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

Monday September 1st. Mass in College Chapel at 7. Heard Mass in St Francis. Recited Lauds and Hours - made meditation. Letters.

Withdrew, by letter sent through Dean Slattery, Revd. Ed[ward] McCarthy's faculties. Reasons as stated - habits of intemperance now alas too public, and absence, contrary to positive instructions, from Keilor mission.

Day school in College opened today - visited Convent on business. Wrote for a short interval. Vespers and Compline. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday September 3rd. Left for Pentridge Prison at 8 - opened a mission for the prisoners. At 9 said Mass - gave instruction. Dean Hayes said Mass and gave instruction in another part of the building. Confessions from 10 to 12. From 2 to 3.30 prayers, instruction and Confessions.

Returned to Melbourne - dined. At 7 night prayers and Confession in St Francis. Clergyman assisting at the Prison: 5.

Thursday September 4th. At a little past 8 left for Pentridge. Dean Hayes said Mass and preached where I officiated yesterday - and I instructed where he had officiated. Owing to a mistake the vestments were not left there - so I could not celebrate. Confessions at the usual time forenoon and afternoon. Gave instruction in the afternoon.

Returned to Melbourne a little after 4. At 7 night prayers and Confessions in St Francis. Answered letters.

Friday September 5th. At 9 heard a few Confessions at Pentridge before Mass. About 80 went to Holy Communion. Upwards of 60 went to Confession. Preached after Mass - said a few words before giving Confirmation. Twenty were confirmed. Concluded the retreat or mission.

Returned to Melbourne after visiting the district school. Visited the Convent for a few minutes.

Directed the Vicar-General to answer the letter written me by the Geelong nuns. Paid a short visit to Mr O'Shanassy - in the evening at 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Saturday September 6th. Rose early - morning prayers - heard Mass in St Francis - recited the Divine Office - heard a few Confessions. Breakfast over, made my meditation. Read for a short time. About 12 returned to St Patrick's. Wrote for a short time. Read a few chapters in a spiritual book. Confessions in the evening from 7 to 9.30.

Sunday September 7th. Rose soon after 6. After prayers made preparation for Mass and discourse. At 8 o'clock Mass delivered a short discourse on the Epistle - gave Holy Communion to a large number. After thanksgiving recited Hours - made meditation. Read a few chapters in the Bible. Read portions of another book - looked over a little Theology - visited the Convent - called at St Francis - children assembled for Christian Doctrine. Returned to St Patrick's. Read Vespers and Matins for tomorrow. Evening attended Vespers and service in St Francis - Sermon as usual before Benediction.

Monday September 8th. Mass at the usual time. Went to St Francis about 7.30. Heard Mass - recited Hours - meditation - heard a few Confessions. Business from 9.30 to 12. From 1 to 3 - study. Visited the Orphanage after dinner. At 7 night prayers and Confessions in St Francis.

Tuesday September 9th. At 7 said Mass in the College Chapel. Heard Mass - made meditation - recited Hours - heard Confessions. Business from 9.30 to 12. Wrote letters. Mail from England - letters will be delivered tomorrow. Drove out after dinner. At 7 went to St Francis - after night prayers heard Confessions.

Wednesday September 10th. Rose soon after 6. The usual morning devotions over, made preparation for Mass. A little past 7 Mass. Heard Mass and Confessions in St Francis. Hours, meditation. Engaged with business and looking over Home letters up to near 1. A little study between 2 and 3. A short drive in the evening. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Thursday September 11th. Mass a little past 7 in College Chapel. Heard Mass in St Francis - recited Hours - meditation. Remained in office from 9.30 to 12. Took a short walk. At 1.30 recited Vespers - from 2 to 3 read. Drove out for an hour. At 7 attended night prayers in St Francis - and heard Confessions.

