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

Thursday September 1st. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. A little before 7 commenced Mass in the College Chapel. After thanksgiving went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made my meditation. Left the confessional about 9. Breakfast - answered letters. Left the office about 11.30. Walked home. Wrote a letter then read till 1. Visited the Poor Schools of the Convent of Mercy. On my return home wrote for some time then study of Theology for an hour. After this read an interesting English work till called to dinner. A little past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds. Attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Lady's Chapel. Returned home a little after 8. Read for a short time. About 9.30 to bed.

Friday September 2nd. Morning prayers - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions. After breakfast replied to letters - occupied in the office until 11.30. Walked home - engaged until about 1 - then attended a meeting of the Catholic School Committee - agreed to the reply to be given to a letter from the Government School Board with reference to the time set apart twice a week for religious instruction in the Model School. At 2.30 went to Abbotsford to advise as to the sending away a Postulant. Did not approve of the manner of doing it. Got home in time to hear the judgements of the College boys read. After this recited Vespers and Compline - then wrote till dinner hour. About quarter past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin's Chapel. Returned home about 8 - read for some time. About 9.30 to bed.

Saturday September 3rd. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. A little before 7 commenced Mass in the College Chapel. After thanksgiving went to St Francis. Heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made my meditation; after breakfast wrote letters.

In my reply to Dean Hayes I stated that his appointment to Sandhurst was unconditional - such as his appointment to Geelong - and without reference to the Order. Between 12 and 2 I drove to Preston. Saw the great reservoir there prepared for the supply of water to Melbourne from the Yan Yean - it was not as yet filled - but late this evening they will begin to fill it. The supply of water to the City and suburbs will be shut off till Monday to allow of this being done.

Heard Confessions from 2 to 4 - recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner at 4.30. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - heard Confessions from 7 to 10 without interruption. Night prayers - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin's Chapel. After this returned home. About 11 to bed.

Sunday September 4th. Morning prayers - preparation for my instruction to the people at the 8 o'clock Mass. Preparation for Mass. Mass at 8 - preached after giving the Holy Communion. Thanksgiving. Returned home - recited Hours - Breakfast. Meditation for better than a half hour. Was present at the Sermon preached in St Patrick's. Angelus. Wrote for a short time. Read the Sacred Scriptures for an hour. From 1 to 2 Theology. At 2 was present in the College Chapel whilst one of the students recited a chapter from the Gospel of St Matthew - the other students questioned in it - I also put a few questions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin. At 20 minutes to 3 visited the children assembled in the Cathedral for Catechism - then walked to St Joseph's Sunday school - here but few children were in attendance. The boys were almost without teachers. Something must be done to establish the Christian Doctrine Society in Melbourne, that pious and devout persons may be induced to attend in the Churches and chapels to teach Catechism on Sundays. I had established this Society once before but owing to the unsettled state of the population - the rushes to new diggings - it dissolved of itself. It was near dinner time when I returned home - recited Vespers and Compline before dinner. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds. Assisted at the Vespers - Sermon and Benediction. Returned home about 9. Night prayers - about 10 to bed.

Monday September 5th. Morning prayers. A quarter before 7 left by train for Castlemaine. Recited Hours and made meditation during part of my journey - read an interesting work the remainder of it. Visited the sick priest immediately on my reaching the Presbytery. Poor fellow his hours in this life are apparently few. Returned to Melbourne by 4. After dinner I fainted through weakness and a bad stomach. At 6 the Angelus - went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Returned home - read a little - retired early to bed.

I visited the school in Castlemaine and at Golden Point - the children had just left the latter, it being play hour.

Saturday September 6th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. A little before 7 celebrated Mass in the College Chapel. After thanksgiving went to St Francis. Heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - made my meditation. Remained in the office till 11. Wrote letters, chiefly in reply. Not feeling quite well - I had to relax my mental application to business and study. Directed Dr Bleasdale to read for Mr. Archer the letters I instructed him to write to the Board in reply to theirs with reference to religious teaching in the Model Schools - he is to send in this letter tomorrow. Wrote and read at intervals during the day. Walked to the Convent. My head feels a little better. A little past 4 recited Vespers and Compline. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Returned home about 8. Read for a short time - went early to bed.

