Intercolonial

New Zealand Tablet, 3 April 1913, Page 45

Intercolonial

The annual general Communion and breakfast of the Melbourne 11.A.C.8. Society took place on Sunday, March 9, when over 1000 members received Holy Communion. His Grace the Archbishop celebrated Mass and admitted a number to the League of Our Lady of the Southern Cross. After Mass the Communion breakfast was held in the Cathedral Hall. The Archbishop, who was enthusiastically welcomed, delivered an address to the members. Interesting speeches were delivered by leading members of the laity. In opening a new convent at Brandon, North Queensland, his Grace Dr. Duhig, Coadjutor-Arch-bishop of Brisbane, briefly reviewed the work of the Rockhampton diocese in the seven years of his administration as Bishop. In that period 40 buildings, representing an outlay of between £70,000 and £75,000 had been erected. The greater part of this money had been expended for Catholic educational purposes. It was a big sacrifice, but the cause demanded it. There was no work to which a human being could put his hand that had such consequences for time and eternity as that of religious education. His first and last public act as Bishop of Rockhampton was the opening of a Catholic school, and he thanked God for it. * St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm both as regards its patriotic and its religious sides (writes the Melbourne correspondent of the Freeman s Journal') . The societies and clubs in procession made a brave show, and not the least striking feature were the decorated drags containing the lady members of the H.A.C.B. Society and of the I.N.F. The boys of St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage, South Melbourne, headed by their fine band, under Bandmaster G. M. Oppenham, and 2500 of the boys of the Christian Brothers’ schools marched. The crowds in the streets along the line of the procession were great. In the evening, the grand Irish national concert was held in the Town Hall, at which his Grace the Archbishop presided and delivered a patriotic address. The religious side of the national festival was no less successful. An immense congregation attended the High Mass in the Cathedral on Sunday, March 16, at which his Grace the Archbishop presided. The panegyric of the Apostle of the Irish race was delivered by the Rev. J. McCabe, o.c.c. On Thursday, March 7, his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne and his Lordship Bishop Phelan, accompanied by a number of priests, proceeded to Sale, where the new Bishop was enthusiastically welcomed.

There was a large gathering at the railway station. The Hibernian Society, in regalia, formed a guard of honor, the Sunday school children of St. Mary's Cathedral, and a large number of members of the congregation being also present. There was a large congregation at the Cathedral. After the procession had entered the Cathedral his Grace said that it was his privilege to install their new Bishop, Dr. Phelan, whom he had already consecrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The people of Sale should be grateful to God, Who had sent them such a Bishop, Their new Bishop was full of energy .and enthusiasm for the welfare of his people, and was devoted to his Church. The Cathedral, convent, and school proved what their late Bishop had done in the diocese during his lifetime. He (his Grace) predicted that during the next 25 years greater changes would occur than in the last quarter of a century. The people of Gippsland had done a great deal for the Church, and, with the aid of the untiring zeal of their new Bishop, much more would be done. Addresses from the priests and the laity of the diocese were then presented to Bishop Phelan. St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Sydney. On Saturday, March 15, a great public meeting, preceded by a children’s sports gathering, was held on the Agricultural Grounds, His Grace Archbishop Kelly, accompanied by a number of the clergy, arrived on the grounds about half-past two o’clock, after which 5000 school children took part in calisthenic movements, finishing up with the formation in living letters on the green sward of the words * 1914 College Green.’ After this came the speech-making. His Grace the Archbishop delivered a brief opening address, and was followed by the orator of the day, Mr. Trefle (Minister of Lands), who spoke on faith and fatherland. It is estimated that there were 20,000 persons present during the afternoon. On March 17 there was Solemn High Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral, at which his Grace the Archbishop presided. The panegyric of St. Patrick was preached by the Rev. J. J. Gil martin, C.M. Thousands of people were turned away from the doors of the Town Hall on Monday night, when the annual national concert in connection with the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations was held. His Excellency the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, accompanied by his two daughters, was present, and as they entered the audience rose to its feet and sang ‘ God Save the King.’ His Excellency was received by his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney, with whom he sat during the performance.