COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 3 June 1920, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

. ' His Grace Archbishop Mannix left Sydney on Wednesday, ; May 19, by the Ventura on his way through the United States to Rome and Ireland. There was a great demonstration by thousands of people as the vessel cleared •the wharf. Green flags were waved and the Archbishop .was cheered time after time. ■ An aeroplane covered with green . streamers flew round the ship. A crowded ferry boat accompanied the Ventura to the Heads. • The ■ first ■ centenary of the finding of the ■wonderfully preserved Blessed Sacrament on the site of St. Patrick’s Church was celebrated a(t St. Patrick’s, Church Hill, Sydney, on- Sunday, May 9. At the 8.30 o’clock Mass there was a general Communion, chiefly of the men, and at 11 o’clock High Mass was celebrated. Rev. Father P. Piquet, S.M., in an eloquent sermon, said the occasion marked the centenary of the discovery in the house of William Davis, on the present church site, of the wonderfully preserved Blessed Eucharist, which had been left there by Father O’Flynn, who, on being deported by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, as refused permission to return and remove it. On May 9, 1820, Father Conelly celebrated Mass in the house, and, on opening the pyx, found the Sacred Host fresh and sweet, as if baked on the eve. Gounod’s Mass “St. Cecilia” was rendered by the choir, with full orchestral accompaniment, and the relics of the preservation were exposed on the side altar. The general meeting of the men’s League of the Sacred Heart was held in the evening at 7 o’clock, and as it was the. day of the Beatification in Rome of the Ven. Louise de Marillac, or widow Legras, co-foundress, with St. Vincent de Paul, of the celebrated Sisters of Charity, Very Rev. Father Paul Cullen, 0.M., preached an inspiring sermon on her career. The ceremonies at St. Patrick’s, Church Hill, in honor of the canonisation of St. Joan of Arc and Blessed Margaret Mary last Sunday were deeply impressive and beautifully inspiring (says the Catholic Press of May 20). Pontifical High Mass as celebrated at 11 o’clock, the high altar and side altars being decorated with beautiful flowers. A magnificent statue of the Maid of Orleans in her coat of mail, with a background consisting of the tri-color and lilies of France, and also a new statue of St. Patrick, said to be the finest of the saint in Australia, excited the admiration and devotion v of the great congregation. The Mass was sung by his Lordship Right Rev. Dr. Dwyer, Bishop of Maitland, with Rev. Father F. Laurent, S.M., as deacon, Rev. Father A. Carcenac, S.M., subdeacon. In the sanctuary were the Right Rev. Mgr. Moynagh (Diocesan Administrator), the Bishop of New Guinea (Right Rev. Dr. de Boismenu, M.S.H.), and several Marist priests from the Pacific Islands. There were present, in specially reserved seats, the Lord Mayor of Sydney (Alderman Fitzgerald), wearing his official robes, M. Campagna, Consul-General for France, in uniform, and wearing his decorations, and the Hon. John Meagher, K.0.5.G., M.L.C. Gounod’s “Sacre Coeur Mass” ,was beautifully sung by the choir, with orchestral accompaniment, and during the Offertory, Signor Caccialli gave an impressive interpretation of Rossi’s “Ave Maria.” An enormous congregation attended the ceremonies, which ere solemnly carried out. The panegyric of St. Joan of Arc wms preached by the Rev. Father P. J. Sheehy (of St. Patrick’s College, Manly), who gave a stirring account of the life and accomplishment of the new saint. The preacher in the evening was the Very Rev. Father M. J. O’Reilly, C.M. QUEENSLAND. The ceremony in connection with the opening and dedication of the extensions (formerly known as “Erneton”) to St. Leo’s College, was performed the other Sunday afternoon by his grace the Archbishop of Brisbane, in the presence of a large gathering. The. popular Rector (the Rev. E. S. Barry) extended a most cordial and hearty welcome to all present. His Grace the Archbishop presided, and there were present: The Lieutenant-Governor (Mr. W. Lennon),, the Hon. ; Frank McDonnell, M.L.C., the Revs. M. Lane (Adm. St. Stephen’s Cathedral), W. S. McGoldrick, J. Gallagher, Brother Ryan (Nudgee), Brother McGee (Gregory Terrace), and many others. His Grace the Archbishop of Brisbane said he had officiated at many ceremonies since he had been Archbishop of Brisbane, but ho did not think he had ever officiated at one that gave him so keen a pleasure as he felt in performing the present' one — function of dedicating this house to the purposes ’ of a University College. When the students first arrived they were housed in various places, and fin-

ally—a couple of years ago—they anchored at St. Leo’s —next —formerly known as “Abbotsford.” “Abbotsford” ,was on one side of them and . “Garth House on the other. Those were the* gift jof the late Archbishop Dunne to the ■ Catholic ; people as a 1 university college. During the last year it became possible for them to purchase the magnificent building in which they were now assembled, thereby linking up the whole group which, l as •Father Barry had said, formed probably the finest University College in Brisbane to-day. The site was an ideal one, and they had so renovated the buildings and adapted them to their purpose in such a way that the students must admit that they had every comfort they could expect in such an institution as St. Leo’s. St. Leo’s College now consists of two separate buildings, the one formerly known .as “Abbotsford,” in which the college was housed up to the beginning of this year; and the second, formerly occupied by the Brisbane High School for Girls, and purchased from the trustees of the Buchanan Estate by his Grace the Archbishop of Brisbane. WEST AUSTRALIA. - • Owing to the arrangements that had been made with regard to the visit of the Apostolic Delegate to Western Australia, his Grace Archbishop Clune was unable to join the rest of the Hierarchy of Australasia in their visit ad limina. On May 26 he was to sail by the P. and O. liner Ormonde for Rome, accompanied by Rev. R. L. Pace, of South Perth. When his official business shall have been transacted in Rome, his Grace will proceed on a short visit to the Old Land. Welcome to our midst (says the W.A. Record) are the gallant Little Sisters of the Poor. The noble little band of eight arrived the other day from the East by the Karoola, after an unpleasant, stormy trip. They have come to carry on the grand work of philanthropy in regard to the aged poor, which has solely characterised them from their foundation. Founded in France by a poor French girl in 1859, the possibility of the growth and spread of the Order seemed an impossibility from its intrinsic nature. It was to live by poverty, and the objects of its charity were the poor of all nationalities, creeds, and classes. If the workings of Divine Providence are ever visibly manifested, it is surely with regard to the Little Sisters of the Poor. They are bound by rule, and gallantly undertake, to beg all necessaries for those under their care. To beg is degrading; to beg for those who are ashamed or unable to beg is most noble. If ever the humane side of mankind could be appealed to, it is surely by the modest request of a Little Sister begging for her poor. Sacrificing all human respect, meeting with rebuffs from the thoughtless, and refusals from those who think not of the poor, ever 'bravely she wends her ways, remembering her poor at home that must be fed and clothed. Though she is a mendicant, her object is not personal benefit, and on that account she is welcomed by many as the noblest type of the altruistic. As a significant proof of the kindly disposition of the world towards the Order, and of Divine Providence acting in their regard, we find in all parts of the globe to-day members of the Order to the number of 5000, all engaged in work of relieving the derelict poor. We heartily welcome the Little Sisters to the West, and wish them the fullest measure of success in their truly Christian undertaking.