Wednesday September 7th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - a little before 7 commenced Mass. After thanksgiving went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made my meditation - heard Confessions. Left the confessional at 9. At 9.30 took a little breakfast. Business in the [office] till 11. Then walked some distance before going home. From 12 to 1 read and wrote a little - answered letters. Visited the Abbotsford Convent. Examined the accommodation for the juvenile female Reformatory and that for the Penitents. Visited the Orphanage. Returned home about 4. Recited Vespers and Compline. About 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds. Night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Returned home about 8. Read for a short time. To bed early. The English Mail will be delivered tomorrow.

Thursday September 8th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - at 7 celebrated in the College Chapel. After thanksgiving went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - made my meditation - heard a few Confessions. English letters - read most of them. One was from Cardinal Barnabò about Barry - it is satisfactory. Barry has withdrawn his appeal - an appeal he ought never to have made. Looked over one of the local papers. Business in the office up to 12. Walked home calling at the Convent of Mercy. Read when not occupied with affairs of the Diocese. Took a short walk before 4. At 4 recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner at 4.30. A little past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Home - read for a short time. About 9.30 to bed.

Friday September 9th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 7 Mass in the College Chapel. Thanksgiving. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions - meditation - Breakfast. Answered letters - business in the office up to 11.30. Walked home. Business and study filled up the time between 12 and 3. Took a short walk. Vespers and Compline at 4. Dinner at the usual time. At a quarter past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Returned home about 8 - read for some time. At 9.30 to bed.

Saturday September 10th. Morning prayers - heard Mass and recited Hours - made my meditation - very busy up to my leaving by the 11.30 train for Geelong. Read the whole time of the trip. Recited Vespers Compline and Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. Heard Confessions during the day. Read and studied when not thus engaged. Dinner at 5. Confessions in the evening from 7 to 9. About 10 night prayers - bed.

Sunday September 11th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass in St Mary's at 8 and in the Point Henry Church at 11. Heard a good many Confessions at Point Henry - 22 persons received the Holy Communion. Preached at Point Henry. At 3 opened the Orphanage attached to the Convent of Mercy in Geelong. The attendance was very large - the collection amounted to £60. Attended Vespers in the evening and delivered a short discourse. Gave Benediction. About 10 night prayers - bed.

Monday September 12th. Morning prayers - Matins and Lauds - preparation for Mass. Offered up the Holy Sacrifice at the Convent about 7.30. Returned to the Presbytery about 9. Recited Hours. Wrote a letter. Engaged writing to within 5 minutes of 12. Meditation. Day cloudy and wet - Vespers and Compline. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Wrote for some time. The rest of the day was divided between reading and study. Took a short drive before dinner. Dinner at 4.30. Recited Matins and Lauds. Attended night prayers in the Church. Conversed with the Clergy until 9. Read for a half-hour - to bed.

Tuesday September 13th. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass at the Convent of Mercy. Breakfast. Read for an hour. Visited the Church now building at Ashby. Left for Ballaarat where I arrived about 3.30. Read during the journey. Recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner at 4.30. Took a walk after dinner. About 9.30 night prayers - bed.

Wednesday September 14th. Morning prayers - Divine Office. Preparation for Mass. Mass. Thanksgiving. Breakfast. Wrote letters - Hours - read for about 2 hours. Visited Buninyong - the school had been foolishly given up - told the teacher to open the school. Visited St. Patrick's Church. Returned to the presbytery a little before dinner. Recited Vespers and Compline. Walked for a short time after dinner. Weather cold - wet and breezy. Recited Matins and Lauds. About 9.30 night prayers - read for a short time after going to bed.

Thursday September 15th. Morning prayers - Prima - preparation for Mass. Mass. At 8 commenced Mass - thanksgiving. Read until breakfast. After breakfast answered letters. Visit[ed] the schools adjoining the presbytery - about 50 children were in each school. Weather wet and most unfavourable for the schools. Made my meditation. After this recited Hours - then read a very interesting and instructive book till 12.30. Drove out with the Archdeacon to visit the mining establishment of the Band of Hope - returned about 2. Read till 3. Recited Vespers and Compline - then Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. Wrote for a short time. Then read the life of St Camillus de Lellis till dinner. After dinner walked for a short time in the verandah. Read during a part of the evening. About 9 retired to my room. Night prayers. Read a few pages of the Life of St Camillus. To bed.

