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

Wednesday May 1st. Mass. Heard Mass - Confessions during all day. Made preparation for my passage by Steamer to Gippsland. Steamer will not leave until tomorrow. Evening Novena of the Blessed Virgin. Lecture (read) - Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Confessions.

Thursday May 2nd. Heard Mass and Confessions in St Francis. Wrote letters. Arranged as to affairs during my absence. Left at 10.30 a.m. Rough stormy weather - very sick.

Friday May 3rd. Did not eat anything since breakfast yesterday. Kept to the cabin during the passage. Could not read the Office. Weather very stormy during the past night. Had to lie to most of the night. Did not reach Port Albert till 12.30 or 1 - and Taraville till 3. Recited Divine Office - went early to rest.

Saturday May 4th. Offered up the Holy Mass in thanksgiving. Recited Hours. Read one of Butler's sermons. Looked over an English Catholic newspaper. Wrote by this mail to Vicar-General. Took a ride out for half hour. On my return - wrote a few notes - then read. At 3 dinner.

Sunday May 5th. Morning prayers - meditation - Divine Office. At 11 celebrated Mass. Sermon by one of the Clergy. Thanksgiving - breakfast. Read during a good part of afternoon. Evening prayers - a short lecture to those present on obedience and authority. To rest early.

Monday May 6th. The usual morning devotions. Recited part of the Divine Office. Said Mass. Thanksgiving. Breakfast. Recited Divine Office. Meditation. Heard a few Confessions. Visited the future site of a school 4 miles off. A school is now being kept there. On my return read until dinner. At 5 - prayers - lecture. Subject - necessity of making a good Confession.

Tuesday May 7th. Morning prayers - Divine office - preparation for Mass. Mass - delivered a few words of instruction. Subject: solicitude and watchfulness over ourselves in spiritual [matters]. Thanksgiving. Breakfast - Divine Office - Meditation. Confessions - very few. Wrote - read for some time. Night prayers at 5.

Wednesday May 8th. Devotions of the morning - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. Mass - gave a short lecture - subjects: humility - education of children. Thanksgiving - meditation. Heard a few Confessions. Read most of the day. Evening - night prayers - Confessions.

Thursday May 9th. Morning prayers - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. At 11 o'clock Mass administered Holy Communion. After Mass - instruction and Confirmation. Weather showery. Start for Sale today. Stop the night at a place 15 miles from the Tara. Road very bad.

Friday May 10th. Left at 6.30 this morning for Sale. Morning devotions as usual before commencing journey. Road very bad in places. Country poor - forest land - low and swampy. At 12 stopped to dine - recited Divine Office - made meditation. Arrived in Sale about 5. Spent a restless night.

Saturday May 11th. Devotions of the morning. Breakfast. Divine Office. Visited the Church - a useful plain brick building. There is no stone here. Walked thro' the town. Returned and made meditation. Wrote two letters - read for some time. Took a short walk. Township improving - but few Catholics

Sunday May 12th. Morning prayers and Divine Office. Celebrated Mass at 11. Administered Confirmation - said a few words of explanation.

Monday May 13th. Celebrated Mass after hearing Confessions. Dedicated the Church to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. A good many went to Holy Communion. Left Sale. Reached Rosedale. Evening attempted to go to the M[orwell River?]. Lost our way and returned to Rosedale about 10 - fatigued.

Tuesday May 14th. Left at 8 for the M[orwell River?]. A long and tedious ride - road bad.

Wednesday May 15th. Left the M[orwell River?] at 8.30. A hard day's ride - creeks and swamps barely passable. Crossed the Tarwin about 5. Divine Office - meditation as usual.

Thursday May 16th. Left about 8 this morning. Crossed the ranges by a new path. Arrived at Connor's on the Bunyip about 2. Here we stopped for some [time?]. Proceeded in the evening to Mt. Ararat. Here we remained the night.

Friday May 17th. Reached Berwick today - 30 miles from Melbourne. The weather during this week has been most favourable. Carriage met us here.

Saturday May 18th. Left for Melbourne a little after 7. Arrived in Melbourne about 2.30 p.m. In the evening heard Confessions up to 10.

Sunday May 19th. The usual morning devotions performed. Divine Office and Meditation over - made preparation for Mass. Sung Mass at 11 in St Francis. Evening - attended Vespers in St Patrick's - gave Solemn Benediction.

Monday May 20th. Morning devotions over - recited Matins - made preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass in the College Chapel - heard Mass - recited prayers - wrote - made meditation. Evening Novena, Confessions.

Tuesday May 21st. Devotions - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. Mass in College Chapel. Heard Mass and Confessions. Divine Office and Meditation. Examined Fr Riordan's letters - agreed to remain on the Mission for life. Accepted him - appointed him to Geelong. Spoke to Fr. Barry about the accounts of Wangaratta Mission. Told him not to leave until settled.

Wednesday May 22nd. Devotions as usual - Divine Office. Mass - heard Mass and Confessions. Yesterday examined Frs. Power and Williams letters. Satisfactory. They are to write for exeats. Appointed Fr Hayden to Ballaarat - Power to Melbourne - and Williams to Daylesford. Saw Fr. McCarthy - advised him about his brother - appointed him to Belfast in place of him. He will leave next week for Belfast.

Thursday May 23rd. Left by train for the Diggers Rest. Arrived in Kyneton about 5. Weather windy and cold. Sent a Telegram to Fr. Smyth to meet me here tomorrow.

Friday May 24th. Celebrated Mass a little after 8. Collation over - wrote to the Vicar-General advising him that I would reserve the £1000 for building the Orphanage at Emerald Hill for that purpose - and that it should be drawn on my signature only. Requested him to inform the Nuns that I forbad any building on account of the Orphanage but what was required for maintenance and clothing and schooling of Orphans. Would not help to pay any debt contracted without my leave. Told him to write to Madden advising him if he wished to remain where he is to attend better to his duties and keep out of Melbourne - and to Backhaus in reference to Connor's marriage. Engaged in writing for [the] English Mail.

Saturday May 25th. Left this morning for Castlemaine. Enclosed to Dr Heptonstall a Bill of Exchange £113.6.0 and another for private account £60. Arrived in Castlemaine at 4. Saw Fr. Snell. He is very ill. Heard Confessions - Divine Office. Wrote letters.

Sunday May 26th. Mass at 9. Read during the day. Evening Vespers. Addressed a few words of instruction after Vespers. Gave Benediction.

Monday May 27th. Morning prayers - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. Weather wet. Visit to Daylesford postponed till tomorrow. Wrote letters. Read a good part of the day. Evening - walked out for a short time. At 9 night prayers - bed.

Tuesday May 28th. Heard Mass this morning. Left a little after 12 for Daylesford. Called at Yandoit. Road into Daylesford very bad - had to walk a mile or two of it in the dark ankle deep in mud.

Wednesday May 29th. Religious duties satisfied - could not go out during the day except to visit the Chapel. Heard a few Confessions. Spent the chief part of the day reading. Wrote 1 or 2 letters. At 9 - night prayers - bed.

Thursday May 30th. Prayer and Divine Office over - celebrated Mass. Afterwards heard Confessions. At the 11 o'clock Mass preached - gave Holy Communion. Today I dedicated the Church and Mission of Daylesford to St Peter Prince of Apostles. Returned to Castlemaine.

Friday May 31st. Celebrated Mass at 9.30. Thanksgiving made - read for a short time. Breakfast. Wrote for a start. No letters were delivered this morning. Weather today and yesterday clear and bright but cold in the mornings and evening. Read in the evening.