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

Friday November 1st. Morning devotions - Divine Office - meditation - preparation for Mass. Celebrated after giving Confirmation to 34 persons. Preached - Communicants 150. Concluded Mission at Maryborough. Opened the Mission in the evening at Back Creek or Talbot. Rosary - exhortation - Confessions. Returned to Carisbrook about 7. Dined at 8. Retired early to rest.

Saturday November 2nd. All Souls. Devotions - Divine Office - preparation for Mass - Confessions. 8.30 Mass. After breakfast - Divine Office - meditation. At 12 left for Back Creek. Confessions up to 5. Returned to Carisbrook.

Sunday November 3rd. Devotions - Divine Office - preparation for Mass - meditation. At 8.30 Mass. Thanksgiving - short preparation for Sermon. At 10 left for Back Creek. Arrived at 11.30. Heard Confessions as Mass was being said. After Holy Communion preached on the Love of God for Sinners. After Mass gave a short instruction on the Sacrament of Confirmation. Administered that Sacrament to about 15 or 20 adults and children. Sunday 3 o'clock returned to Carisbrook. Recited Hours and Vespers on the way back. Wrote a little on my return. Evening prayers and a few words of instruction. A little after 9 retired to rest.

Monday November 4th. Morning devotions - Divine Office - meditation - preparation for Mass. At 8.30 Mass. Thanksgiving. Read a little before breakfast. After breakfast read until near 12. Left at a little before 12 for Maryboro. Visited the Hospital - directed Fr. Fennelly to pay to it £2.2.0 for me. Visited the gaol - recited prayers and gave instruction. Catholic prisoners male and female 10. Called at the school - examined the children - was satisfied. Returned to Carisbrook - sent to Fr Finn lists of Confirmations for this Mission. Wrote a little. Read a good deal. Night prayers and Rosary. Bed.

Tuesday November 5th. Morning devotions - Matins - preparation for Mass. Mass - thanksgiving. Breakfast. Read - replied to letters. Confirmed one person who came a great distance in the pious hope of receiving that Sacrament. Went 5 miles into the country. On my return made meditation - then read until dinner time.

Wednesday November 6th. Left early this morning for Sandon to consecrate the Cemetery. Consecrated Cemetery and addressed the people. Fr Smyth celebrated Mass afterwards. Returned to Carisbrook in the evening. Devotions as usual. Read a good deal.

Thursday November 7th. Devotions and Matins over - heard a few Confessions. Celebrated Mass. After breakfast recited Hours - made meditation. Prepared to start for Inglewood. Read - wrote letters in reply. Left at 3.

Thursday November 8th. Left New Bridge this morning. Arrived in Inglewood. Evening prayers - instruction - Confessions. Engaged with the latter until very late.

Saturday November 9th. Mass at 8 - addressed the Congregation - which was large. All day up to 9 in the evening engaged hearing Confessions, except meal times. Early in the day examined those preparing for Confirmation. School well attended.

Sunday November 10th. Celebrated Mass at 8. Gave Holy Communion to upwards of 250. Heat very oppressive. Had to clear the Chapel for a short time in order to let in a little fresh air. At 10 addressed those to be Confirmed - then administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to between 35 and 40. Assisted at the next Mass. Preached after the Holy Communion. Chapel crowded - heat most suffocating. At 1.30 or 2 took breakfast. Visited Kingower. Lost our way on return. Heavy rain. Evening prayers - delivered a short discourse. Retired early to rest. Heard a few Confessions before leaving Chapel.

Monday November 11th. Celebrated Mass at 8. Confirmed a few. Received a Convert into the Church and confirmed her. After breakfast wrote a letter - visited the Columbian reef. Left Inglewood en route to Swan Hill at 1. Arrived at where I stop the night about 5. Night prayers with family - rest.

Tuesday November 12th. Celebrated Mass at 8 - gave Holy Communion to a few - addressed a few words of instruction to those present. Left at 11 for Kerang - returned about 6.30. Night prayers with family - rest.

Wednesday November 13th. Rose soon after 5. Recited morning prayers and Divine Office - made meditation. At 7 left en route to Swan Hill. Reached Mr *Cameron's* station about 2 - distance 40 miles. Will stop here until Friday morning. Night prayers - said a few words of instruction to those present, heard Confessions. Rest.

