Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 17 December 1908, Page 35

Intercolonial

Rev. Brother Jerome, of the Patrician Brothers, Holy Cross, Ryde, is the oldest Brother of the Order. He has been half a century a Patrician Brother, and is 79 years of age.

The Mother Rectress of the Catholic Ladies' College, East Melbourne, received several presentations on the occasion of her silver jubilee. Amongst the speakers were Senator {St. Ledger and Mr. B. Hoare.

It will be news to many of our readers (says the Sydney Freeman's Journal) to be told that Mr. Walter Callan (private secretary to our Governor-General) is a son of the late Mr. Philip Callan, M.P. for Louth — a name well remembered in Irish politics.

The Patrician Brotners decided to celebrate the centenary of the foundation of their Order by the erection of additions to their scholastic establishment, Holy Cross College, Ryde, which were blessed and opened on Sunday, November 29, by his Eminence Cardinaf Moran.

According to the report which was presented at the first annual meeting of the Sydney Catholic Mission to Seamen the following good work was accomplished during the year : — Upwards of 1350 ships had been visited, having on board 6530 Catholic sailors; over 3000 Catholic sailors had been interviewed ; and 974 parcels oti literature had been left on board ships.

His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne was received at the Vatican by the Holy Father during the last week in November. His Holiness expressed gratitude for the sum of £2100 received as Peter's Pence from the clergy and faithful in Melbourne. He also thanked Right Rev. Dr. Higgins, Bishop of Ballarat, for the sum of £1000, and Most Rev. Dr. Delany, Archbishop of Hobart, for a generous offering.

Very Rev. Athanasius Ryan, C.P., who at the Provincial Chapter of the Passionists, held in London last July, was appointed as Pro-Provincial in Australia, arrived at Port Adelaide recently (says the Adelaide Southern Cross). Father Ryan was born in the parish of Leighlin Bridge, County Carlow, Ireland. He commenced his studies for the priesthood in the famous monastery of Mount Melleray, before entering the Passionist Order. Previous to his present appointment he occupied the position of Rector in the Passionists' Retreat, Birmingham, England. Father Ryan was accompanied by Father Casimir Maguire, a native of Sydney, who entered the novitiate of the Order in Worcestershire eight years ago.

All over the Commonwealth and New Zealand (says the Catholic Press) the Christian Brothers have been working for forty years. There are 200 of them educating 8000 pupils in 45 distinct establishments, and they are notably successful. Their college in Perth produced two Rhodes scholars, while Nudgee, Queensland, produced another. Nor is there any paucity of applications from young men for admission to the Order. In truth, more applied than could be taken in — at least, the accommodation problem was paramount until a short time back. Mount bum, at Lewisham, the central house for Australasia, "was strained to shelter a limited number of novices, so a new novitiate and training college became an imperative necessity. It was opened at Strathfield on December 1 by his Eminence the Cardinal. The property, with house thereon, cost £4728, but a new wing had to be added, and alterations made, so that when everything is paid £12,500 will have been, spent.

There was a genuine Catholic and triumphant ring about the speeches delivered at the annual meeting of theAustralian Catholic Truth Society held in the Cathedral Hall on November 28, under the presidency of the Very Rev. Dean Phelan, V.G. (says the Advocate). Speaker after speaker rose in his place and eulogised the great work being done for the faith by this admirable organisation. Summarised, the speeches indicated the leading planks in its platform : 1. To spread the light amongst non-Catholics and Protestants. 2. To confirm Catholics in their belief. We use the terms ' non-Catholic ' and ' Protestant ' because, though they are sometimes employed to designate those outside the Church, they are not identical. By nonCatholics are meant those not belonging to any particular religion, and who have open minds; Protestants include the members of the various religious denominations.