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

Sunday June 1. Celebrated Mass at 8. Gave a short exhortation. A large number approached the Holy Communion. After thanksgiving - breakfast - next made meditation. Read until 10.30. Weather wet and cold. Returned to St Patrick's - read a few chapters in the Old Testament - then read two articles in the Dublin Review - subjects religious and doctrinal. It rained the whole day. In the evening at 7 attended Devotions in St. Francis - Vespers, sermon and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Night wet and cold.

Monday June 2nd Heard Mass this morning - recited Hours - heard Confessions - short meditation. After breakfast business until 12. Took a short drive before dinner - recited Vespers on my return. In the evening read for an hour. At 7 went to St Francis - prayers - Confessions.

Tuesday June 3rd. Celebrated Mass soon after 7. Went to St Francis - heard [Mass] - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made meditation. Breakfast over, visited St Francis boys school. Did not remain long there. School orderly and quiet. Told the Master that a half yearly 'Examination' would take place this month. I saw the Clergy and divided Melbourne into School districts - appointed a Clergyman to each - visits to the Schools and domiciliary to be made regularly by the Clergy. Visited the convent - examined accounts - debt on House of Refuge and new buildings £3 thousand and a few 100. Advised that no new liabilities be incurred until this debt be paid off.

In the evening night prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday June 4th. Mass - Confessions - heard Mass - Divine Office - meditation. Engaged writing letters. Meeting of Catholic School Committee - a good deal of business done. Wrote to the Clergy recommending for their support Mr Hough's projected Newspaper. Evening St Francis - prayers and Confessions.

Thursday June 5th. Celebrated - heard Mass - recited Hours - meditation. Wrote letters to the Clergy. Wrote to Bishop of Hobart. Busy during the day. Evening prayers and Confessions in St Francis church. Retired to rest a little after 9.

Friday June 6th. Celebrated Mass at the usual hour - heard Mass afterwards in St Francis - recited Hours - heard a few Confessions. Engaged with business up to 12 - left office soon after. Studied - on getting home - for an hour. Wrote letters - read for a short time - recited Vespers. In the evening attended night prayers in St Francis - heard Confessions. Recited Matins for tomorrow.

Saturday June 7th. Did not feel well this morning. After the usual morning devotions went to St Francis and heard Mass - recited Hours. After breakfast I read for a short time - looked over two of the daily journals. Wrote letters. A little before 12 returned home - read and wrote alternatively until near 1 - made meditation rather late today. From 2 to 4 Confessions. Prepared order of duty for tomorrow. In the evening heard Confessions from 7 to a quarter to 9. Recited Matins for tomorrow.

Sunday June 8th. Sung Mass in St Francis at 11. Sermon preached after the Communion - made meditation in the afternoon. Wrote to Dr Wilson in reply - returned to him the copy of a letter he wrote the Archbishop. Read a chapter or two out of the Old Testament. Paid a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament. At 7 Solemn Vespers and Benediction with Sermon.

Monday June 9th. After morning prayers recited Matins - celebrated Mass at the Convent. Went to St Francis, recited Hours - read a chapter in Imitation. Read a few pages of a work on the United States. Father Downing called - refused to be advised by him in reference to the present difficulty. *He errs* always on the side of misrule. Fr Slattery, Daylesford, telegraphed for. On return home read until dinner time. Night Confession, prayers.

[At end of volume:

Monday June 9th.. Fr Downing called this morning - he said he wished me to give peace to the diocese. I replied that I did not understand him - that the diocese and I were at peace - the bad alone were at variance. However, I declined being advised by him. I further remarked that he is the last clergyman in the diocese from whom I would receive advice, as I always found that he was on the side of those who resisted authority. He then withdrew.]

Tuesday June 10th. Morning prayers - Lauds - preparation - Mass. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - meditation. After breakfast read - when not engaged in business - until 12. Meeting of Catholic School Committee to consider memorial against Education Bill to the Upper House. Engaged up to 3. Evening St Francis prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday June 11th. Morning prayers - short preparation - Mass at 7 - College Chapel. Heard Mass in St Francis - recited Hours - meditation. Engaged reading letters by English Mail. That done, sent for Fr. Driscoll - and spoke to him on the subject of last night's conversation. Told him that Fr England did not draw a share from Fr Fitzgerald - got nearly £1 per week for duty *based in* the College. Jackson and the sacristan should not dine in the Kitchen. Engaged up to 1 - evening prayers and Confessions.

Thursday June 12th. Celebrated Mass in the College Chapel. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation - heard a few Confessions. Engaged in the office up to 12 - called at the Convent about 1. On my return home read until within a quarter of 3 - then recited Vespers. Drove out after dinner. In the evening prayers and Confessions in St Francis - Matins and Lauds for tomorrow.

Friday June 13th. The usual morning devotions - preparation - Mass - short thanksgiving. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions. Breakfast over - meditation half hour - business interviews - letters etc. Read when not so engaged. At 12.30 went home. Read until a quarter to 3 - recited Vespers. Evening - night prayers - Confessions.

Saturday June 14th. Morning prayers - Mass - thanksgiving - went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Divine Office - heard a few Confessions. Business up to 11.30. Went home - made meditation - half hour. Studied until near to 2 - interrupted for short intervals. Confessions from 2 to 4. Recited Matins for tomorrow. Read for a half hour. In the evening confessions from 6.30 to 9.30. Arranged duties for tomorrow and Thursday.

