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Another Australian Professed as Benedictine On Sunday, February 16, New Norcia once again witnessed the ever memorable and impressive ceremony of Solemn Professioin. This was the day of days for Dom Hildebrand Russell, O.S.B., who made his solemn vows in the presence of the Benedictine Community, at the hands of the Lord Abbot, Anselm Catalan,
(By a Special Correspondent of''The Catholic Weekly," Sydney.) Motherhood Drive. The Hon. James McGirr, newly-appointed Premier of New South Afterwards, Greg became the Wales, is a member of an outstanding Catholic family, which, first Minister for Motherhood, since the earliest days in Australia, has been prominent in its and fought a hard fight for educational and literary histor y, and, in mare recent times, Motherhood He Endowment. has figured in its political strides to nationhood. was Deputy-Premier and almost Premier. He did not allow pollMr. James McGirr, aged 56 at St. Stanislaus' College, Bathyears, is the youngest of a fam- urst, and afterwards did phar- ics to absorb him completely, as O.S.B. He alily of seven children. His macy at Sydney University, gain- it has James McGirr. The Lord Abbot and his Comfather, the late Mr. John McGirr, ing his Ph.C. He worked as a ways retained his commercial inmunity were most happy to welwith his brother. James, came pharmacist for some years, then terests, consequently is a wealcome another member into their out as a free settler from Ire- gained the Labour selection for thy man. ranks, and to witness another land. He married Rachel Miller Cootamundra, and became its young Australian dedicating himThey came to their uncle, member. His political life has Hermes, a brilliant Arts graduself for ever to the service of ate of Sydney University, where Father James McGirr, who, in been quiet. God in the illustrious Order of 1867, was appointed as the first For her prominence He became Minister for Health they met. St. Benedict, which has given so priest to be President of St. in 1941, later philanthropic for in Catholic and Minister many saints and scholars to the work she Stanislaus'College, Bathurst. has received the Cross Transport, then He Church. Previous to this appointment, was married late Housing. of Leo from His Holiness Pope life to Miss Pius We congratulate Dom HildeFather James McGirr had been Valerie Armstrong,in of XII., and the O.B.E. from Orange. brand on his choice and his reteaching at St. John's College, Her father had been atached to the present King. She is very solution to follow his holy vocawithin the University-where he the Education Department. She well known in many organisation. was ordained by Dr. Quinn, the has always taken a great inter- tions, and is a councillor of the We congratulate his parents on the privilege conferred first Bishop of Bathurst, who est in Catholic activities and Legion of Catholic Women. on their son, which is theirs also. appointed him to St. Stanislaus'. charity work generally, The Greg McGirrs have eight and is We were disappointed that they Father McGirr was considered to a member of Cusa and the Le- children, almost all University were not present at the cerebe an outstanding man, with ex- gion of Catholic Women. They graduates and married to gradumony, but they were with us in ceptional mental gifts. have three children, all of school ates-Dr. John McGirr (his wife spirit as we with them. HowBefore St. Stanislaus' became age-Margaret at Santa Sabina, Joyce Taylor, BA.), Mrs. Tom ever Dom Hildebrand had the a Catholic College, it was a de- Strathfield. and James and Pat- Bateman, M.A., LL.B. of consolation of a visit from his nominational 'Theh. . chool, con- rick at the Christian Brothers' Dr. Tom Bateman), Dr.(wife Gwen parents at New Norcia some time ducted by Father James Mc- College, Strathfield. McGirr, Mrs. G. Molyneux (wife Girr's cousin, Mr. Michael Mulago. of Grevoe-Molyneux, B.E.), RayPremier's Family. lins McGirr, and his wife, who The other members of the Mc- mond McGirr, B.A., Gregory McDom Hildebrand was born in came to Australia about 1850. Girr family and their interests Girr, H.D.A., Trixie McGirr, a Adelaide on January 23, 1924. He was a University graduate are: James' eldest brother, Pot - dentistry student, After finishing his primary eduand Norma with honours in Classics, Mathe- rick, has always cation with the Sisters of St. had a great love McGirr, a pupil of Loreto Conmatics and Philosophy. He be- of the land. as he helped on the vent, Kirribilli. Joseph, he completed his secondcame an alderman of Bathurst farm in lean years, and as a ary education at the Christian Next in age to Greg is MinCouncil and a foundation mem- consequence, did not have Brothers' College, "Rostrevor," the ber of the Australasian Holy opportunity of going to boarding nie, who married Frank Egan in Adelaide. In 1942 he came (now deceased). She gained her Catholic Guild. school like the rest of the fam- musical to