Brian Condon: Diary of James Alipius Goold, 1848-1886

Sunday January 1st. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. At 9 celebrated Mass at the Convent of Mercy. The Sisters renewed their vows and received the Holy Communion. Went to St Francis - meditation - prepared for the Solemn High Mass. At 11 gave the Asperges and commenced Mass. It was 12.30 when it was concluded. Thanksgiving. At 1 breakfast. Read a little of the Sacred Scriptures. Wrote for some time. At 3.30 gave Benediction at St George's. About 6.30 went to St Francis. Assisted at Vespers - sermon and Benediction. Recited Matins and Lauds. Returned Home about 9. Read for some time. Night prayers - about 10.30 to bed.

Monday January 2nd. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. At 7 Mass in the Convent of the Good Shepherd - thanksgiving. Went to St Francis. Heard Confessions. Posted a letter to the Bishop of Hobart - returning the letter and photograph he sent me. Did not leave the office till 11.30. Rode home - meditation. Visited the Convent of Mercy. Paid several necessary visits during the day. On my return home wrote for some time - Vespers and Compline - dinner. A little past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady's Chapel. Returned home - read for an hour. About 10 to bed.

Tuesday January 3rd. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass at 7 in the College Chapel - thanksgiving - went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made my meditation. Occupied in the office up to 11. Rode home. Busy until 2. Visited the Convent of the Good Shepherd. On my return studied till a quarter past 4. Recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned home - read for an hour. About 10.30 to bed.

Wednesday January 4th. Morning prayers. Heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made my meditation. Occupied in the office up to 12. Rode home. Engaged most of the afternoon - a little study. Dinner at the usual time - having previously recited Vespers and Compline. Went to St Francis a little past 6 - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home. Study for some time. To bed about 10.

Thursday January 5th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - at 7 celebrated Mass in Abbotsford - having previously recited Hours. After thanksgiving went to St Francis - heard Mass - made my meditation - heard a few Confessions. Engaged in the office up to 11.30. Rode home. Studied for a time. After this busy till 2. From 2 to 4 Confessions. Dinner at the usual time. Before dinner recited Vespers and Compline, Matins and Lauds by taking advantage for that purpose of the intervals of leisure during the time given to the Confessions. About 6.30 commenced hearing Confessions, and continued so occupied till 10.30. Night prayers and visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned. About 11.30 to bed.

Friday January 6th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - at 8 celebrated in St Francis and gave Holy Communion. Thanksgiving - Hours - breakfast. Study till 11 - then assisted at the Solemn High Mass. At 12.30 rode home. At 1.30 presided at a meeting of the School Committee - important business was done. Between 3 and 4 gave the habit to a lay sister at the Convent of the Good Shepherd. It was near dinner hour when I returned home. Recited Vespers and Compline before dining. A few lay gentlemen, the Members of the Committee, dined with us. About 6.30 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home - read for a short time before going to bed.

Saturday January 7th. Morning prayers - meditation. About 8.30 left for Lillydale - where on tomorrow I will open and bless a School Chapel. The road is bad - country for the most part poor and uninteresting. Arrived at Lillydale early in the afternoon. It is a pretty place. The land is good and most picturesque. Heard a few Confessions. Lodged the night with Mr Hubert de Castello. Retired early to my room - and soon after night prayers to bed. Read for some time before going to sleep.

Sunday January 8th. Morning prayers - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. Owing to a delay in procuring the carriage I did not commence Mass at the appointed time. Gave Holy Communion to a good many. Assisted and preached at the 11 Mass. The little Chapel was crowded. In the evening dined with the brother of the gentleman with whom I am stopping. Vespers and Compline. Night prayers. About 10 to bed.

Monday January 9th. Morning prayers - breakfast. Meditation. Left a little past 9 for Melbourne. Recited the Divine Office on the road - called at a school on the way. The attendance was very good. Arrived in Melbourne about 3.30. Read letters - recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady's Chapel. Home - read for an hour. About 10 to bed.

