Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 20, 24 May 1923, Page 35

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. The grounds of St. Gabriel's School for Deaf Boys, Castle Hill, assumed a gala appearance on Sunday (says the Catholic Press for May 10), when his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney blessed and opened the institution that has been provided by the zeal of the Christian Brothers. The school stands upon a high eminence, commanding a picturesque outlook over a distant valley, and where the early sun can beat upon the building, typifying the light that is being brought into the lives of the boys who are in the care of the Brothers. Flags were draped everywhere, and their colors mingled harmoniously. Small wonder it is that the little chaps who are receiving the benefits of a first-grade Christian education, and all that that implies, were cheery; and stony indeed would be the heart that would not expand to the appeal of the Brothers, whose only earthly reward is the welfare of their charges.

It is evident that the religious training of the pupils is not neglected at the Marist Brothers’ High School, Darlinghurst. This year three students entered upon studies for the priesthood or the religious life. One entered the Marist Brothers’ Juniorate at Mittagong, the second went to Springwood, and the third —the dux of the school —entered the novitiate of the Jesuit Fathers, where he joined a classmate of last year, and a .former schoolmate, who recently entered after obtaining his degree in engineering at the Sydney University.

It is always very pleasant to Catholic ears (says the Freeman’s Journal) to hear our institutions praised by those not of our own belief, and when the appreciation comes from suck people as Sir Harry and Lady Lauderwho, besides knowing their own land thoroughly, have had 19 complete tours of America and have circuited the globe three times —it is very ■ much more welcome. Wherever they have travelled they have visited institutions, schools, and hospitals of all denominations, but they had never been to on© which was quite like the Home of the Good Shepherd. Ashfield, or which impressed them so much. Their visit was unexpected. They wont on a weekday, when the laundry was in full swing, and they were taken all over the institution. Chatting over their visit to the Freeman’s representative, Lady Lauder said “a more hardworking bunch of women than those Sisters I have never seen. The things they put through while we were there was astonishing.” Her feminine eye noted the sheets, the lingerie, etc., which went from washer to boiler and so forth. “And how happy they all seemed. There was such an atmosphere of understanding and perfect harmony between the nuns and the girls. I chatted with several of the latter, and they seemed very contented. The Home is beautiful, and there is such a sweet, happy, ‘ homey ’ atmosphere about it, a regular haven of rest. I thought it quite ideal, and places run like this retain no sting for the girls who are sent there.” All Catholic institutions or colleges we have visited in any part of the world,” echoed Sir Harry Lauder, “are all worked in the same perfect way, on the same principle, for the same good cause — the benefit of humanity. And any cause which has for its aim the uplifting of humanity is a

good one; and such a on© as your Home of the Good Shepherd is worthy of every support." "It is a pity such institutions are not better known, and that people, instead of finding fault, would see for themselves the good accomplished. Those Sisters are the most hard-working I have seen in -any part of the world; I was just amazed at them. After all work is salvation, and it really is a blessing. _ It keeps minds and hands occupied, and keeps us from getting into a lot of mischief." Referring to a little bit of unpleasantness that these Sisters suffered recently, through a busybody meddling, Lady'Lauder remarked brightly: "There are over a hundred girls, and even if all were kept. in glass boxes, there must be always some discontented one. Why, 'you never dig in the garden, but you turn up a worm.' " From his corner came the comedian's voice: "Life is more than stocks, and bonds, And love than eight per cent. He who serves in friendship's name, Shall reap as he has spent." . , ~

. QUEENSLAND: With the approval of his Grace the Archbishop, steps are being taken to form a choir from all of the parishes in the metropolis. The idea is to have a trained choir available for the rendering of choral items on special occasions, such as the annual procession in honor of the Blessed Sacrament at Nudgee College on Corpus Christi Sunday, and at ceremonies which may be attended by his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate and other distinguished visitors to Brisbane at different times. There is some excellent talent in the parish choirs in and around the city, and it is a happy thought to select the leading singers in these choirs * for the combined church choir. The other week a meeting was held to further the proposal, which is being very warmly supported. Mr. W. Godwin, who has long been a familiar figure in Catholic choirs in Brisbane, is the lion, secretary of the movement. The hope is expressed that as the choir will have the professional services of a skilful conductor, it will eventually carry off the laurels at the Eisteddfod and other musical festivals where choral singing is a feature of the programme. This ambitious aim will greatly aid in promoting the efficiency of the choir. The rapidly developing suburb of Kedron Park is to have at an early date the great advantage of a Catholic church for the residents there. This is in keeping with the foresight which his Grace the Archbishop has shown in providing for churches, schools, and convents in every centre of population throughout his vast archdiocese. The site for the new church at Kedron Park has been paid for. Mr. John Wren, of Melbourne, gave £IOO towards the cost of the land, and Rev. Father Keating, of Wooloowin, collected the remainder, which amounted to'£sso. The church is to be dedicated to God under the title of "Blessed Teresa of Jesus," known to Catholics as "The Little Flower." During his recent visit to Europe, his Grace Archbishop Duhig met, at, the Convent of Carmel, Lisioux, three sisters of Blessed Teresa. They are Carmelite Nuns, whilst a fourth sister of the Little Flower is a member of the Visitation Order. The. Archbishop decided that the first church dedicated in the archdiocese after the beatification would be in honor of "The Little Flower." Her many devoted clients in Queensland will be glad of the opportunity of assisting to build this church.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The Month's Mind for the late Dr. Norton, Bishop of Port Augusta, was celebrated at St. Anacletus' Church, Peterborough, on Tuesday week (says the Melbourne Advocate for May 3). Among those present were his Grace the Archbishop of Adelaide (Most Rev. Dr. Spence, 0.P.), his Lordship the Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes (the Right Rev. Dr. Hayden), his Lordship the Bishop of Ballarat (the Right Rev. Dr. Foley), and about 36 priests from all parts of the Port Augusta diocese, the archdiocese of Adelaide, and Broken Hill. Pontifical Requiem Mass was sung by his Grace the Archbishop. In the course of his tribute to the late prelate, Dr. Hayden (the occasional preacher) said : "So many works were crowded into his episcopate that it would be impossible to enumerate them all. Churches and schools sprang up in every centre under his fostering care; young priests were brought out from Ireland year after year to take tup the work of the pioneer priests who were broken clown in health or had passed to their reward. And if to-day they found this diocese well equipped with schools, churches, and an efficient body of priests, they owed that happy state of things almost entirely to the efficacy and zeal of their late devoted Bishop. There were, however, two features of his episcopate which had stood out in bold •relief— ability as a, financier and his pastoral zeal in visiting every corner of this immense diocese. In his 1922 report of the liabilities of the diocese (one of the last documents of the kind he must have compiled) it was stated that from 1888 to 1920 £130,000 was'collected in the diocese for Church works, which was quite apart from the upkeep of the priests, nuns, school, etc. This was a wonderful achievement when they remembered that the Catholic population of the diocese was only 12,600 from 1905 to 1920, and for the period during which he was in charge of the diocese £85,000 was raised."