Sunday June 15th. Celebrated Mass in St Francis at 8 - preached after giving Holy Communion - thanksgiving made, recited Hours. Breakfast - this over, made meditation - returned home about 10.30. Read a few chapters of the Old Testament - paid a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament. Studied up to 2 then wrote a few letters for the English Mail as I leave for the Country tomorrow to meet the Archbishop at Albury and make the visitation of the Missions in that direction. Visited St Francis, [St] Augustine['s] and St Mary's between 3 and 4. In the evening assisted at Vespers, sermon and Benediction.

Monday June 16th. Celebrated Mass a little after 7 in College Chapel. Short thanksgiving - went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard a few Confessions - made meditation. Engaged up to 11.30.

At 12 left for Kilmore. Took faculties from Fr O'Donoghue - advised Dean Hayes to get Fr Downing to put him on a retreat for a few days. I will try and save him - he is young - and may yet be good!

Arrived in Kilmore about 5.30.

Tuesday June 17th. Left Kilmore at 10 and arrived at Avenel before dark. Road heavy in some parts. Read a little before retiring for the night - the Divine Office being already recited. Weather cloudy and threatening.

Wednesday June 18th. Left Avenel a little past 9 - arrived at Euroa about 1. Visited the school - children had gone home. Visited it again about 3. Examined the few present, who are preparing for Confirmation, in the Catechism. Most of them answered satisfactorily. Fr Tierney arrived at about 7. Wrote a few letters. This Mission is for the present attached to that of Beechworth - recited Vespers and Compline. Read for a short time.

Thursday June 19th. Heard Confessions before Mass. Mass was celebrated at 8 and 9. I celebrated at 10 - gave instruction and administered Confirmation. At 1.30 left for Violet Town - distance 15 miles. Here we stop the night. After Divine Office read for a short time - read again after night prayers.

Friday June 20th. Heard Confessions before offering up the Holy Sacrifice. A little after 9 commenced Mass in a room in the Police Camp - congregation small - 9 went to Holy Communion. Left for Benalla. Road very bad - heavy rain fell after we got into Benalla. Visited the school.

Saturday June 21st. Celebrated Mass at 9. Thanksgiving. Recited some of the Divine Office before breakfast. After breakfast wrote several letters for home - English Mail will close here on 23[rd]. Sent £80 to Mr Hynes pro F. Wrote to Mr O'Shanassy about appointing a Catholic matron to the Lying[-in] Home. Sent Archbishops Cullen and Dixon copies of the report of the Clerical meeting and address in reference to the Barry scandal. Read for some time - made a short meditation. Heavy rain continues to fall. In the evening went to the school to hear Confessions. We had but few penitents owing to the wet. Recited Matins and Lauds for tomorrow.

Sunday June 22nd. Rose early - after morning prayers dressed. Then went to the school - heard Mass - recited Hours - made a short preparation for Mass. At 9 commenced Mass - a good many went to Holy Communion. Heard a few Confessions. Preached at the 10 o'clock Mass. At 12.30 left for Wangaratta, 25 miles. Arrived there about 5. Recited Vespers and Compline. After night prayers retired to rest.

Monday June 23rd. After morning prayers recited Matins. At 8 left for Beechworth - where we arrived about 2. Recited Lauds - Hours - Vespers and Compline. Wrote to the Vicar-General - jotted down in note book. It was late today when I made meditation. Passing through Tarrawingee visited the school - attendance small. Slab hut - furniture poor - Master not long appointed.

Tuesday June 24th. Celebrated Mass about 8. At a little after 9 left for Albury. Stopped a short time at Chiltern. School was closed - children gone to dinner. Arrived in Albury about 4. Archbishop had gone to meet me. He looks very well. Had a long conversation before and after dinner. He said he would not in future answer Barry's letters.

Wednesday June 25th. Rose early - morning prayers over, recited Matins. Heard Mass - Archbishop said Mass. Meditation.

Had a long and interesting conversation with the Archbishop - could not persuade him to come on to Melbourne - visited the German settlers in the course of the day. In the evening [the] Archbishop read the letter to the Cardinal as agreed upon by himself and the Bishops of Adelaide and Brisbane. Urged my objections against the nominations of two priests from this diocese and to the translation of [the] Bishop of Adelaide. Agreed to meet next September in Melbourne - Bishops of Hobart and Brisbane.

Thursday June 26th. Left at 9 this morning for Beechworth. Heavy rain the whole day. Did not stop to refresh. Reached Beechworth about 5. At 7 commenced the Mission - recited prayers, preached, heard Confessions.

Friday June 27th. Rose a little after 7. Morning prayers - Divine Office. Mass at 8, 9 and 10. At 9 celebrated Mass - Confessions from 8 - 9. Preached at 10. Mass [and] Confessions from 11 to 12. Christian Doctrine and Confessions for Children from 1 to 2. Confessions for adults from 2 - 4. Night 7 o'clock prayers [sic], instruction given by me - Confessions.

Saturday June 28th. Rose early. Morning prayers - recited Hours - preparation for Mass. At 9 celebrated Mass. At 10 o'clock Mass heard Confessions. Examined the children in Catechism - found them very backward. Heard Confessions during the day - and in the evening up to 8.30. Studied for a short time.

Sunday June 29th. Got up a little after 7. Recited Matins after morning prayers - short meditation - preparation for Mass. Heard a few Confessions. At 9 commenced Mass. After Mass preached and administered Confirmation. A large number went to Holy Communion. At the 8 and 9 o'clock masses the Clergyman who celebrated 11 o'clock preached after the Ablution. At 3 went to the Gaol - said prayers for the prisoners - gave them instruction. At 7 prayers - after which I gave instruction.

Monday June 30th. Heard Mass. Left at 1 for Yackandandah - road bad. Recited prayers - spoke to the few assembled. Heard Confessions. Recited Vespers and Compline.