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

Tuesday March 6th. Great Britain mail for England closes.

Wednesday March 7th. Bellarine School. Number of children on the roll 34 - attending night school 11. Attendance at day school today 17. Mixed school.

Thursday March 8th. Left for Ballarat at 10.30. Arrived in Ballarat about 7 pm. Weather hot.

Friday March 9th. Left at a quarter to 11 for Mt. Ararat. Stopped at noon at Burrumbeet. Reached Fiery Creek at 6. Remained here the night. Weather hot.

Saturday March 10th. Left for Ararat at 7.30 where we arrived about 12.30. Heard Confessions during the evening. Arranged for the devotions for tomorrow.

Sunday March 11th. Celebrated Mass at 8. Confessions. Mass at 9, 9.30 and 10. Lecture. Confessions during the day. Evening devotions at 6 - lecture and Confessions.

Monday March 12th. Masses in the morning 3. Lecture at the 10 o'clock Mass. Confessions during the morning. Left Ararat at 2 or a little after. Reached Fiery Creek about 6.

Tuesday March 13th. Left at 10 minutes to 8 - arrived in Ballarat about 12.30.

Saturday March 17th. Celebrated High Mass in St Patrick's Church.

Sunday March 18th. Celebrated Mass about 9. Gave instruction at the 11 Mass. In the evening, prayers - benediction and instruction. Weather unsettled.

Monday March 19th. Returned from Kilmore about 12.30. Left for Geelong by the evening train.

Tuesday March 20th. Celebrated Mass at the Convent and blessed it - this being the day of its inauguration. Visited the Orphanage. Returned to Melbourne by evening train.

Wednesday March 21st. Told Fr. Hayden this morning that I would raise Thomas's wages from £50 to £60 per annum. To commence from this date - advised Thos. of the same in the morning.

Thursday March 22nd. Opened the Mission to the laity at Footscray with the celebration of Mass and instruction. Heard Confessions up to 2.

Friday March 23rd. Celebrated Mass at 9 at Footscray - gave instruction - heard confessions. Returned to Melbourne by the quarter past 2 train.

Saturday March 24th. Footscray. Mass and instruction at 9. Confessions up to 2. Heard Confessions in St Francis during the evening.

Sunday March 25th. Celebrated Mass about 9 at Footscray and gave Holy Communion. Closed the Mission with instruction at the 11 o'clock Mass. Vespers at St Francis.

Monday March 26th. Meeting of School Committee at 12. A good deal of business done. In the morning visited St Francis Boys School.

Tuesday March 27th. Visited St Francis Girls School.