Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 13 October 1910, Page 1683

Intercolonial

The Rev. Father O'Keeffe, who succeeds the late Veil. Archdeacon Kelly as pastor of Carcoar, was farewelled by the Catholics of Orange and presented with an illuminated address and a substantial purse of sovereigns. The St. Mary's Cathedral Fair, which was opened the other day in Sydney, had over forty stalls, and the stallholders and their assistants numbered 500. Rev. Father O'Riordan, for some years inspector of schools in the Diocese of Goulburn, received a most enthusiastic reception at Binalong on his arrival to take charge of the parish to which he was recently appointed. The Roll of Honor in connection with the completion of St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, now amounts to £23,043. Of this sum the clergy of the archdiocese have contributed £9355. Consequent on the death of the Ven. Archpriest Sheehy, 0.5.8., the following appointments have been made in the ranks of the clergy of tne Archdiocese of Sydney : Right Rev. Monsignor Carroll, V.G., to be Archpriest; Very Rev. Archdeacon Murphy, P..P., to be Diocesan Examiner; Very Rev. Father Coonan, P.P., to be member of the Diocesan Council. His Eminence Cardinal Moran, in welcoming his Excellency the Governor of New South Wales to the opening of St. Mary's Cathedral Fair, Sydney, said that Governor Macquarie, one of his Excellency's predecessors in the high office of Governor of the State, as far back as October 29, 1821, on that hallowed spot, laid the foundation stone of old St. Mary's. That fine old building after many vicissitudes, and after receiving many additions, was finally destroyed by fire on the eventful night of June 29, 1865. The loss sustained on that occasion was estimated at not less than £60,000. Nowise disheartened, the faithful of Sydney resolved that St. Mary's would arise in still greater splendor, and his (the Cardinal's) venerated predecessor, the first Archbishop of Sydney, Dr. Folding, blessed the foundations of new St. Mary's on December 8, 1868. At that time Dr. Folding stated that he had £25,000 in hand towards carrying on the building, and when his venerated successor opened the temporary cathedral in 1882 no less than £102,000 had been spent on the imperfect structure. He (the Cardinal) was happy to say the whole amount had been paid. Since then various contracts had been carried out from time to time, and a further sum of £175,000 had been expended in carrying St. Mary's towards completion. About one-third of the building still remained to be erected, and they hoped that £IOO,OOO would see this done. A few weeks ago, when they entered on the present campaign, he ventured the prophecy that before the close of the year they would have £50,000 in hand. Already their brightest prospects had been more than anticipated, and, at the present moment, the secretaries told him, they had no less than £43,000 in hand. He ventured to prophesy once more that before the end of the year they would certainly have more than half the required amount. St. Mary's Cathedral Fair, held in the Cathedral Hall, Sydney, was opened on September 28 by the State Governor (Lord Chelmsford), who was welcomed by his Eminence Cardinal Moran. His Excellency, in the course of his address on the occasion, said — They had many beautiful buildings in Sydney, of which they might well be proud; but, he was sure, their Church could claim a very high even the highestplace for St. Mary's. Also from the standpoint of the city it was of the greatest importance that St. Mary's, which was a landmark to those who looked upon Sydney from the outside, should be brought to its final completion, and to as beautiful a form as was possible. There were two very remarkable features about that gathering, and about the effort they were making. In the first place, he thought the sacrifices which their communion made for the Church were very wonderful. His Eminence had already told them some of the sums which had been raised for St. Mary's, but the fact that impressed him 'was that in the space of his own lifetime £275,000 had been contributed, and that they proposed to gather another £125,000. Of this sum they had already £43,000, and here he might complain against his Eminence, for he was told he was to have the privilege of announcing this fact. It was evident his Eminence could not keep a secret, and when he was on his legs it came out. At all events, did not these facts reveal the sacrifices that their communion had been ready, willing, and glad to make for their Church? The second remarkable fact was that the Cardinal, at an age when most men thought they had done enough for their day and generation, that the time for repose had come, had initiated this stupendous undertaking, and he (the Governor) had no doubt in his mind—and, he supposed, they had no doubt in theirs— his Eminence would carry it to a successful termination.