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

This year I paid my first visit to Gippsland. I left Melbourne on the 2nd January and arrived in Gippsland on the next day. A squatter, by name Turnbull, very kindly requested me to stop at his station, and on the 4th I celebrated Mass privately at this gentleman's place. There were no Catholics on the station. The same day I reached the station of a Catholic squatter, whose name was Collins. Here I stopped for the night and proceeded the next morning to Mr Loughnan's station, which is situated on the River Mitchell. Mr Loughnan is a Catholic - he lives in Hobartown, the business of the station being managed by a Superintendent. Here I found many Catholics, whose confessions I heard, assisted by the clergyman who accompanied me during this visit. I celebrated the Holy Mysteries and administered the Blessed Eucharist. The absence of a school master is much complained of at this place. I hope divine providence will soon enable me to send one there.

From the Mitchell I returned to Collins by another route, calling at such of the stations as I understood had Catholics living on them. Wherever I met the faithful I gave them a short instruction, to which they listened with great attention and visible pleasure. To be present at the Holy Sacrifice was the greatest consolation my visit afforded them, besides an opportunity of approaching the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion.

On Sunday January 21st I offered up the Holy Sacrifice in the presence of a large congregation at Tara-ville, the chief town in Gippsland. After Mass, which was celebrated in a woolshed belonging to Mr Loughnan and used on Sundays by the Protestant Minister for his devotions, the Catholics present - in number a hundred - subscribed eighty pounds towards the funds of the Catholic Association. I promised them that I would appoint to Gippsland one of the clergymen I expected out, and this promise I hope soon to be able to fulfil. As yet I have not heard anything of their departure from England, but the time when their arrival was expected has passed by and my anxiety about them has consequently considerably increased. The wants of the diocese, which are ever multiplying, render this anxiety still more painful. I arrived in Melbourne from Gippsland on the 1st of March.