RIGHT REV. MGR. BRODIE, V.G., WAIHI

New Zealand Tablet, 2 January 1913, Page 35

RIGHT REV. MGR. BRODIE, V.G., WAIHI

(From our Auckland correspondent.)

His Lordship Bishop Cleary, after delivering a beautiful discourse on Christmas morning at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, made the gratifying announcement that his Holiness Pope Pius X. .had, through the Papal Secretary of State, Cardinal Merry del Val, created the Ven. Archdeacon Brodie a Domestic Prelate, and henceforth he will be known as the Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G.. The new prelate was born in the Upper Township of Coromandel on March 1, 1872, and was baptised by the Right Rev. Mgr. O’Reilly, then parish priest of Thames and Coromandel. The first school that he attended was conducted by Mr. Rockcliffe, a Catholic teacher at Coromandel. Subsequently the Sisters of Mercy established a school in the township, and to it young Brodie went for some time. Mr. Brodie and family later on removed to Auckland, and the subject of this sketch next attended the Marist Brothers’ School, Pitt street. Here he gave early promise of his future career, and won the gold cross presented by the late lamented Bishop Luck for the most promising boy in the school. About this time it was fully

recognised that the bright lad should go further afield in the pursuit of his studies, and he crossed the Tasman Sea in 1880 and entered St. Joseph’s College, Hunter’s Hill, conducted by the Marist Brothers, where he studied successfully for three years. While at Hunter’s. Hill he passed the junior and senior Civil Service . examinations, and attended the Sydney University, gaining Matriculation honors. He was awarded the Tuohey gold medal for the best conducted student in the college by the unanimous vote of the students. The young student next entered Manly Seminary, which was then under the control of the present Bishop of Dunedin, his Lordship Dr. Verdon, in the year 1891, and studied there for the priesthood until 1896, at the close of which year he left for his native land, and on, December 20 of that year he was ordained priest by the late Bishop Lenihan, who had been consecrated Bishop on the 15th of the previous month. The ordination took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where his further and signal honor was conferred on him by Bishop Cleary on Christmas Day last.

Father Brodie’s first priestly duties were at St. Benedict’s, where he was appointed curate under Rev. Dr. Egan, 0.5.8. Here he worked assiduously, and by his efforts the church in Surry Hills was freed from debt. After two years’ labors at St. Benedict’s Father Brodie was appointed parish priest of Puhoi, where he stayed for two' years, during which period he removed and improved the churches at Helensville and Puhoi, and left them free of debt. Waihi had now grown in. importance, and a new parish was created there, over which Father Brodie was placed. He got to work early and bought the necessary land, upon which he erected a church, school, convent, and presbytery, and when through illness last July he was forced to relinquish his charge, the enormous debt incurred in the making of a new parish was almost nil. The school established at Waihi was one of the first free Catholic schools opened in the Auckland diocese, and at it the children of all denominations attendeda fact redounding to the credit of Father Brodie and the Sisters .of Mercy. Father Brodie was appointed first chairman of the newly-formed Hospital Board at Waihi, and mainly by his efforts a hospital was erected in tho rising township. He inaugurated a branch of the Hibernian Society, and formed a Young Men’s Catholic Club, and the work done by these organisations in combating the atheistic teachings which wrought so much havoc in Waihi is now a matter of history.' Into this fight Father Brodie entered with ail his might and ability. It proved beyond his physical endurance, and his health gave way, and after a long and trying illness he pulled through, to the great delight of Bishops, priests, and people of all creeds and classes. Mindful of the physical culture of our youth, Monsignor Brodie has always encouraged manly sport. At Manly he captained the college cricket eleven. He was president of the Waihi Rugby Union and a member of the Auckland Rugby Referees’ Association.

In April of this year he was appointed by Bishop Cleary, Vicar-General, in the absence in America of Monsignor Gillan, and with that prelate now shares the title of Vicar-General to assist the Bishop in the government of this large and important diocese. The Bishop has presented Monsignor Brodie with a beautiful rochet.

To say that the appointment of Monsignor Brodie gives very great pleasure throughout the diocese is but to express very feebly the feeling of gratification felt everywhere.