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

Monday July 1st. Celebrated Mass in the College. Heard Mass afterwards. Enclosed to Dr Brownless £10 for medical attendance. Read for about 2 and a half hours. Took a short drive and made visits. Read before dinner. Evening - night prayers - Confessions.

Tuesday July 2nd. Morning devotions - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. At 9 o'clock Mass administered Confirmation to 160 persons - male and female. Addressed them before and after the Sacrament. Meeting of Catholic School Committee. Afternoon and evening engaged as usual.

Wednesday July 3rd. Heard Mass this morning. Devotions - Divine Office - Meditation - all humbly complied with. Read for some time in the fore and afternoon. Wrote letters, one to Bishop of Hobarton. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Thursday July 4th. Said in part morning prayers - recited part of Divine Office. Short preparation. Mass. Heard Mass - Divine Office - meditation. Had an explanation about duty and Church fees with Fr O'Mara - satisfactory. Wrote and read at intervals. Afternoon and evening occupied as usual.

Friday July 5th. Morning Devotions. Divine Office - Mass. Afterwards heard Mass - heard Confessions - recited Hours. After breakfast read - arranged duty for tomorrow. A letter from Bishop of Hobarton. In the evening Confessions as usual.

Saturday July 6th. After morning devotions and Divine Office celebrated Mass. Heard Mass. Meditation. Wrote letters. Studied from 2 to 4. Confessions. Evening - Confessions from 7 to 9. Arranged duties for tomorrow.

Sunday July 7th. Morning devotions - preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass at 8 - delivered a short discourse on observance of the Sabbath. Studied during the day. At 2 visited 3 of the Chapels where Catechism is taught. Attendance in each place is good. Evening attended Vespers in St Francis. Sermon and Benediction as usual.

Monday July 8th. Heard Mass this morning after the usual morning devotions. Don't feel quite well. Engaged up to 12. Took a short drive before dinner. Read and wrote at intervals. Evening - Confessions and night prayers.

Tuesday July 9th. At 9 celebrated and admitted a number of children male and female to their 1st Holy Communion. Addressed a few words to them before and after Holy Communion. Meeting of School Committee. Members not attending. Evening - Confessions and prayers.

Wednesday July 10th. Celebrated Mass at 7.30. Heard Confessions. After breakfast wrote letters. From 11 to 1 examination and distribution of prizes in St Francis Girls and Infant schools. Study. Evening Confessions - night prayers.

Thursday July 11th. At 7 Mass. Heard Mass afterwards. Meditation. Wrote letters. Ordered a Circular to be written to the Teachers in Melbourne and Suburbs about excluding present Protestant singing Masters from their schools. Evening as usual.

Friday July 12th. Offered up the Holy Sacrifice at the usual time in College Chapel. Afterwards went to St Francis and heard Confessions during celebration of Mass. Recited Hours - made meditation. Engaged afterwards in the office up to 1. Short drive. At 5 - dinner. Evening read a little. Confessions - prayers.

Saturday July 13th. Heard Mass this morning. Recited Divine Office - made meditation. Wrote - studied - did business up to 1. A short walk. From 2 to 4 Confessions. Dinner at 4.30. Studied in the evening [for a] short time. Confessions from 7 to 9.30.

Sunday July 14th. At 8 o'clock Mass and instruction. Thanksgiving and Hours after. Breakfast. Meditation. Study. Afternoon visited Architect of St Patrick's on business. Study on return until dinner time. Evening vespers. Heard sermon - assisted at Benediction.

Monday July 15th. Morning devotions - preparation for Mass. Confessions - heard Mass - recited Hours. Breakfast - meditation. Business - letters - study up to 1. From 2 to 3 engaged with Vespers - reading. Night prayers - Confessions.

Tuesday July 16th. Morning devotions - Divine Office - preparation - Mass - thanksgiving. Confessions - heard Mass - recited Hours. Breakfast. Meditation - business - letters - study up to 12.30. Short walk. Read Vespers - afterwards read an instructive book till 3. Night prayers - Confessions.

Wednesday July 17th. Morning devotions - Divine Office - preparation - Mass - heard Mass - Recited Hours. After breakfast - meditation - business - letter writing and study up to 1. A walk - Vespers - reading until dinner hour. Night prayers - Confessions.

Thursday July 25th. Opened Mission at Nunawading. Mass at 9 with instruction - Confessions from 10.30 to 3.30. Did not return to Nundawading in the evening owing to the late hour of dinner at Richmond. Night prayers in St Francis.

Friday July 26th. Left at 8 for Nunawading. Celebrated Mass and gave instruction. Heard Confessions during the whole of the day - reciting Divine Office at intervals. Dined in Richmond at 2.30. Returned to Nunawading. Recited night prayers - addressed the Congregation - heard Confessions - returned to Melbourne about 9.

Saturday July 27th. Went to Nunawading - about 8 - celebrated Mass. Engaged hearing Confessions until 3. Returned to Melbourne to dine. Heard Confessions in St Francis until 9.30.

Sunday July 28th. Left at 9.30 for Nunawading. Gave Instruction and administered Confirmation - celebrated Mass - spoke on the Epistle and Gospel briefly. Administered Holy Communion to a great number. St Francis Vespers - sermon - Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Monday July 29th. Heard Mass - recited Divine Office. After breakfast - meditation. Business, letter writing up to 1. A short walk. Read for a half hour before dinner. Evening - attended night prayers as usual in St Francis - heard Confessions.

Tuesday July 30th. After morning devotions - Divine Office. Preparation - Mass. Heard Mass. Recited Hours. Heard Confessions. Breakfast. Meditation. Business. Letters. Meeting of Catholic School Committee. A short walk. Read for a short time before dinner. Evening St Francis.

Wednesday July 31st. The usual devotions - Mass - heard Mass. Breakfast - meditation. Engaged up to 2. Went to Heidelberg. Remained there tonight. Will commence Mission here tomorrow.