The Redemptorists in Australia

New Zealand Tablet, 24 April 1924, Page 17

The Redemptorists in Australia

An editorial in the Freeman's Journal (Sydney) for April 3, says:— ,

The Redemptorist Fathers, whose work'is so widely known in-Australia, have come to the Sydney Archdiocese and they will be welcomed as old and tried friends by its Catholic people. Nor will the welcome bo cooler when it is known that their novices will be the first to benefit by the new foundation at Pennant-Hills, which will bring "them closer to the Sydney University, and enable them to drink freely. at that great fount of learning. At Pennant Hills, if we are not misinformed, the Redemptorist Order will carry further the training which began at Galong, with the; object of giving us. devoted missionaries moulded by the*same rule, but in an Australian atmosphere, that has formed the saints and missionaries of Europe. .It is an • important forward step in Redemptorist progress in»NewSouth "Wales, for it makes the Congregation more'independent of distant schools of culture, , . , ; 7 : ; '■..,;'''; -■ y - . .' Apart from their appreciation of the scholastic enterprise, our Catholic laity have personal reasons fof 'X re-, joicing. Since. the Redemptorist Fathers^ at the invitation-

of .the Bishop of - Maitland gathered a fruitful harvest of lation and joy to many hearts. itself they have given missions ; to thousands of people,- and it.would be the good- they have done among us since year, 1882, when St. Mary’s first - resounded ‘with? the . voices of the sons of Alphonsus. It would bo difficult, we suppose, for the Fathers to give more missions and retreats . than they are doing for some years yet, but those who have benefited by their ministrations in the Archdiocese will find comfort in the fact that they now belong' to us as much as Maitland, and that they have made a real and permanent home among us. It is worthy of recollection iff this connection that when they*, first landed in Australia Sydney showed, them warm hospitality, for the first four Fathers were the honored guests of Archbishop Vaughan until they were ready to go on to Singleton. Contemplating the position the Redemptorists now occupy in Australia their Houses in four States and in New Zealand our mind goes back ,to that important event to the Congregation under tlm Southern Cross when on August 2, 1887, exactly^one hundred years after the death of, St. Alphonsus, his Eminence Cardinal Moran solemnly opened and blessed the “Monastery” which had been built at Waratah for the little band of religious. It was quite a great occasion for there were some other eminent prelates present whose names are famous in the Catholic history of Australia. The Redemptorists began their actual mission work with the personal benediction of Archbishop Carr, of Melbourne, Bishop Murray of Maitland, Bishop Lanigan of Goulburn, Bishop Moore "of Ballarat, Bishop Corbett of Sale, and Bishop Torreggiani of Armidale, who sang the Mass. These shining spirits have all passed reward, but the work they -praised and launched stilly goes on. Truly from f.hio Af-rew hesfferr- -this "ngto* fountain ’ Jj —use the words of Cardinal Moranthe heavenly gifts of truth and the saving streams of spiritual life have flowed abundantly, far arid wide. There has been one big change in the Congregation since that distant day, but that has not diminished its missionary zeal nor stayed its progress. The English Province of ‘ the Congregation was responsible for its first foundation here, but in 1908 the Redemptorists in Ireland .had become sufficiently numerous to have a Province of their own and to this was annexed the Vice-Province of Australasia. Under Father Boylan, the first .Provincial of the Irish Province, great strides were made, both at home and abroad. To-day, under - Father Gleeson, the Redemptorists in this part of the world are missihg no opportunities afforded by a new nation.