Tuesday January 10th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 7 Mass - thanksgiving - recited Hours - heard Mass - heard a few Confessions - meditation - breakfast. Engaged in the office until 11. Rode [home]. Occupied at home the whole of the day till 4 writing and looking over letters. About 10 a.m. I visited the schools at St Francis - boys, girls and infant schools. They were well attended - clean and orderly. In the evening about 6.30 went to St Francis - attended night prayers. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. Home - read for an hour. To bed about 10.

Wednesday January 11th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 7 commenced Mass - thanksgiving. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made my meditation. Breakfast at 10. Occupied in the office until 11.30. Rode home. Engaged from 12 to 1. Visited Abbotsford and the Orphanage. Returned home about 3.30. Wrote till 4. Vespers and Compline. Dinner at 4.30. Went to St Francis about 6.30 - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned home - having called for a few minutes on Dr Brownless. Read for an hour. At 10 to bed.

Thursday January 12th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. Owing to the student being a little late in his attendance was a few minutes past 7 when I commenced Mass. After thanksgiving went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made my meditation. Engaged in the office until 11.30. Visited St Mary's Schools. The attendance was large in both schools. Returned home about 12. Wrote for a short time - study. Between two and three visited Abbotsford and the Orphanage. Returned a little before 4. Wrote a little - Vespers and Compline - Dinner. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home by 8 - read till 9. About 10 to bed.

Friday January 13th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 7 commenced to celebrate - thanksgiving. Heard Mass at St Francis. Recited Hours - heard Confessions - made my meditation. Answered letters and received visits on business. Engaged in the office until 11. Took a long ride. Presided at a meeting of the Catholic School Committee. This meeting did not break up till 2.30. Visited the Convent of Mercy on business. Studied on my return home for an hour. Then recited Hours. Dinner. A little past 6 drove to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - heard Confessions. After night prayers visited the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned home about 8. Read till 9. A little before 10 to bed.

Saturday January 14th. Morning prayers. Having taken medicine the evening previous I did not celebrate this morning. Heard Mass at St Francis - recited Hours - made my meditation - heard a few Confessions. Breakfast. Wrote to the Bishop of Hobarton enclosing him the Telegram from Sydney announcing that the Queensland Sisters of Mercy left Sydney for Melbourne en route to Hobartown and thence with the Bishop for England. Busy in the office up to 11. Rode home. Wrote for a half hour. Study. Visited the Convent of Mercy about 1.30. Walked from that to St Francis. Recited Vespers and Compline and Matins with Lauds for tomorrow. Heard Confessions till 4. Rode home. Dinner a little before 5. Confessions from 6.30 to 9. Not many attended. Night prayers - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home. Read for a short time. About 10.30 to bed.

Sunday January 15th. Morning prayers. Preparation for Mass. Prima - Tierce. At 7.30 commenced Mass at Abbotsford - after the Holy Communion delivered a short discourse on the Holy Name to the Religious and Penitents. Thanksgiving. Returned home. Recited Sext and None - made my meditation. Spiritual Reading till 11.30. Went to St Patrick's and heard the sermon in the Vestry. It was 12.30 when Mass was concluded. Read the holy Scriptures for about an hour with notes. At 1.30 met a few good Catholics who were desirous of forming themselves into a Christian Doctrine Society in connection with the Cathedral. I addressed them briefly on the obligations - rules and indulgences of the Society. After this I visited the Sunday Schools of St Augustine and St Francis. About a quarter past 4 I returned home - recited Vespers and Compline. At 4.30 Dinner. About 6 recited Matins and Lauds. At 7 assisted at Vespers in St Francis - sermon and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Night prayers. About 10 to bed.

