Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1924, Page 33

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES. A preliminary conference was held at St. Monica’s, Elizabeth Bay, the other Sunday afternoon, the object being to consider matters in connection with the proposed Catholic Women’s College, within the University. His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney has the matter at heart, and in a letter which was read, showed his interest and approbation, as well as his practical sympathy with the movement. It is to be hoped that many will follow the fine example thus set by his Grace, and that the college will soon be standing in the grounds of St. John’s, a fine testimony of Catholic interest in the higher education of women. At the conference were present two delegates from each of the old girls’ unions, in connection with the principal teaching Orders controlling registered secondary schools in the metropolitan area. The matters discussed were ways and means of arousing and maintaining interest in the work. A public meeting is to be called at the end of this month. At the conclusion of the conference, the delegates attended. Benediction at Kincoppal, where Rev. Father R. M. Lynch, C.SS.R., spoke encouragingly on the subject, and gave it his blessing.

A graceful tribute was paid on a recent Sunday at Parramatta by the Eight Rev. Monsignor O’Gorman to the activities of his Grace the Archbishop in connection with the completion of St. Alary’s Cathedral. While the other archbishops of Sydney, said Mgr. O’Gorman, from Archbishop Folding down to the illustrious Cardinal Moran, have been building the Cathedral, it remained for the present Archbishop to spend at least one-third of the money in the building, and to probably realise the dream of Archbishop Vaughan in seeing the Cathedral completed. Ap-. v proximotely £330,000 had been spent, of which his Grace the Archbishop, during his time as Archbishop of Sydney, had been responsible for £IIO.OOO. Next year an appeal would be made lor the Cathedral and he was confident that it would have the whole-hearted support of every Catholic in the community. Parramatta would do its share, and in that connection a man, who wished to remain unknown, had given £3OOO to the Archbishop for St. Mary's on certain conditions.

VICTORIA. The Dominican Fathers, who have just successfully concluded their first mission in Melbourne at Our Lady of Lourdes, Armadale, have, at the request of the Rev. Father M. I. O’Brien, P.P., established a branch of the Holy Name Society, in the parish, to which , his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne (Most Rev. Dr. Maunix) has given his cordial sanction and approbation. The organisation, which i s exclusively for men, has for its object the suppression of profanity, particularly in regard to the Holy hs ame, its membership entailing reverence and cleanliness of speech, combined with regular frequentation of the Sacraments by means of monthly Communion. The Society of the Holy Name was first founded in America, where it has a membership of two million, with branches in everv diocese, and almost every parish, so that the organisation is recognised as a force in America, and its badge of membership a familiar symbol of practical Catholicity. Seventy thousand men once marched in procession through the streets of New York, and 50,000 in Philadelphia, including all ranks of society, all being active members of the Society of the Holy Name. On, another occasion President Roosevelt marched at the head of a procession which numbered 50,000, so it is hoped that in the near future branches will be established throughout Australia, so that the day will come when Australian Catholic men, like their co-religionists in America, will be banded together in o. live organisation? regular in religious practices, clean and reverent in speech, and willingly co-operating with all Church activities. After the church parade at St. Patrick’s Cathedral last Sunday morning (says the Melbourne Tribune for March 27), the Catholic officers and men of the British naval squadron assembled in the Cathedral Hall, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, when they partook of refreshments, generously supplied by the Catholic Federation. A number of ladies co-operated with the Federation in the arrangements, and the proceedings were marked by the greatest enthusiasm.

It was a thoughtful action on the part of the Federation to entertain the officers and' men, who stated it was the first function of the kind in which they had taken part since leaving England. Among those present were the Very Rev, J. Lonergan, Administrator, and Rev. L. Mann, Catholic chaplain with the fleet. Father Lonergan said he regarded it as a privilege to extend a hearty welcome to the Catholic officers and men of the British naval squadron. They had attended 9.30 Mass at the Cathedral, and their singing of the hymns was . very devotional and harmonious. It was his (Father Lonergan’s) first appearance at a public demonstration since taking up the office of Administrator and, naturally the visit of the squadron would be well remembered by him in the future. At all times he had taken a keen interest in Catholic young men. No doubt thy same problems confronted the men in the navy as those in other walks of life, and he hoped they would live, up to the precepts of their Faith, file desired to acknowledge his indebtedness to Father Mann,, (he chaplain attached to the fleet. The success of the parade was in a large measure due to Father Mann. (Applause.) Mr. M. J. O’Bryan, president of the Catholic; Federation, said it was gratifying to see such a large gathering of Catholic officers'and men of the fleet. They possessed the grand faith that had come down to them through the centuries. The Catholic. Faith bound people of all nationalities ami all climes to one great brotherhood. Ho trusted that the visiting seamen would carry away with them pleasing impressions of their visit to these shores. If any of them ever returned to Melbourne, he could assure them of a hearty welcome. Air. O’Bryan concluded by thanking the ladies for their assistance. Cheers were given for the visiting seamen and for bather Mann. In responding. Father Mann said that close ties bound the Catholic people together in all parts, and the officers and men of the special service squadron were deeply thankful to the Catholic Federation for arranging that morning’s function. It was a great jov to feel themselves at home wherever they went. .Their reception that day would live in their memories. Since leaving England he had seen many fine ecclesiastical buildings, but nothing finer had come under his notice so far than St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. (Applause). At Father Mann’s request, the officers ami men cheered Father Lonermui and the various Catholic bodies. As arranged by t’lo Federation, many of the men were afterwards taken for a motor car run to Kilmore. . Negotiations wore completed last Tuesday (says the Brisbane Catholic Advocate for March 27) for the purchase of Glenlyon House, with 14 acres of the laud surrounding it for the purpose of an Ecclesiastical College or Seminary. Asked what his immediate intentions were with regard to the property, EG Grace Archbishop Duliig said that he had a promise of liberal financial help for the founding of a Seminary m Brisbane, and he was taking remote steps to carry out the-provisions of the Canon Law in respect to Lie diocesan training of youths intended for the priesthood. Nothing would have been done for some time had not the Glenlyon property come into the market. He could not say how soon a commencement would be made with the actual work of education in this new centre. Probably it would not be done for some considerable time, as many things were needed besides the mere possession of a building Meanwhile, the house would serve a good purpose. Ashgrove was a growing centre. They already had a church there, and they hoped soon to open a school also.. His Grace had placed in Rome for higher studies several young ecclesiastics, some,of whom were already priests, and would get their degrees this year. They were doing extra courses at the Gregorian other universities, and would come out well equipped -to take professorships in the new Seminary. With the development of the archdiocese it might later on be found necessary to secure a new and more ample site for an ecclesiastical college. That, however, was a contingency to he met when it arose. He'was satisfied that if they decided to carry out their intention of converting the Glenlyon ■ property into an ecclesiastical college, it would serve the purpose admirably for years to come.