Thursday November 14th. Celebrated Mass after hearing Confessions - a few went to Holy Communion. Exhorted those present. All over at 12. Breakfast. At 1 left for Kerang on Lower Loddon. Selected site for Church and returned to the station about 6. Dinner - Divine Office - prayers.

Friday November 15th. Celebrated Mass at 6. Left for Swan Hill at 7.30. Arrived at Swan Hill about 4.30 - having stopped an hour at the Kangaroo to refresh. Distance 55 miles, heat very great. Made arrangements for prayers this evening.

Saturday November 16th. Morning devotions - Divine Office - prayers for the people. Confessions - wrote letters. 7 o'clock - Confessions - prayers - study. Rest.

Sunday November 17th. Rose early. Morning devotions over - Divine Office - meditation. Heard Confessions. Administered Confirmation. Celebrated Mass at 11. Gave instruction. About 12 went to Holy Communion. Catholic population in the town 15 - adults and children. Left at 12 upon my way back. Stopped the night at the Kangaroo. Day very hot.

Monday November 18th. Rose early. Prayers and Divine Office. Baptized 5 children. Heard Confessions. Started for Lake Marion - Mr Cameron's station. Baptized 4 children. Heard Confessions - gave instruction. Night prayers - Vespers and Confessions.

Tuesday November 19th. Got up at 4. Dressing over - said morning prayers - Divine Office - preparation for Mass. Heard Confessions. Confirmed. Celebrated Mass - gave Holy Communion to nearly all present - about 20 - a short exhortation. Left en route for Bendigo. Heat very great - travelled 38 miles today. Stopped at the Hotel known as the Durham Ox - on the Loddon.

Wednesday November 20th. Rose at 4 and left at 5 minutes after 5 a.m. Arrived in Bendigo about 3 p.m. Heat of day great. Finished Divine Office soon after getting in. Read English letters.

Thursday November 21st. Morning prayers - Divine Office. Preparation for Mass. At 8 o'clock Mass - thanksgiving. Drove a short distance into the country. Heat at intervals oppressive. Made this a day of rest.

Friday November 22nd. Rose early - but was unable to leave owing to heavy rain. Left about 8 - overtaken by heavy rain. Weather cold and stormy. Reached Castlemaine a little before 12. Here I remain today. Wrote to Fr. Fennelly to be in Melbourne at farthest on Tuesday. Retired early to rest.

Saturday November 23rd. Left a little after 5. Arrived in Kyneton about 8.30. Left at 9 for Woodend station. Left by train 15 minutes past 11. Arrived in Melbourne about 1. Finished Divine Office - made meditation. In the evening heard Confessions. At 10 rest.

Sunday November 24th. Celebrated Mass privately in the College Chapel. Wrote Home letters. Sent a Bank Order to Mr J. Hynes for £40 in payment of pensions to Roscrea Convent. Attended Vespers and Benediction in St Francis.

Monday November 25th. Heard 7 and 8 o'clock Masses in St Francis. Recited Divine Office - meditation. Wrote letters for home mail. In the evening went out for a short drive. Evening prayers - Confessions.

Tuesday November 26th. Morning devotions - recited part of Divine Office - celebrated Mass about 7. Heard Mass - finished Hours - short meditation - read letters - wrote a few. At 1 meeting of School Committee. Evening - Night prayers - Confessions.

Wednesday November 27th. Left at an early hour for Kilmore. Gave my vote and returned to Melbourne. Devotions performed as usual - omitted meditation yet could have made it.

Thursday November 28th. Heard Mass this morning in St Francis. Recited Divine Office - made a short meditation. Wrote one or two letters. Read a good deal today. In the evening attended as usual night prayers in St Francis - and heard Confessions.

Friday November 29th. Celebrated Mass a little earlier than usual. Heard Mass afterwards in St Francis. Meditation. Wrote letters - studied a good part of the afternoon. In evening night prayers and Confessions.

Saturday November 30th. Rose early. Recited the usual morning prayers. Took a little to eat and prepared to leave for Geelong. Left by 1st train. Divine Office - reading - hearing Confessions alternately engaged outside usual time for meals - up to 9.