Friday September 12th. Rose about 6. Devotions over - made preparations for Mass. A little after 7 said Mass in the College Chapel - heard Mass in St Francis. Recited Hours - made meditation - heard a few Confessions. Occupied in the office up to 12.30. Studied from 1.30 to 3. At 5 drove out for an hour. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Saturday September 13th. Heard Mass in St Francis this morning. Recited Lauds and Hours - made meditation - looked over the Newspapers. Wrote for a while. At a little after 10 left for Schnapper Point. It was 3 or 3.30 when we arrived there. Heavy showers fell during the day. Made preparations for tomorrow. Took a short walk about the place. There are some good brick Houses - two small brick Protestant Churches. All the land has been bought up. We must buy a site, no government land being available.

Sunday September 14th. Morning occupied in the usual private devotions - recitation of the Divine Office - meditation and preparation for Mass. At 11 commenced Mass. About forty persons were present - the notice was short. Addressed a short discourse to them. Appointed the 1st Sunday in October for a meeting of the resident Catholics to take measures for the purchase of a site and the erection of a school or church. Visited the cement works. Weather squally.

Monday September 15th. Rose at 4 - prayers and Divine Office. At 5 left for Melbourne. My horse knocked up. Reached Melbourne [at] a quarter to 11. Called in for a few minutes to the Brighton school. At 12.30 went to the office, read letters. Recited Vespers. Read between 2 and 3. In the evening at 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Tuesday September 16th. Heard Mass this morning. Was not prepared to celebrate myself. Recited Divine Office. Heard a few Confessions. Engaged in the office until 1. Paid a short visit to the Convent. Read to within a short time of dinner - recited Vespers and Compline. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday September 17th. Rose soon after 6 - performed the devotions - made preparation for Mass. After Mass went to St Francis - heard Mass, recited Hours - meditation. Occupied in the office up to 12. Paid a short visit to the Convent. Studied for a short time. In the [evening?] drove out for an hour. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Thursday September 18th. Did not feel well enough to celebrate Mass this morning. Went early to St Francis - heard Mass - recited the Divine Office - heard Confessions. Remained in the office for business until near 1. Took a short walk before 2. From 2 to close on 3 read. Then recited Vespers and Compline. At 7 night prayers - Confessions.

Friday September 19th. Not quite well. Heard Mass - recited the Divine Office - made meditation. Transacted business and wrote letters up to 1. Gave manuscript of Mandatum to Vicar-General for publication. It forbids collections by strange priests or others without my written leave. Studied for a little in the afternoon. At 7 prayers and Confessions as usual.

Saturday September 20th. Thank God I feel much recovered from the attack of influenza. Heard Mass in St Francis - recited the Divine Office - made meditation - heard Confessions. Remained in the office until 12. On my return home read until 1.30 - then walked to St Francis - Confessions from 2 to 4. In the evening from 7 to 9 or 9.30. Today wrote to the Archbishop - post will not leave until Monday. Sent reply to Telegram on Friday - saying that I had no objection to the Bishops meeting here about the end of October. Recited Matins and Lauds.

Sunday September 21st. Rose soon after 6 - morning devotions - preparation for Mass. At 8 commenced Mass. Delivered a short discourse after the 1st Gospel. Gave Holy Communion to a great many. Thanksgiving. After breakfast read a religious work until the time for 11 o'clock Mass. Assisted at the Mass - a sermon was preached in aid of the Benevolent Asylum by Fr Reardon. £48 were received. Visited the Convent with Dr Sheil for a few minutes. At 7 Vespers - sermon - Benediction - St Francis.

Monday September 22nd. Morning devotions and preparation for Mass over by 7. Then commenced Mass. Heard Mass and recited Hours - heard a good many Confessions - meditation. After breakfast looked over the Argus. When not engaged with business about schools or Missions was occupied writing. Left the office at 12. At home 1.30. Wrote to the Bishop of Hobart-town. Sent him a copy of Mandatum.

Tuesday September 23rd. Rose a little before 6. At 7 commenced Mass in the College Chapel. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions. Meditation. After breakfast engaged in business up to 12. Returned home about 1. Wrote a few letters - studied for a short time.

