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

Tuesday July 1st. Mass at 8. Heard a few Confessions. At 9 commenced Mass - gave instruction and administered Confirmation. A good many went to Holy Communion. A good many old sinners to Confession. Left at 11 for Chiltern. Here I recited night prayers - gave instruction. Confessions were heard.

[At end of volume:]

Wednesday July 2nd. Mass at 8 by Dr. Bleasdale. Heard Confessions. At 9 commenced Mass. After Mass gave instruction - administered Confirmation. A good many went to Holy Communion - 10 o'clock Mass Fr Tierney. At 1 left for Rutherglen - 11 miles. Evening recited prayers - gave instruction - heard Confessions.

Thursday July 3rd. Mass at 9. Recited Matins. Heard Confessions before Mass. After Mass preached - and administered Confirmation. A good many went to Holy Communion at 9 o'clock Mass. Dr Bleasdale celebrated the 10 and gave Holy Communion. Heard a few Confessions during the celebration of this Mass. Recited Hours. Returned to Chiltern. After dinner wrote for a time - recited Vespers and Compline. Retired early.

Friday July 4th. Left Chiltern for Wangaratta a little after 9. Road in parts very bad. Recited Lauds and Hours as we went along. Arrived in Wangaratta about 2.30. Received a letter from the Vicar-General which I answered - made a short meditation. At 6 recited night prayers and rosary in the Chapel - heard a few Confessions. Recited Vespers and Compline. At 9.30 went to bed.

Saturday July 5th. Rose a little later than usual. Morning prayers - a portion of the Divine Office - a short thanksgiving, at 9 Mass. After breakfast wrote for a short time. Divine Office. From 11 to 1 Confessions - meditation. Confessions from 2 - 3. At 3 dinner. Confessions during the evening. Studied in preparation for the instruction I am to give the people tomorrow. The Clergymen who assisted during the Visitation of this part of the Diocese are the Reverend Dr. Bleasdale and one of the two priests residing in Beechworth and charged with the spiritual care of the Missions in this part.

Sunday July 6th. Rose early this morning. After prayers went to the Chapel - heard a part of 8 o'clock Mass - recited Hours - made preparation. At 9 celebrated Mass - gave Holy Communion to 20 persons - a few went to Communion at 8. After Mass gave instruction, then administered Confirmation to about 40 - a few old persons. Heard 10 o'clock Mass.

At 12 left for Benalla. Road very bad. Reached Benalla 25 miles about 5. Heavy rain commenced after our arrival.

Monday July 7th. Rose early this morning - before light - having a long journey and bad road before me. Left at 7.30. Got stuck in one place - had to get out and change horses. Arrived at Violet Town at 12. Delayed here an hour to refresh. Arrived at Longwood 42 miles from Benalla about 6. Being fatigued retired early to rest.

Tuesday July 8th. Heavy rain this morning likely to continue. Told Dr Bleasdale to telegraph to Fr. Branigan not to come to meet us in this bad weather. Could not send message - Telegraph being engaged. Left for Seymour about 10. Lost our way for 2 miles - weather became fine - reached the Seymour - 26 miles - about 3.

Wednesday July 9th. Morning prayers as usual - recited Divine Office before starting for Kilmore. Stopped a half hour at Tallarook to select a site for Church, school and Presbytery. From Broadford rode in saddle to Kilmore. Visited the Blessed Sacrament. Recited Vespers and Compline.

Thursday July 10th. Rose a little after 7. Usual morning prayers over - heard Mass and recited Divine Office. At 10 left for Melbourne. Arrived in Melbourne about 4. [The] Bishop of Hobarton has kindly visited us. He arrived in Melbourne on Friday last. He looks well. Had a long and interesting talk [to] him during the evening.

Friday July 11th. Being fatigued I did not rise early this morning. Did not say mass and lost the opportunity to hear Mass. Read letters by English Mail - mostly on business - my uncle's letter interesting. Did not go out today except to the office, where my delay was short. A few friends dined with us today. Made a few visits - which I forgot to note above.