Monday January 16th. Morning prayers. Preparation for Mass - Hours. At 7 celebrated Mass at Abbotsford. Went to St Francis. After thanksgiving, made my meditation - heard Confessions. Busy in the office up to 11. Visited the Orphanage. Returned home about 2.30. Wrote letters - then studied from 3 to 4. Recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner at 4.30. Went to St Francis about a quarter past 6. Recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. At 9 opened the Clerical Retreat. About 10 to bed.

Tuesday January 17th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - Hours. At 7 celebrated Mass at Abbotsford - thanksgiving. Went to St Francis - made my meditation - heard Confessions. Engaged in the office until 11. Rode to St Kilda passing by the Orphanage at Emerald Hill. On my return home about 2 I visited the Convent of Mercy. Got back home by 2.30. Dined with the Clergy who are on retreat. Reading during the early part of dinner. From 5 to 6 wrote. Then went to St Francis - recited Vespers and Compline - Matins and Lauds. Attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home. Read for an hour. About 10 to bed.

Wednesday January 18th. Morning prayers - - preparation for Mass - Hours. At 7 celebrated Mass at Abbotsford. Went to St Francis - heard Confessions - made my meditation whilst hearing Mass. Busy in the Office until 11. Took a short ride before returning home. From 1 to 2 study. Recited Vespers and Compline. Dined at 2.30 with the Clergy. From 5 to 6 occupied. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned home about 8. Read till 9. To bed a little before 10.

Thursday January 19th. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. At 7 Mass in the Convent of the Good Shepherd. After Holy Communion I addressed a few words to the Penitents. Went to St Francis. Heard Confessions and made my meditation. Remained in the office till 11.30. Rode home. Study from 12 to 1.30 occasionally interrupted by business. Visited one of the Convents. At 2.30 dinner in the College. From 5 to 6 study - now and then business. At a quarter past 6 went to St Francis - recited the Divine Office - attended night prayers - heard Confessions - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Returned a little before 8. Read till 9. To bed about 10.

Friday January 20th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. A little past 8 celebrated Mass in the College Chapel. Before commencing I addressed the Clergy on those subjects that were most urgent with regard to the ministry and the temporal affairs of the Diocese. I particularly exhorted them to establish schools and to carefully watch over the education of the children - so necessary for the advancement of our holy religion in this Colony. The children must be kept out of Protestant Schools. All - about 26 - received the Most Blessed Eucharist. Busy the whole forenoon and a great part of the afternoon in admitting to private interviews the Clergy previous to their departure for their respective Missions. Those who did not leave today dined with us at 4.30. At 6 went to St Francis - recited the Divine Office - attended night prayers. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady. Home. Read for an hour before going to bed. Not feeling well had to take medicine.

Saturday January 22nd. Morning prayers. Confined to the house during the forenoon by illness. I was however able to attend to business and perform my usual devotional exercises. Wrote to the Archbishop. Had a letter from the Bishop of Hobarton which I at once answered. Studied for my instruction to the people on tomorrow. Between 2 and 4 Confessions and the Divine Office - Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. At 4.30 dinner. Confessions from 6.30 to 9.30. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament. Night prayers. Home - to bed about 10.30.

Sunday January 23rd. Morning prayers - study for my discourse. Prime - preparation for Mass. At 8 commenced Mass - after holy Communion delivered a short discourse. Mass concluded - thanksgiving. Heard one poor woman's Confession. Returned home. Recited Small Hours - made my meditation. At 10.30 breakfast. Wrote for some time. At 11.30 went into the Vestry of the Cathedral to hear the sermon. From 12 to 1 engaged in writing and study. From 1.30 to 4 engaged visiting Convent of the Good Shepherd [and] St Joseph's Sunday School. Called at the Convent of Mercy. Recited Vespers and Compline on my return. A little past 6 went to St Francis - attended Vespers, sermon and Benediction in the Sacristy. Home about 8. Recited Matins and Lauds - about 10.30 to bed.

[Note: The entries for January 1 to 23 of 1865 were made in the back of the 1864 Journal. The [presumed] book with the remaining entries for 1865 has not been found]