Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 35

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. His Lordship the Bishop of Dunedin (Right Rev. Dr. Whyte) arrived in Sydney on Tuesday by the Ulimaroa (says the Catholic Press for February 15), Dr. Whyte is about to pay his first visit to the Holy Father, and will leave for San Francisco by the Ventura on Wednesday next. He will be accompanied by the Very Rev. Father J.P. Dunne, P.P., V.F., of Wollongong, and the Rev. Father T. Barry, of Chatswood. They will make a brief stay in the United States.

The Provincial of the Vincentian Order (Very Rev. Father Bennett, C.M.), is now visiting the houses of the Order in Australia. Until recently he was the guest of the Very Rev. Father Richard Ryan, C.M., Superior of the Vincentian Fathers, St. Joseph’s, Malvern, Victoria, and left lor Ashfield, Sydney, some days ago. Father Bennett, before returning to Dublin, will .visit the distant mission fields of the Far East, where the Vincentian Fathers have charge of a Vicariate in Central China, where their labors are meeting with great success.

There was much regret expressed in the Bathurst diocese, and particularly in and around Dubbo, when word was received from the Bishop of Bathurst (Right Rev. Dr. M. O'Farrell) of the death of the revered Right Rev. Mgr. Brophy, D.D., LL.B., one of the cultured and zealous priests of the west. It appears that Mgr. Brophy died suddenly in Ireland. For a year or two Mgr. Brophy had not enjoyed good health, and about three months ago it was deemed necessary that he should take a long sea voyage, and he made arrangements to visit his native land. He was not at all well when he left. In recent letters to his Lordship, the Monsignor said that London specialists had stated that his health was practically normal again, and that he would be able to return to this State. He was to have left by the Orvieto on February 3. In the _ •last letter he stated that he had a little bronchial trouble and it is considered likely that it developed into pneumonia! VICTORIA. His Grace the Archbishop delivered an interesting discourse on the significance and practice of Lent, at Holy Trinity Church, Queenscliff, on Sunday morning (says the Melbourne Tribune for February 15). His Grace said that Lent was a means provided by the Church of enabling She ordinary Christian to do something to make up for his shortcomings during the year. It was a mortal sin for those bourfd by the regulations to fail to keep those relating either to fast or abstinence. But there was another side to the Lenten fasts which he thought was of special importance to Australians who were perhaps a little inclined to eat more than was good for them, and that was the fact that the Catholic restrictions on food during Lent were such as would be pronounced highly beneficial to the ordinary person by that person's medical adviser. A little discipline in this way undoubtedly did the body good as well as the soul. The Lenten regulations, his Grace continued, were not very oppressive. There were so many dispensations rn respect to people doing fatiguing work and to those of delicate health, that the number of people who were bound to fast during Lent in Australia was very small. But even those who were exempted from fasting could do something to observe Lent. They could and should practise many voluntary mortifications of their own— acts that nobody need know anything about but God and themselves. The exercise of will power involved in these acts of mortifications, which though small in themselves were precious in the sight of God, "taught the lesson of self-control, and self-control was one of the •greatest of all social attributes. His Grace finally impressed on the congregation the importance of observing the Lenten Regulations cheerfully. Too many neople were inclined to grumble and sulk about the Lenten "observance. They should learn to obey the Church cheerfully. WEST AUSTRALIA. The project of -reconstructing the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Perth, is now fully on the way of

preparation. His Grace Archbishop Clune commenced the task of making the appeal in the Cathedral itself on a recent Sunday. It is announced that the Catholic journal, the W.A. Record, has passed from the proprietorship of Mr. Patrick Bryan, Perth, and is now the property of his Grace Archbishop Clune. It will in future be printed and published as the official 'organ of the Archdiocese of Perth in its new premises, 450 Hay Street, Perth. The Melbourne correspondent of the Freeman's Journal writes: Priests and people are much gratified at the appointment of the Very Rev. Father Richard Ryan, C.M. (Superior at Malvern), to the Bishopric of Geraldton. He has spent two years at Malvern, succeeding the late Very Rev. Father Flynn, C.M. The Bishop-elect has many endearing characteristics. Despite his retiring disposition, one easily discerns the ripe scholar and his suppressed force. Among his many fruitful and administrative acts at St. Joseph’s, may be mentioned the beautifying of that lovely temple and additions thereto. St. Joseph’s is allowed to be one of the most devotional of the suburban churches. i he grounds have also been made ideal for the holding of religious outdoor functions, including that of Corpus Christi. In this case Geraldton’s gain is certainly Ma'lvenPs loss. lather Ryan is in the prime of life and especially fitted to cope with his great responsibility.