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

The number of clergymen at present in the diocese is six: two in Melbourne with myself, one at Geelong, one at Belfast, one at Portland and one at Kilmore. The last named mission has no salary as yet attached to it. In the Seminary there are four Ecclesiastical students of great promise.

Early last year a Society was established by me, to which I gave the name of the Catholic Association, for the purpose of providing means to supply the Mission with Clergymen from home. This Society has been most successful. I have already been enabled through its exertions to remit by the Vicar General, who visited Europe last year with my permission, four hundred pounds to pay the passage of four priests to the Diocese, one of which number, and the first procured for the Mission by the liberality of the Association, arrived in Melbourne on last Saturday, May 11th 1850. His services being much required at Portland, I immediately appointed him to that Mission, for which he leaves on tomorrow, May 16th, via Geelong. It is my intention to proceed after him to Geelong on Monday next 20th May, and accompany him as far as Colac.

The names of the priests attached to the Diocese are: Very Rev Dr Geoghegan Vicar-General, Rev Dean Coffey, and Dean Fitzpatrick, Reverends Thos. Slattery, Downing, Clark and Roe - the last person has been affiliated for the diocese, and having this morning promised to me and my successors, obedience etc., I gave him the faculties of the Diocese of Melbourne, and Vicariate of Victoria, or Port Phillip. On the Feast of Pentecost 1849, I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to ninety persons, adults and children.