New Norcia to begin his nodiploma ,and did pharily. vitiate. Early History. His novitiate completmacy for a short period at the The records of all this early He has continued to make the University ed, he made his temporary prohistory have been carefully pre- land his main interest, and is a dren: Mary, She had three chilfession and began his course of who had graduated served, and Father John Hall, very wealthy man. He has been brilliantly from ecclesiastical studies for the the C.M., gives the fullest details of a member of the Priesthood. He is now about to Legislative ium of Music, and PatConservatorand Greg, I)()M HILDEBRAND RUSit in his history of St. Stanis- Council for 30 years. enter upon the course of Theolwho are both on the land. laus' College, which has been Next to him is Margaret Mcogy and Sacred Scripture. We SELL. O.S.B. Peter McGirr, the next memrecently published. Girr, who distinguished herself wish him a very fruitful and sucIn the records of the times with her musical studies. cessful course of studies. She ber of the family, is on the land at Bourke. He married Beryl ter Michael is far than McGirr's Sister a thousand others. Mary Cecilia of the school has During the ceremony the Lord Bryant, a school teacher from described as "facile prin. Convent of Mercy, Yass. Abbot delivered a brief but tell- had rather dwell in the House of been Parkes. They have three chilmy God than in the abode of sin ceps amongst the schools of the Next in age is Greg., the most ing address. He stressed the rs." (Ps. 83, 11). "This is my day. For years he sent stu- dynamic personality of the Mc- dren, Margaret and Betty, who essentials of the life of a monk n. are studying Art, and Peter, at dcnts resting place for from the Girr ever and high family. ever school to He the was educated in a Benedictine Monastery. He Here shall I dwell, be- University ,and his name as an at St. Stanislaus' College, Bath- school at St. Joseph's College. explained very clearly that the more: I have chosen it myself." accomplished scholar spread far urst, and afterwards did pharNext to Jim in age is Annie, stability vowed by the Monk is cause and wide." His wife taught the macy at Sydney University, who has remained unmarried, not an idle stability. It is a (Ps. 131, 14). girls' school till the Sisters of where he gained the Ph.C. He and cared for her parents until stability busy with the business The Community, making use was instrumental in the McGirr their death. of God, busy with the study and of the privilege granted on the Mercy came to Bathurst. and Mrs. McGirr then left family taking an active part in the practice of the fundamental occasion of Solemn Profession, theMr.school, Then comes Jim himself, and and Michael McGirr, politics. virtues of humility, obedience chanted the Prayer of the Mass with Mr. Sutler, with such a rich heritage of Cabecame owner In 1906 he made the first step tholic tradition, although and fraternal love. Further, he for a solemn profession. The and editor of "The Freeman's the by being one of the first three used with great effect the follow- Ordinary of the Mass was also Journal." His daughter wrote selected Labour candidates for burdens of the job which he has ing texts from the Psalms: "One in Gregorian chant: "Kyrie meg for the paper before him are heavy, he will for many years. the Senate-Clack, day spent in your courts is bet - nae Deus potentiae." McDougall take them as they come. and Mr. McGirr's linguistic ability and McGirr, and so and scholarship was a househol a political life was the basis of make a success of his task like made. his kinsmen before him. cord in his day. This old his-
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When Sister Mary of St. John the Evangelist made her religious professiOn at the Mother House of the Good Shepherd Nuns, Abbotsford, Victoria, her parents had the happiness of being present, together with Mrs. Egan (grand -aunt). Before entering the religious life, Sr. M. S. John was known as Miss Kathleen Hoyne, and was employed by "The Record." She was an active member of the Legion of Mary.
After Father James McGirr left St. Stanislaus' he became pastor of Parkes diocese, which stretched to Bourke on one side and Lake Cargellico on the other-taking a full year for a priest to cover in those days. Gold Prospector. Father McGirr here married Mr. and Mrs. John McGirr, parents of Premier Jim. Mrs. McGirr was Mary O'Sullivan, a member of a musical and political Irish family. She was on a visit to relations at Bathurst when she met John McGirr. John McGirr, like so many adventurous men Lf his time, threw most of his capital into goei prospect4ng, and was unsuccessful. In order to see the family over a bad time they started a dairy farm e:th what remained of his money. They soon prospered, and Premier Jim's father then entered the field of property investment, and when he died was a wealthy man. Of their seven children, Jim is the youngest. He was educated