[Inserted from end of this volume. Perhaps not from 1862?

Tuesday July 11th. Revd. Mr Parle - a strange priest lately arrived from Ireland - called this morning upon me to get leave to make collection to aid in establishing schools for children of the middle class in the Diocese of Ferns. Told I could not give it - our own school accommodation for the poor being quite inadequate - our only College being closed and in debt - our Mission *in sum* being young and needing everything.

Saturday July 12th. Did not celebrate Mass this morning - but heard Mass in St Francis - Divine Office.

After breakfast looked over one of the daily journals. Saw the second number of the Victorian, a Catholic paper just started. The first number, which I saw at Kilmore, was respectable - paper and type good. Had not time to read the second number. It was published rather late - too late to be sent to country districts. Confessions from 2 to 4. Evening from 7 to 10. Weather cold and showery. Arranged duty for tomorrow. Recited Matins and Lauds for tomorrow.

Sunday July 13th. Rose about 7.30. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - celebrated Mass in College Chapel. Bishop of Hobarton celebrated at 9 in St Patrick's. Heard Mass in College said by a strange priest. Recited Hours. Read Butler's Lives of Saints honoured on this day. After breakfast read a little of the Old Testament. After this wrote for a short time. Then meditation. Did not go out today owing to heavy rain. Read most part of the afternoon. Bishop of Hobarton gave Benediction in St Francis. I attended Vespers and Benediction privately in St Patrick's.

Monday July 14th. Celebrated Mass in the College Chapel about a quarter past 7. Heard Mass in St Francis - recited Hours - meditation. Business in office up to 12. At home read and wrote alternately until near dinner hour. Evening - night prayers - Confessions - Matins.

Tuesday July 15th. About 7 Mass in the College Chapel. Attended Mass in St Francis. Recited Hours - short meditation. Remained in office until 12. Meeting of Catholic School Committee - some business done - broke up about 2.30. In the evening took a short drive with the Bishop of Hobarton. Evening - night prayers - Confessions. Recited Matins and Lauds for tomorrow.

Wednesday July 16th. Celebrated Mass in the College Chapel. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard a few Confessions. Made a short meditation. Engaged in the office up to near 1. Afternoon to dinner hour occupied writing. In the evening attended night prayers and heard Confessions. Recited Matins and Lauds.

Thursday July 17th. At a quarter past 7 celebrated in the College Chapel. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation. Remained in the office until 1. Visited the Convent on business - occupied up to 4.30. Recited Matins - dined with the Bishop of Hobarton and a few of the Clergy at Mr O'Shanassy's. Left home at 10.30.

Friday July 18th. Did not celebrate this morning but heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation. Had a visit from Dr Tierney in reference to Lying-in Hospital - objected to Catholic ladies being on the ladies committee as long as the meetings were opened with Protestant prayer. Looked over proof of Catholic column of news for the Victorian. Wrote when not engaged in business - left office at 12.

Saturday July 19th. Celebrated Mass at a quarter past 7. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours, made meditation. Heard Confessions. At 9.30 took breakfast. Engaged in the office up to 11.30. Advised that Dr McCarthy's case with Wishter should be settled out of court. Returned home about 12. Read occasionally until near 2. Called at the Convent and told the Revd. Mother not to apply the proceeds of the Orphanage Bazaar to any other purpose. It would be wrong to apply it to any other object and injurious to public Charities - hence I forbad it. Confessions from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9.30.

Sunday July 20th. Celebrated at the Convent about 8. Returned home about 9.30. Recited Hours - read a few chapters in the Old Testament. Wrote a short Pastoral in reference to a collection to be made on the 15th August for the Pope. Assisted at Vespers, sermon and Benediction.

Monday July 21st. Celebrated Mass at the usual hour in the College. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation. Remained in the office occupied up to 12.

Clergy coming in for retreat dined with us. Saw them after dinner and introduced for the[ir] consideration and advice the new Education Bill. After retreat will hear the result of their own meeting on the subject.

