalen Asylum is about 130, and co the bazaar will be an appeal of 347 persons who are much in need of Christian sympathy and charitable assistance. For it is in the interest of these people the Nuns labor, and it is for their support and protection the bazaar will be held. If the object is kept in view, the result; will bo satisfactory ; and the Nuns of the Good Shepherd will be considerably relieved from the pecuniary embarrassment which they have encountered frcm the highest and most disintereßtedj motives. — ' Advocate.'