Friday September 16th. Morning prayers - Hours - meditation - preparation for Mass. At 8.30 commenced Mass - thanksgiving - breakfast. Read a devout book. At 11 walked to St Patrick's - visited the schools - attendance small owing to the unfavourable weather. Paid a visit to the Hospital - the Catholics in the wards are few. Returned to the Presbytery about 1. Looked over one of the Melbourne newspapers. Recited Vespers and Compline. Spiritual reading for a half hour. Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. Wrote a few letters. After this read till the time for dinner. Took a short drive after dinner. Read for an hour. Walked a short time in the verandah. About 9.30 - night prayers. Read for a short time - to bed.

Saturday September 17th. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. At 8.30 Mass - thanksgiving - heard Mass - made my meditation. Breakfast. Answered letters. Read the life of St Camillus - till 12. Angelus. Took a walk. On my return resumed the reading of the life of St Camillus. Confessions from 2 to 4. Vespers - Matins and Lauds when not engaged hearing Confessions. In the evening Confessions from 7 to 9. Studied before going to bed for tomorrow's instruction. Night prayers - bed.

Sunday September 18th. Morning prayers - Prime - preparation for Mass. At 11 Mass - after administering the holy Communion I delivered a short discourse on the necessity of Good Works. Thanksgiving. About 1.30 breakfast. Read a religious book. At 2.30 I took a short walk having previously recited Vespers and Compline. On my return read the life of St Camillus. Assisted at Vespers in St Patrick's. Preached (or rather, to speak more humbly and correctly) attempted to deliver a short discourse on the Epistle read in the Mass of today - gave Benediction. At 7 dined. After dinner walked for an hour or better in the verandah. About 10 night prayers - bed.

Monday September 19th. Morning prayers - Prime - preparation for Mass. At 8 celebrated Mass - thanksgiving - heard Mass - recited Hours - made meditation. Breakfast. Read Canon Law for a short time - read a few pages of a religious work. Left about 12 by train for Geelong. Read during the greater part of the way. Soon after arriving at the Presbytery I recited Vespers and Compline and Matins with Lauds for the following day. Wrote to the Vicar-General. After dinner drove out for a short time. At 7 attended night prayers. Conversed some time with the Clergy. About 10 [I] retired - prepared for bed. Read a few pages of an interesting work when in bed.

Tuesday September 20th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - Hours - celebrated Mass at the Convent. Thanksgiving. Left for Melbourne by the 2 o'clock train. Recited Vespers and Compline - Matins and Lauds - then read the remainder of the journey the Dublin Review. Arrived at the house a little before 4.30. Dinner. At 7 attended night prayers - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Returned home about 8. Read for a half[- hour]. Conversed with the Vicar-General until 9.30. Then to bed.

Wednesday September 21st. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 7 Mass - Hours - Confessions - meditation. Business up to 10.30. Left for Geelong by the midday train. Read nearly the whole of the way. Recited Vespers and Compline with Matins and Lauds after arriving at the Presbytery. After dinner and before studied in preparation for the introductory discourse of the retreat or Mission. At 7 night prayers - gave instruction on the advantages of a Mission or Spiritual Retreat - the Litany of the Blessed Virgin was sung - Confessions till 9. The Congregation was very large. Persons came 20 miles to attend the Mission. Made my visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Conversed with the Clergy for a half [hour]. About 10.30 to my room - read a short time after going to bed.

Thursday September 22nd. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass - study for instruction to the people. At 8 commenced Mass. After the Holy Communion preached. The Congregation at the 7 o'clock and this Mass large. Confessions were heard from 7 to 9. After breakfast recited Hours - made my meditation. Asked the Archdeacon of Ballaarat to preach in the evening as I did not feel very well. Answered letters. From 2 to 4 Confessions - recited Vespers Compline and Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. At 7 prayers - sermon by the Archdeacon and Confessions till 9.30. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother of God. About 10.30 to bed.