Revd. Mr Courtney came out from Birmingham Diocese to collect - told [him] he could not be allowed to do so - handed him a copy of the Decreta Provincialia and Mandatum. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday September 24th. Celebrated a High Mass at 11 in the Convent Chapel. During the day engaged preparing my letters for the home mail.

Heard of the appointments made to the School Board - They are very objectionable.

After night prayers and Confessions had to write a few letters.

Revd. Mr Courtney dined with us today.

Thursday September 25th. Mass at 7. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made meditation. Wrote to the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda, Barnabò, enclosing a bill of Exchange - the 2nd - for £300 - an instalment of the Peter's Pence of this year for the Holy Father. Wrote to the Archbishops of Tuam and Cashell covering drafts - £800 for the relief of distressed in the West - and £500 for relief in the South of Ireland. After prayers and Confessions wrote letters.

Friday September 26th. Got up early. After prayers commenced writing letters - mail will close at 11. Wrote to Cardinal Barnabò enclosing a bill of Exchange of £102.1.0 for the Fratelli Gentilli - the proceeds of the property of Brother who died intestate All letters posted by the Vicar-General about 10. Recited Divine Office. Business up to 12. Meeting of School Committee at 1 - called at the Convent about 12.30. Appointed confessors ordinary and extraordinary to the Convents. Instructed the Vicar-General to announce the appointments to the Superioresses of the Convents and the Clergy concerned. Wrote for a short time - recited Vespers and Compline. At a little past 5 went out for an hour. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.

Saturday September 27th. Not well this morning. Heard Mass - recited Divine Office. After breakfast looked over the daily journals.

Wrote to Sister Mary Regis giving her leave to visit the Convent in Melbourne as she expressed a wish to see me.

Received a letter from the Archbishop. Fr Birch called for an exeat - told him I knew nothing of him for the last 12 months - but would give him an exeat on Monday. Fr Courtney offered himself - said I would give him an answer this afternoon.

Mr O'Brien called about his offering himself as a candidate for the Upper House. Told him he would have my support if he agreed with me on the Question of Education and State Aid, as it is wrongly termed, to religion.

Arranged the order of duty for tomorrow. From 6.30 to 9 - Confessions.

Sunday September 28th. Celebrated Mass at 7 in the Convent Chapel. Returned home soon after 9. Recited Hours - made meditation. Read a few chapters in the Old Testament. Looked over the life of Boniface VIII in N. Alexander. At 3 visited St Francis - but few children were assembled for the Christian Doctrine. Organization defective. Read for half hour before dinner. At 7 attended devotions and sermon in St Francis.

Monday September 29th. Not feeling well this morning, heard Mass. Recited the Divine Office - meditation.

Revd. T.J. Barry called - handed me a letter from Fr Sheil which must have been written in a moment of amiable weakness - it is thus bad men are imposed on Bishops. I absolutely refused to give him any letters until he paid back what it cost the Diocese (£65) to fetch him out. His departure hence is a blessing. Studied and did business in office up to 12. Study and duty filled up the rest of the day with intervals for meals etc.

On Monday Revd. Mr Donovan called - in rather an excited and rude manner said he would return to Europe 'to a more comfortable home'. Poor man - how unthankful - he will not be missed. I made no objection.

Tuesday September 30th. Celebrated Mass about 7 - heard Mass - recited Divine Office - meditation.

Received a letter from Revd. T. J. Barry resigning and refusing to pay his debt to the diocese. He leaves in the Monarch which sails tomorrow 1st October without letters. What conduct! He owes a large sum to Revd. Mr. Tierney.

Study and business at intervals up to 12.

Saw Sisters Mary Regis and [blank] at the Convent, Nicholson St. Told them I could not allow them to name the persons to be appointed confessors to the religious. They will return tomorrow by an early train - advised Revd. Mother of this by Telegram.

An hour's reading before dinner. At 7 night prayers and Confessions.