COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 24 February 1921, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

NEW SOUTH WALES. A splendid meeting of men, representative of practically every parish in Sydney and suburbs, was held on a recent Sunday for the purpose of giving all the assistance in their power to the 'big effort which is now being made on behalf of the Sisters of Mercy’s orphanage at Baulkham Hills. The Right Rev. Mgr, Gorman, P.P. (Parramatta), who presided, in eloquent and touching language put before those present the position of the orphanage, in which there were at the moment no fewer than 175 little boys, ranging in age from three to ten. The strain of maintaining these little ones was enormous, and, in addition to that, the Sisters were burdened with a very heavy interest bill, consequent on the erection of the new orphanage buildings, on which there was still a debt of £7OOO. Monsignor O’Gorman added that he regarded the work of this orphanage as of national importance, and not parochial in any sense, as there were boys there from every part of their own State, and even from the adjoining States. Ho was quite sure that the present movement would he productive of an immense outpouring of practical sympathy with the good Sisters in their beautiful and pathetic work. Brief addresses, embodying encouraging . and helpful suggestions, were made by Messrs. J. L. Mullen, J. Morrissey, T. J. Shannon, AY. J. Coogan, J. E. Burke, Wilson, McConville, Creagh, C. S. Jones, N. Chinchen, McNamara, and Marshall. QUEENSLAND. Rev. Father Hogan, who was ordained at St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, and arrived from Ireland recently, has been appointed curate to Rev. Father O’Keeffe at Bulimba. Rev. Father Earl A. Stanaway, of Now Zealand, who was recently ordained in Sydney for the archdiocese of Brisbane, has been appointed to the staff of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Rev. Father Leo Carlton, an old student of Nudgee College, who completed his ecclesiastical training at St. Patrick’s, Manly, and was ordained in Sydney by his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate on November 28, has been appointed curate at Toowoomba. Father Carlton is at present spending a few days in Brisbane. Rev. Father Denis Ahern, late of Ipswich Road parish, has been appointed to the temporary charge of St. James’, Coorparoo. Rev. Michael Masterson is returning to Nanango, where he will work with his brother, Rev. Francis Masterson. He will be succeeded at Oriel Road by Rev. Francis O'Connell, who is at present taking a short holiday. Father O’Connell’s place at Crow’s Nest will be filled by Rev. Kevin Murphy, late of Nanango. At the recent Anglican Church Congress during a debate on Reunion, the Archbishop of Brisbane, Dr. Donaldson, who is reckoned a likely candidate for the Archbishopric of Canterbury [it has been definitely announced that Dr. Donaldson will return to Brisbane], declared that, although he felt perfectly certain of the validity of his Orders, he would be "quite ready and willing to kneel before a Roman prelate and be re-ordained according to the Roman rite, to satisfy the conscience of the Roman Church and help the great and holy cause of Christian Reunion” (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Advocate ). The High Anglican organ says it is impossible to imagine any Anglican Archbishop ten years ago making such a bold and fearless declaration, and it suggests that the cause of Reunion must be making real and steady progress when such an announcement can be made at a Church congress with acquiescence and approval, and without evoking any hostile cries, scenes, or manifestations. It is this striking difference or point of view, the Church Times adds, that marks more than anything else the great change which has come over the whole religious situation in this country. Not long ago, to take risks was regarded as a crime, and the men who advocated them were labelled dangerous,:.-and snubbed and reproved by the people in power ajid authority. . But now nobody felt any particular admiration for the _ man, whe- - ther ecclesiastic or statesmen, who played for safety every t time. In support of its advice to take risks and make friendly overtures ! to Rome, as the Archbishop of Brisbane is prepared to do, the Church ' Times indulges in a cricketing simile;—“As : in cricket the days of th<? stonewaller have passed and have been succeeded by the brilliant and adventurous play of Hobbs and Taylor, so in Church matters there is a strong tendency, to dethrone caution from its former position as the chief of . the ecclesiastical virtues. ” ■■ That is 1 all 1 very well and 1 excellent special pleading from the. High Anglican standpoint ‘ (comments the Brisbane ■ Catholic Advocate), but Home ; is not’going 5 to