Friday September 23rd. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass and instruction to the people. At 8 o'clock Mass delivered a short discourse after the post-Communion - thanksgiving. Breakfast. Hours - meditation. Wrote letters - read correspondence and replied. Took a short walk. Confessions from 2 to 4. Dinner at 4. After dinner Vespers Compline and Matins with Lauds for tomorrow. Studied for instruction to the people at the evening devotions. I feel very unwell. However I delivered a short discourse before the Litany. The attendance was large. Our Confessions kept us occupied until past 10. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Mother of God. To bed about 11. Read a little of a religious book before going to sleep.

Saturday September 24th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. At 8 o'clock Mass. A large number received the Holy Communion. Heard Confessions nearly all through the day. Studied during the intervals and recited the Divine Office for tomorrow. In the evening Confessions from 8.30 to 11. Night prayers - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. Retired to my room about 11. 15 and to bed soon after.

Sunday September 25th. Morning prayers - Hours - study - preparation for Mass. At 11 o'clock Mass preached after the Holy Communion. About 800 received during the Mission. It was 1 when I took breakfast. Meditation. Took a walk in the garden. Visited the Church at 3 - when the children were assembled for Catechism. Studied for an hour. Recited Vespers Compline and Matins and Lauds for tomorrow. Read till dinner time the life of St Peter Alcantara. At 7 assisted at Vespers and gave solemn Benediction. This concluded the Mission - the Church was crowded. About 10 night prayers - bed.

Monday September 26th. Morning prayers. Left 5 minutes past 8 by train for Melbourne. Recited Hours - made my meditation. After this read a work on America the remainder of the journey. On my arrival in Melbourne read my correspondence - answered letters and did other business. About 1.30 visited Abbotsford. At 3 attended a meeting of the Council of the University - this occupied two hours. Dinner at a quarter past 5. Heard of Fr. Quinlan's death. Will attend the Office and Requiem Mass for his repose tomorrow. R.I.P. About 6 went to St Francis. Recited Matins and Lauds - joined in night prayers in the Church - heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and Mother of God. Home. Read for some time. About 9.30 retired.

Tuesday September 27th. Morning prayers. Left by the first train for Castlemaine accompanied by Frs England and Barry. Arrived there a little before 10. Commenced the Office of the dead soon after our arrival. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr Barry. About 12 Clergymen were present. Returned to Melbourne by the 1 train. Recited Vespers Compline and Matins and Lauds during the journey. Read a few pages of an interesting work on America. Dinner at 4.30. Attended night prayers in St Francis - at 7 heard Confessions. Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Mother of God. Home about 8. Read till 9. To bed about 10.

Wednesday September 28th. Morning prayers - Hours - preparation for Mass. Celebrated Mass at 7.30 at Abbotsford. Thanksgiving - went to St Francis - heard Mass - made meditation - heard a few Confessions. Business and answering letters occupied me in the office up to 12. Walked home. I do not feel well today. Busy up to 2. Visited the Convent of Mercy for a few minutes. Returned home and read till 4 - recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner at the usual time. A little past 6 drove to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother of God. Got home by 8 - read for near an hour. To bed about 9.30.

Thursday September 29th. Morning prayers - preparation for Mass. A little before 7 celebrated Mass in the College Chapel - thanksgiving made, went to St Francis. Heard Mass, recited Hours, made my meditation - heard a few Confessions. Business in the Office until 11.30. Wrote to the Clergy urging the necessity of making without further delay the annual collection for the Orphanage. Walked home. Read and studied from 12 to 1.30. Then visited the new Orphanage with the Vicar-General of Hobart-town. Returned a little before 4. Recited Vespers and Compline - after this read till the bell rang for dinner. At a quarter past 6 went to St Francis. Weather wet and squally. Recited Matins and Lauds - attended night prayers - heard Confessions - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother of God. Returned a little past 8 - read for some time, had to take medicine. About 9.30 to bed.

Friday September 30th. Morning prayers. Went to St Francis - heard Mass - recited Hours, made my meditation, heard a few Confessions. Engaged in the office up to 12. Walked home. Wrote till a quarter past 1. Drove to Pentridge accompanied by the Vicar-General of Hobart-town. Got back home a little before 4 - recited Vespers and Compline. Dinner. A little past 6 went to St Francis - recited Matins and Lauds, attended night prayers, heard Confessions - visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother of God. On my return home about 8 read for a half hour. At 9.30 to bed.