COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 21 July 1921, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

NEW SOUTH WALES. The foundations of new additions to the convent of the Sisters of Charity, Concord, were blessed by the Very Rev. Dr. M. J. O’Reilly, C.M. (Rector, St. John’s College within the University) on a recent Sunday afternoon, in the presence of a very large and enthusiastic gathering of parishioners. The ceremony at Concord another milestone of progress in the history of that flourishing centre of Catholicity (says the Catholic 1 cess ). The spiritual destinies of Concord parish were guided for many years by the Right Rev. Monsignor P. Byrne, P.P., and when some years ago he assumed charge of the new parish of Strathfield, he was succeeded by Rev. Father T. Barlow, P.P., who has indeed proved a worthy successor. To-day Concord possesses a magnificent group of ecclesiastical edifices, worthy to rank with those of any of the most flourishing parishes of the archdiocese, and it is still growing and expanding, under the remarkably able and zealous administration of Father Barlow. When Dr. O’Reilly arrived at Concord he was cordially welcomed by the assembled parishioners, and an imposing guard of honor was formed by the members of the local branches of the Catholic friendly societies. When the foundations of the new additions had been blessed, a public meeting was held in the church grounds, Dr. O’Reilly being the principal Speaker,

WEST AUSTRALIA.

His Grace Archbishop Clime recently visited the south- ' eastern portion of his archdiocese. At Dwellingup his Grace was welcomed by Rev. T. R. O’Grady and the church com- , mittee, who entertained him at dinner at the State Hotel. 1 The progress association, in conjunction , with the church ' committee, subsequently tendered his Grace a public welli come, at which a large and Representative crowd attended. I ' Mr. D. Cosgriff, J.P., presided in the absence, through ill- ■ ' ness, of the president of the Progress Association (Dr. Cameron), who forwarded an apology. Mr. Peters, as a - non-Catholic, felt honored in being accorded the opportunity of welcoming his Grace. He admired the tolerant and co-operative attitude of the Catholics of the district. He realised that his Grace was a great ecclesiastic and a

statesman. He had tried to bring peace where there was war. If his Grace did not succeed it was not his fault. Mr, F. H. Madin said, as a member of the Anglican Church,

he had great admiration for Archbishop Chine, on account of his sterling qualities. He had known his Grace for many years long ago, when, as Father Chine, he had preached an eloquent panegyric on King Edward in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Perth. His Grace

~ r ' r Archbishop Clune, on rising, was received with prolonged applause. He felt deeply moved and thankful for the words expressed by the various speakers, and the kindly feelings and cordial welcome extended to him. It reminded him of those early Christian feelings—one heart, one mind. That was as it should be, and he could see no reason why, though they might differ in their creed and religion, they should not be as the first Christians, united in one bond nf brotherly affection. It gave him great consolation to find that spirit existed in Dwellingup, and he hoped they would always foster and cherish that spirit, and he would especially ask his fellow-Catholics, while being true to their faith, to strive always to respect the religion of others, and to foster that spirit of amity and goodwill that makes for good citizenship.

QUEENSLAND.

On Tuesday morning last (says the Catholic. Advocate for June 30) a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Beaudesert, for the repose of the soul of the late Father James Enright, who was killed' by lightning on the 24th of last month, and whose death sent a wave of sorrow far and wide throughout the district. His Grace the Archbishop presided at the Mass, and gave the last absolution. At the conclusion of the solemn ceremony, his Grace preached a short but touching panegyric of the late priest. He said they had met that morning in circumstances that were inexpressibly sad. The priest who for so many years had been their father, and friend was suddenly snatched from them by death, and they had

gathered together to pay him a last tribute and- to offer up for his soul the Holy Mass with their prayers and ' suffrages; that God might give him eternal rest. To few, priests had it been given, in a young country like Australia, to guide the destinies of a parish for close on 40 years. That had been the privilege of their late pastor, and it needed no words of his to point out how faithfully Father Enright had done his work. He was identified with the people, not only in their spiritual life, but also in their temporal affairs. He knew every member of his flock, old and young. He encouraged them to stay on the land, build homes for themselves, and rear their families far from the temptations of the towns. Nowhere had their Catholic people clung to the land as they had in the Logan and Albert districts, and that was largely owing to the advice and help of their priest. Father Enright had been with them through droughts and hard times as well as in prosperous seasons. They knew the simplicity of his life and the sympathy of his heart. “A more child-like, kind, or hospitable man,” said his Grace, ‘‘it would be difficult to find.” Father Enright never failed to respond to any call made upon him by day or night. He was always at the service of his people. Who could count the miles he had travelled over rough roads, or the Masses he had offered for his people? How many times had he raised his hand in absolution over them or stretched it out to them with the Bread of Life? Father Enright, was gone, but his memory abided amongst them in his works. His conception of the beauty of God’s house was expressed in their handsome parish church. His solicitude for the little ones of the flock was evidenced in the neighboring convent and school, to which he had brought the devoted Sisters of Mercy 20 years ago. The country churches bore testimony to his endeavor to make families at home with God on the land. He was no longer seen in their midst, or robed in his vestments at the altar, but his works that pleaded for him before the throne of God would also keep his memory green on earth.,

Speaking recently at the opening of the Brisbane Anglican Diocesan Synod Canon Jenkyn said; —“The Catholic communion also had had representatives in whom the saintly and worthy virtues of Christianity were manifested. Think of the noble band of Christian Brothers — about 300 of them in Australia. It was hard to estimate the extent of their work, but they were doing wonders in the great cause of education and in consolidating the great Church to which they belonged.”

All sections of the parishioners, and many representatives of the Church in other parts of Queensland, gathered at St. Mary’s Church and at St. Joseph’s, Liverpool, Estate, on Monday and Tuesday, June 20 and 21, to do honor to the Right Rev. Mgr. J. Byrne, Vicar-General of the archdiocese of Brisbane and parish priest of Ipswich, on the occasion of his sacerdotal silver jubilee (says the Catholic Advocate). It was one of the greatest occasions in the history of Mount St. Mary, as' the hill which overlooks the city on its north-easterly boundary, was referred to at the opening of the new St. Mary’s, by reason of the very many beautiful buildingsSt. Mary’s Church, St. Mary’s Convent High School, Christian Brothers’ College, convent music rooms, presbytery, St. Mary’s Parish Hall, and Christian Brothers’ residenceall dedicated to Our Blessed Lady, and the jubilations were entered into with such keen enthusiasm that “Monsignor’s jubilee day,” June 21, 1921, will live long in the memory of the Catholics of Ipswich, both old and young.

On a recent Sunday afternoon his Grace Archbishop Duhig laid the "foundation stone of the Church of Blessed Oliver Plunket at Carron Hill, in the presence of a fine gathering of priests and laity. Rev. Fathers O’Keeffe} P.P., and Hogan have been industriously working for some time to carry out this great work, which is to cost £3500, and is to be opened by his Grace Archbishop Mannix on August 1. There is no doubt that Father O’Keeffe will score immensely that day, as thousands will be present to see, hear, and welcome the distinguished prelate, who has made the British Government the laughing stock of the world. " -x