run risks or take “short cuts” to reunion to please the High Anglicans or anybody., else. The two Archbishops of Brisbane are, we believe, very good friends, and work harmoniously together for the common good. But Archbishop Donaldson is not going to get Catholic re-ordination by merely flopping on his knees before Archbishop Duhig. Dr. Duhig will have to be satisfied on a number of highly important points and particulars before any such interesting little ceremony is possible. TASMANIA. It is with sincere regret that we Catholic Press) record the death of the Venerable Archpriest Philip Hennebry, at Highbury Private Hospital, Hobart, on January 25, after a short but severe illness. The news of the beloved Archpriest’s death caused a wave of sorrow and grief in Tasmania, especially in Hobart. On all sides the poignancy of the grief was apparent. Archpriest Hennebry, who was one of the most widely known personages in Tasmania, was born 81 years ago at Moorcoine, Kilkenny, Ireland, and he was educated at Waterford College. After pursuing his ecclesiastical studies at Carlow College, he was ordained there on June 10, 1865, and came to Tasmania early in January, 1866, when he took charge of New Norfolk parish, which included Bagdad, Ouse, and Both well. After laboring 18 months in that parish he took up duties in St. Joseph’s parish in Hobart, wherein he woiked hard till the time of his death. About seven years ago the Archpriest was stricken with paralysis. He should have ceased active work then; but his indomitable spirit enabled him to continue. He was only in the hospital a little over a week, but his illness ivas very severe. His calm endurance and powerful vitality sustained him almost to the end, and he retained consciousness and interest in life almost right up till the day of his death.

VICTORIA. The Rev. F. Kent was raised to the exalted dignity of the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday morning (says the Melbourne Advocate of February 16). His Lordship the Bishop of Sale (Eight Rev. Dr. Phelan) officiated, and was assisted by Rev. P. O’Brien and Rev. N. Clack. There was a crowded congregation, and the fiont portion of the nave of the Cathedral was reserved for relatives and friends of the young Levite, who was attended by Rev. J. H. O’Grady, P.P. (his uncle), and Rev. D. Shaw (cousin). The ceremonies were, most impiessive, and at the close Father Kent gave his blessing to hundreds of the congregation in the Cathedral and in the grounds attached thereto. Father Kent spent three years at the Christian Brothers’ School, Ballarat, and completed his ecclesiastical studies at Springwood and Manly. He will remain in the Melbourne archdiocese for a year, and will then be attached to the Hobart archdiocese. Father Kent celebrated his first Mass at Preston on Monday. His Lordship the Bishop of Sandhurst (Eight Rev. Dr. McCarthy) has made the following changes amongst, the priests of the diocese:—The Rev. John J. Kennedy, Bendigo, to the pastoral charge of Myrtleford, rendered vacant by the death of the late lamented Dr. Skelly Rev. John Moran, Adm., Myrtleford, to be Adm. at Elmore during the absence of Father Ryan Rev. Francis Meyer, D.D., Bcnalla, to be Adm. at Kerang during the absence of Rev. W. Armstrong; Rev. James O’Sullivan, from Heathcote to Chi Item ; Rev. Hugh Ryan, from Chiltern to Benalla; Rev. Joseph Thomas* Awburn, from Wodonga to Heathcote; Rev. Patrick O’Sullivan, from Myrtleford to Bendigo; Rev. Charles AY. Borrack, from Nagambie to Myrtleford.

The Rev. Charles Jerger has taken up temporary residence in Holland. Writing from that country to a Sydney friend, he stated that he was treated much better in England than in Australia. He was granted a passport from England to Holland, but later proposed to visit his brother in America. When Mr. Hughes is deposed, he added, he expects that he will be permitted to return to Australia. ;