Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 37, 30 September 1925, Page 41

Commonwealth Notes

, NEW SOUTH WALES. “• 'V - Archbishop Redwood’s arrival in Sydney y on Saturday (says the Catholic Press for September 10) reminds us that he is the only living prelate who took part in the first Plenary Council of the Australian Hierarchy, - held in Sydney 40 years agoon November 14. Cardinal Moran, then a new arrival, presided. Two of the priests who attended the Synod as theologians, and subsequently > became Bishops, are Dr, Dwyer, of Maitland, and Dr. O’Connor, of Armidale. It is for Bishop O’Connor’s golden jubilee that the venerable Archbishop of Wellington has crossed the Tasman Sea again. The thousands of friends “John O'Brien” has won through his poetic dissertations, Around the Force Log, will lie pleased to learn that at about the end of the month they will get an opportunity of seeing the Sugarloaf O’Briens, the Careys, and the Murphys on the screen. Recently “John O’Brien’s” poetic stories, breathing the spirit of Catholicism and the Australian bush, were enacted’and cinematographed at Goulburn, and in its picturesque environs, where the poet’s characters lived in real, as well as in reel, life. Messrs. E. J. and D. Carroll, the producers, deserve practical recognition of their initiative and their encouragement of Australian art. The latest bulletin regarding the health of his Lordship the Bishop of Bathurst (the Right Rev. Dr. O’Farrell) indicates that his recovery from his recent serious illness is gradual. He will return to Australia towards the end of the year, visiting Rome en route if his health will permit. e Though scarce three years have passed since the Christian Brothers, who, coming from Ireland at the invitation of his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney, founded at Castle Hill a school for the education of Catholic deaf mutes, a remarkably great work has been performed in educating in the way of faith and in the paths that lead to useful citizenship those children who suffer a severe affliction. Since the commencement of the work at Castle Hill, 47 boys have been admitted to the home, as figures contained in the second annual report indicate. Even in the brief term of its existence, it has been found that so valuable is the work of the institution, arid so appreciative are parents of the training provided by the Christian Brothers, that to meet with the need of accommodation for the boys, such additions have had to be made as, with characteristic foresight, were provided for by the Brothers in the original plan. The other Sunday his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney blessed^ and laid the foundation stone of this continuation of the buildingfor such it is— a huge gathering of people set by their presence a seal of approval on the work. ~ Tuesday, the Bth inst., will always remain a day of happy memory for the Order of the Irish Christian Brothers in Australia—t -even-to. their foundations abroad it will mark •ail event of great historic importance, if nothing else. To . Australia it will stand out as an occasion of the recognition'of the

work of immense importance to the Catholic Church advancement and continued progress of the cause of Catholic education. On that day, his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney blessed and opened the new chapel attached to the Christian Brothers’ Novitiate, at St rath field, which will stand as a memorial to the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the religious profession of Rev. Brother P. J. Barron, who, for over 22 years, had been the Provincial of the Order in Australia. During the time of Brother Barron’s occupancy of the onerous office, great progress was made within the Order—in fact, the number of schools was doubled, and it is no exaggeration to state that the number of teachers nearly trebled. Brother Barron, who preserves the appearance of vigorous youth, participated in the day’s festivities, which were, indeed, really the celebration of his “Fifty Golden Years.” There is often a very nice feeling between Catholic priests and non-Catholic clergymen in the country districts, which finds expression on public occasions, and we are not surprised that Bishop O’Connor's sacredotal golden jubilee has brought forth a very graceful tribute from the Anglican Church in Armiilale to the life and labors of the hardworking Catholic prelate (says the Freeman’s Journol, editorially). Canon Riley was the spokesman, and at the service in St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral on Sunday night, he drew the attention of the congregation to the big event the Catholics of the city and district were celebrating: “It would be quite wrong to fail to appreciate the good work of Bishop 0 Connor,” he said, “especially among charities, during the 50 years of his well-spent priesthood and episcopate. I understand he has labored continuously all those years in the New England district, and I not only tender him my congratulations on behalf of the Church of England, but I intend to be present on Tuesday to offer them in person.” The spirit and action of Canon Riley will be appreciated by Catholics generally, who are always anxious for communal harmony, and who themselves always show the greatest iespect for earnest men of other religious beliefs. It would be better for Australia and better for Christianity if Canon Riley’s attitude was more general among Protestant ecclesiastics, and greater neighborliness among all creeds was encouraged. s —— . VICTORIA. His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Rev, Dr. Mannix, who is receiving a whole-hearted welcome from enthusiastic crowds in the land of his birth, is expected to arrive in Melbourne on December 21. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate (the Most Rev. Archbishop Cattaneo), attended by Right Rev. Mgr. King, was in Melbourne during the early part of the month. The Most Rev. Prelate paid an official visit to his Excellency the Governor at State Government House on Wednesday, 2nd,„ and left for Sydney on Thursday. , His Excellency visited the new community chapel of the Sisters of Mercy, North Melbourne, >which

was recently blessed and opened by his Lord-' ship the Bishop of Sandhurst. The initial difficulties that confront every new movement being overcome by the pio- ; neers of the Catholic Reference Library, it may quite safely be predicted that the project of bringing the best Catholic literature* within easy reach of all, Catholic and nonCatholic alike, has been safely launched by the energy and perseverance of its founder, the Rev. Father Hackett, S.J., and his en- ; thusiastic band of assistants, whose time is' voluntarily given to the work of spreading Catholic truth by means of the well-chosen a,r ay of volumes upon the library shelves that to many a well-disposed enquirer may prove a means of removing the barriers that bar their entrance into the true fold by dispersing prejudice and wrong ideas regarding the doctrine and ritual of the Catholic Church. • QUEENSLAND. The latest news from Toowoomba announces that Right Rev. Mgr. Fouhy is gradually getting weaker. There is little hope of recovery. The Sisters of Charity, who were recently established in Ashgrove, Brisbane, are doing excellent work in the parish. The children ■attending their schools now number 115, 70 of whom were taken from State schools on the occasion of the recent mission in. the parish. The work the Sisters are carrying on in the school is much appreciated by the people, who speak in terms of praise and admiration. Thousands of citizens of Brisbane paid homage to Queensland’s former Premier, and one of the most prominent statesmen of Australia, on Sunday afternoon, 6th inst., when they attended the unveiling of the bronze statue of the late T. J. Ryan by Sir Matthew Nathan, Governor of Queensland.' the memorial, which is emblematic of Mr. Ryan in the robes of a jurist, is erected at the corner of William and Elizabeth Streets, and overlooks Victoria Bridge and the idyllic scenery stretching from the river to the distant hills. It is built on a granite base with pedestal gracefully worked in tree-stone, and the bronze memorial, whichwas artistically and faithfully worked by Sir Bertram McKenna I, towers above the grassy lawn and well-kept gardens of Queen’s Park.