ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1910, Page 1174

ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY

. At the invitation of his Eminence Cardinal Moran (says the Catholic Press), the clergy of the city and suburbs met in the Chapter Hall at St. Mary’s Cathedral on July 11 to consider the best means for raising funds for the fair in the different parochial districts. His Eminence, at the outset of his address, assured the clergy that he would hot trespass on their attention were it not that he regarded the matter they were engaged in as one of supreme importance. It was a work which, he was sure, would enlist their most earnest co-operation, for an incomplete cathedral was at all times a sort of reproach to a diocese. A great deal had been done in the past through repeated contracts towards bringing St. Mary’s to its present grand, if imperfect, state. It could not be expected to remain indefinitely in an unfinished condition, especially as, at the present time, its genial surroundings were being improved in marvellous ways. Some of the buildings that were being erected in the immediate neighborhood would be very stately, and it would be unfitting if St. Mary’s was not arrayed in all her perfect beauty. Today she stood alone amongst their ecclesiastical monuments, and when completed would hold an unquestionable place amongst the public buildings, not only in Sydney, but of Australia. There was no doubt the completion of St. Mary’s would be a very arduous work. They had on deposit £17,000, which was a good commencement, but, he was confident, the approaching fair and the roll of honor• through the latter he expected many contributions from outside the diocesewould enable them to carry the work to its final stages within the given time. Several jubilee and centenary celebrations would be coming on within the next few years, and it would be a grand thing if some one of these was marked out for the ceremonies in connection with the completion of the cathedral. On December 8, 1868, the foundations of St. Mary’s were blessed by Archbishop Folding, and the golden jubilee of that event would be on December 8, 1918. He thought with a little energy. the cathedral might be completed against that date. Of course, he would not be there, nor would some of the clergy present. There were other centenaries which would befit such an occasion. Father Jeremiah Francis Flynn, the first Prefect Apostolic of New Holland, entered Sydney Harbor in. the early days of the month of November, 1817. This, perhaps, might be too early. On the Feast of Holy Cross, May 3, 1820, Fathers Therry and Philip Conolly, the first Catholic chaplains, landed in Sydney, which would give them ten years to complete the work, and he saw no reason why it should not be completed within that time. One of the difficulties that beset the first Archbishop was the foundations of St. Mary’s, which were begun in 1866, and were not finished until two years later. From reports handed him he found that the foundations for the first portion of the cathedral alone cost £12,937 8s 9d. They had to complete those foundations, as well as the sacred edifice. He would ask the clergy to select a committee from among their number. In the former contracts, he thought, they only had a committee of the laity, but, it seemed, that now they would be engaged in a series of contracts. It was a matter of importance to have such a committee, for, as an appeal was being made to all Australia to aid in the great work, it would lend force to it if they had representatives of the clergy on the committee. He (the Cardinal) would preside, and in his absence his coadjutor would take the chair. Monsignor O’Haran would act as secretary, and the committee of five priests, to be appointed by ballot, would consult in all matter appertaining to the progress of the cathedral. He did not think it would be too much to ask the clergy to forward the names of some persons who aspired to have their names placed on the roll of honor. Already they had names for every branch of the roll, and, as well as contributors of £IOOO, he looked forward to 600 subscribers of £IOO or more, and to 1000 who would give £SO or more. He did not anticipate any difficulty in realising his expectations, and ‘ failure ’ was a-**word he did not recognise in this matter at all. His Grace Archbishop Kelly proposed the following resolution, which was agreed to: —‘That, as his Eminence the Cardinal, at his advanced age of 80 years, has buoyantly entered on the arduous work of completing St. Mary’s Cathedral, the priests of the archdiocese cordially band themselves together to support his Eminence in raising the funds necessary for so great a project, and that the roll of honor be now opened.’ His Grace said since his Eminence willed it, considering his official capacity and the many special favors which God had given him, they could say, as did the crusaders of old, God wills it.’ The practical means of getting the necessary funds was to excite the enthusiasm of the people by giving them a good lead. Special means, such as the fair, local organisations, and so forth, would be employed for the purpose of accumulating funds, but all relied on the mainspring of the goodwill of the people. _ .* ■- After some discussion as to the best method of organising the parochial districts, the following were appointed a committee: —Right Rev. Monsignor O’Brien, Very Rev. Fathers Peter Byrne and J. P. Movnagh, Rev. Fathers J. Collins and P. L. Coonan. In response to the roll of honor call, £5900 was there and then promised, and made payable in equal instalments within five years.