His Lordship Bishop Whyte in Sydney
WELCOMED BY OLD PARISHIONERS. On Tuesday evening (says the Catholic Press for October 6), his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Whyte, Bishop of Dunedin, N.Z., who is on a visit to Australia in connection with the St. Mary's Centenary celebrations, was entertained by his old parishioners at Stanmore. The church grounds were beautifully decorated and brilliantly lighted by great numbers of Chinese lanterns, and colored electric bulbs, ingeniously concealed among a wealth of flowers and greenery. Speeches of welcome were delivered- from the presbytery verandah, and afterwards a pleasant musical entertainment was given in the hall, where refreshments were also provided for all. The hall decorations were on a most lavish, scale, the artistic effects exercising a very charming impression upon the visitors.
During the evening his Lordship Dr. Whyte was presented with an illuminated address, of a beautiful and artistic design, on behalf of his old parishioners and friends.
With his Lordship on the platform were Right Rev. Mgr. King. Very Rev. Dr. M. J. O'Reilly, CM. (Rector of St. John's College, within the University), Rev. Fathers J. Sherin, T. Kenny, and Cullen (Maitland), the Hon. E. A. MeTiernan, M.L.A. (Attorney-General), Messrs. J. Heiiihy and J. Creagh. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. Herlihy, who extended a hearty welcome to tho distinguished guest. The parishioners of Stanmore felt that they wore better citizens, better Australians, - and better Catholics for having come under the influence of his Lordship Dr. Whyte. Although Dr. Whyte had set high traditions in the Stanmoro parish, his mantle had fallen on worthy shoulders, in the person of Monsignor King. All tho parochial activities were in a flourishing condition, thanks to Monsignor King. On behalf of Father Kenny, himself, and the parishioners, Monsignor King assured his Lordship that he was exceedingly welcome that evening. "We regard your Lordship as a pioneer in every sense in this parish," continued the speaker. "When I came to the parish, I found the church organisation like a piece of well-oiled machinery. Everything was in perfect order, and it was a pleasure and a happiness and a privilege that, perhaps, I did not deserve. It will please his Lordship to know- that up to the end of August, since his departure, 3.4,000 people received Holy Communion in this parish. To-night, on behalf of these people who love you so well, I welcome you most cordially. On behalf of Father Kenny, I wel- . come you, and.on. behalf of myself, for I lay claim to the privilege of being a very old friend of your Lordship. The Hon. E. A. MeTiernan, M.L.A. (Attorney-Gen-eral), said it did not seem very long since they bade farewell to his Lordship in the Petersham Town Hall. He had returned to Sydney to participate in the Centenary celebrations of St. Mary's Cathedral, and he (the speaker)
was sure that all the people of Sydney, and the Archbishop and clergy, would be just as pleased as the people of Stanmore to'see his Lordship gracing with his presence tho ceremonies which would mark the great centenary. His Lordship had made thousands of friends in New South Wales, and every one of them would be pleased beyond
measure to see him onco again in their, midst. (
The Very Rev. Dr. M. J. O’Reilly said that the pro-
ceedings that evening were a wonderful tribute to the great esteem and admiration in which Dr. Whyte was held
by the people among whom lie had labored. It was a tribute, too, to the kindly, affectionate, Catholic nature of the pedple. They were, all delighted to see Dr. Whyte back amongst them, and to witness what a wonderfully
happy family he had left behind him. It was pleasing to know, too, -that tho parishioners of Stanmore had attached themselves with the same cordiality to their new parish
priest as they had shown, in days gone by, to his Lordship
Dr. Whyte. < , e Mr. Creagh then read and presented the illuminated
address to his Lordship.
The Bishop’s Reply
When- he rose to reply, Bishop Whyte received a great ovation. He thanked Monsignor King and , his energetic
and artistic committee, and Father Kenny, for the beautiful arrangements they had made for, his reception that evening. It would not be an easy thing to keep up these visits to Australia. He would be glad, indeed, if it were possible for him to come frequently.
“But I would not have you think for one moment,” continued his Lordship, “that I have met with anything but kindness since I said good-bye to you some time ago. Sometimes I feel inclined to say it is five or six years since I left Stanmore. But the reason of that impression is because of the number of new duties, new places, and new things with which I have had to deal. I told my friends in New Zealand that I would tell my friends in Australia of the great kindness I have received in New Zealand — from Auckland to the Bluff —since I arrived there. His Lordship the Bishop of Lismoro (Right Rev. Dr. Carroll), and Very Rev. Father Dunne, of Wollongong, 1 and myself', were received with open arms in Wellington by the Archbishops and priests. The same kindness was shown to us in Christchurch, and even as we were travelling in the train en route to Dunedin, we were cordially welcomed at several places. On arriving at Dunedin in the night time, I was astonished at the number, of people on the platform, and also at the illuminations of the Cathedral and presbytery. “Since then I have been practically all through my diocese. I have experienced the heat of the summer and
the cold of winter, and during all that time the people have treated me with the utmost kindness. Not only the Bishops, but the clergy and the laity, have been exceedingly kind. In going through my diocese, I have visited the schools, and met the children. I am very interested in that work. I am pleased to say that the Catholic children are doing excellent work. The schools are examined by the Government inspectors, and nothing but flattering reports come from them, as they examine up and down through the various Catholic schools of New Zealand,
"I have told my friends of Dunedin that you had a right to expect a visit from me. The first time it dawned on me/that it was the proper thing to go to New Zealand for my consecration ceremony, instead of receiving it here in Sydney, where I have spent the greater part of my life, it gave me a great shock. I shall be pleased to tell my friends in Dunedin that you haven't forgotten me. They are well aware that I haven't forgotten you. It will always be a pleasure for me to see you when I come to Sydney; but unless you get up some big celebrations from time to time, like the Centenary of St. Mary's, you cannot expect me to cross the Tasman Sea. I am very grateful to you all for this grand demonstration, and I shall take back to Dunedin with me very pleasant recollections of this evening that I spent in your midst." <X*>_J CELTIC CONGRESS AND IRISH PEACE. The following resolution was adopted unanimously at the Business Session of the Celtic Congress, held recently at Douglas, Isle of Man, under the chairmanship of Mr. Edward T. John. ' 1. Moved by the Rev. Lauchlan Mac Lean Watt, D.D., seconded by the Rev. J. Dyfnallt Owen:. "That the Celtic Congress having watched with prayerful interest the present negotiations for settlement of Irish questions, express the earnest hope that such an issue may be reached as shall secure for Ireland development on truly national lines,' which shall satisfy the noblest historical aspirations of ' her people, and give them their unrestricted share in the best life of the commonwealth and of the world."
The Congress also expressed a strong desire to meet next year in Dublin in conformity with the invitation received from the Gaelic League in 1918, provided this should be entirely agreeable and convenient to the Irish organisation concerned.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Tablet, 20 October 1921, Page 18
Word Count
1,361His Lordship Bishop Whyte in Sydney New Zealand Tablet, 20 October 1921, Page 18
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