Tuesday July 22nd. Clergy commenced their retreat last night. Celebrated Mass in St Patrick's at 7.30. Went to St Francis and heard 9 o'clock Mass - recited the Divine Office - meditation. Business in office up to 12. Assisted as usual at night prayers and heard Confessions.

Wednesday July 23rd. Celebrated Mass at 7.30 in St Patrick's. Heard Mass afterwards in St Francis - recited Hours - made meditation - occupied the office up to 12. Returned home - wrote letters to send by English [Mail]. Invited out a community of nuns of 4 from Angers - and a small community of men for the establishment of a boys Reformatory. In the evening visited the Orphanage. Heard Confessions and night prayers in St Francis.

Thursday July 24th. At 7.30 Mass - went to St Francis. Heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation. Wrote letters - saw persons on business - studied a little when not occupied. Returned home about 1. Wrote for a short time - read until near dinner. Recited Vespers and Compline. In the evening went to St Francis - recited Matins. Night prayers - Confessions.

Friday July 25th. This morning concluded the Clerical retreat - celebrated Mass and gave Holy Communion to the Clergy. After addressed a few words to them - directed that confessionals should be erected where possible - where not possible, that the Confessions should be heard coram populo [before the people] - the Clergyman being inside the Sanctuary rail and the penitent outside - commanded that oratories should be provided for the safe custody of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the presbyteries - when there were no churches or chapels conveniently situated or not as yet erected wherein to keep the Most Blessed Sacrament. I called attention to the careful keeping of Registries, account books and inventories of church property and altar furniture.

They met afterwards to consider what action they would advise me to in reference to the Common Schools Bill. A majority advised its rejection. The opinions of the absent will be obtained next week. We dined together - some had to return to their missions. St Francis - Confessions - night prayers.

Saturday July 26th. Busy up to 1.30. Confessions from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9.30.

Sunday July 27th. Celebrated Mass at the Convent about 7. Addressed a few words of instruction to the children who made their first Communion. Read subject of meditation - recited Hours. Read a few chapters out of the Holy Bible. Visited St Francis about 2.30. Children assembled for Catechism very few. Read until dinner on my return home. At 7 Vespers, sermon and Benediction - assisted in St Francis.

Monday July 28th. Rose about 6.30. Commenced Mass in the College Chapel a little after 7. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - finished my thanksgiving - recited the Divine Office. After breakfast meditation - business in office up to 12.30. Read at intervals. On my return home wrote for a short time. Then read until dinner time. Evening - attended as usual night [prayers] in St Francis - Confessions.

Tuesday July 29th. Mass at the usual hour. Heard Mass - Little Hours - meditation. Engaged with the business connected with the diocese up to 12. At home from 1 to 3 - engaged reading and writing at intervals. Confessions and night prayers as usual.

Wednesday July 30th. Mass about the usual time in the College Chapel. Heard Mass - heard a few Confessions - Hours - meditation. Business from 9.30 to 12.

Advised the Bishop of Hobart town not to publish in the Argus about the Lunatic Asylum of the Yarra Bend until he saw what the government would do to remove the abuses and horror complained of. He was a little displeased. I regretted having advised, for I would not for the world displease him. Took a short drive with him. Saw Dr Brownless and advised him to accept of the appointment to the Commission to inquire into the Yarra Bend Asylum.

Confessions - night prayers.

Thursday July 31st. Mass a little past 7 - heard Mass - heard a few Confessions. In office until 12.

Bishop read his paper - which he withheld from the Argus - it is an able paper. Saw no objection to its being published - requested Dr Bleasdale to take it to the Argus. Bishop of Hobart dined with the priest at Heidelberg. I dined alone. Read for Mr O'Shanassy the letter I intended to write him as Chief Secretary in reply to his recommending under protest against the Common Schools Act Mr Archer to be a member of the Board to administer it. He made no objection - but seemed to approve it. Read for the Bishop of Hobart town who approved it.

Saw Mr O'Farrell this evening and advised him to settle the Cemetery dispute and pay expenses, which I would provide for by Collection.

Evening attended night prayers and heard Confessions.