Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 6 October 1910, Page 1639

Intercolonial

His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne has made the following clerical changes in the Archdiocese:Rev. J. H. O'Grady, from South Yarra to Geelong; Rev. M. Quinn, from Geelong to Elsternwick; Rev. J. Kenny, from Elsternwick to South Yarra; Rev. J. McKeon, from Essendon to North Fitzroy; Rev. J. Ellis, from North Fitzroy to Essendon. With the death of Archpriest Sheehy (remarks tho Freeman's Journal) the last of the Benedictines of Archbishop Polding's time has disappeared. The sad event almost depletes ecclesiastical pioneer ranks in another direction. Of the band of priests to whom State-aid was continued after its general disestablishment in 1859 Archpriest Sheehy has but one survivor in the person of Father Birch, of Bu'ngendore, who for quite a number of years has been on the retired list of the clergy of the Archdiocese. And in 1859 there was but the Archdiocese in New South Wales. Rev. Father Clement Anthony Hyland, of the Franciscan Order, died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, on September 15. For the past twelve months he had been unable to fulfil his mission, owing to the precarious state of his health. The late Father Hyland was a native of Dublin, where he was born on November 23, 1850. His ecclesiastical studies were made at St. Isidore's, the College of the Franciscans in Rome, where he was ordained in 1873. at the age of 23. Returning to Ireland he worked chiefly in the capital, and at times was Superior of the Franciscan houses in Drogheda, Waterford, and Cork. Father Hyland was a brother of the late Archbishop of Trinidad, who was a Dominican, and one of his sisters, who died about a year ago, was Abbess of the Poor Clares in Galway. In the course of an address at Lewisham a few Sundays ago, his Eminence Cardinal Moran referred to the Eucharistic Congress at Montreal, and hoped that, within a few years, they would have the privilege of holding a similar function in Australia. Of course, he said, the necessary preparation for that event is the completion of St. Mary's Cathedral, as at the present time there is no Cathedral "in New South Wales which could accommodate such a large procession. When the Cathedral was completed it would not only be worthy of such a cause, but it would surpass many of the Cathedrals in which some of the processions have been celebrated. It would seem as if Australia were preparing for such a celebration. The Panama Canal would be opened in a few years, when thirty or forty Bishops could favor Australia with their presence on such an occasion, while others could conveniently make the trip from the home countries, but such an event pre-supposes that St. Mary's would be completed. Subscriptions to the Roll of Honor in connection with the completion of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, now stand at nearly £21,500. On Sunday, September 18, his Eminence made an appeal on behalf of the building fund of the Cathedral at Lewisham, when a sum of £1076 was subscribed. One notable feature of the Cardinal's appeal for St. Mary's Cathedral has been its progressive character. The first occasion was at Parramatta, when £BOO was subscribed'. The Forest Lodge parochial appeal reached £IOO2. This result was outstripped at the comparatively unpretentious parish of Botany, where £IO2O was subscribed. His Eminence completed his 80th year«on September 15 and on that day he visited Monte Sant' Angelo, North Sydney, the head house of the Sisters of Mercy, who through their various committees, pupils, and schools beat all previous records of the religious Orders with the returns the total amount subscribed being £IOOB 10s, which is a magnificent result of the work of the Sisters and their schools for the great work of the completion of the Cathedral. Besides these amounts for the Roll of Honor, the Sisters of Mercy are also managing a stall in the Children's Court at the Fair. One of the last links with, the pioneering days of th-3 Church in this State (says the Catholic Press) was broken on September 14, when the Ven. Archpriest Samuel Joseph -Sheehy died at his residence, Randwick. He was ill about three weeks, and was in his 83rd year. The previous day he was visited by the Cardinal, who gave him his blessing. The Archpriest was one of the missionaries who half a century ago achieved great things in the cause of Catholicity, and materially helped to lay deep and solid the foundations of the Catholic Church in this country. Amongst others of the pioneering missionaries with whom Archpriest Sheehy was a contemporary were the late Monsignor Rigney, the late Archdeacon McEncroe, and the late Dr. Hallinan. Archpriest- Sheehy retired from active parochial work in 1906. The late Archpriest Sheehy was a native of the City of Cork, Ireland, and arrived with his parents in Sydney in 1838. Educated at the old Seminary of St. Mary's, he entered the Order of St. Benedict; in 1845, and was ordained priest in old St. Mary's on March 6, 1852. In religion he took the name of Austin, and was for many years called by that name. Soon after his ordination he became a prominent figure in the Catholic life of Australia, and no important ceremony seems to have been complete of recent years without the presence of tho venerable, white-haired soggarth who succeeded Father Therry as Archpriest. ,