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fReghtered at the CI.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as Newspaper)
No. 2934
Rite Bishop With 150 'Wives' OfSpecial Carmelites Have You Room Ends Grand Mission Life The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be solemnly observed in the parish of Hilton Park on Sunday, July 17. Pope Pius XII, of saintly memory, did not take from the Carmelite Order its centuries-old privilege of commemorating the Feast of
One of the most remarkable missionary careers in this country closed on July 12 with the death in Sydney of Bishop Francis Xavier Gsell, M.S.C., former Bishop of Derwin, at the age of 87 years. Born in Alsace-Lorraine and Bishop's throne were the deceased Bishop entered the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He was sent to Australia in
1873,
as a young priest of 24 years and for three Years taught dogmatic theology and scripture to the seminarians of his congregation at Kensington, Sydney. Volunteering for the missions, he. was posted to Port Moresby in 1900. When, in 1906, the area was entrusted to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Father Gsell was sest4 to Darwin as Adminstrator Apostolic. His first interest was in education and with two Brothers whom he had brought from New Guinea, he helped build a convent. To this, three years after his arrival, came the Sisters of the Missionaries of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Of equal concern were the aborigines whose miserable tribal laws on marriage distressed him. Young native girls were betrothed at birth to old men. After intensive study of tribal law and customs, Father Gsell evolved a plan to liberate the girls. Under native law it was possible to "purchase" wives. Father Gsell entered into the bargaining. With tea, flour, sugar, etc., he "purchased" young girls from their prospective husbands and settled them at the Bathurst Island Mission, which he established 60 miles north of Darwin in 1911.
Here the girls were free to marry of their own choice in later years. As a result, the native population ceased to decline. It is not certain how many
young native girls were but Bishop "purchased," Gsell got the title of "The Bishop with 150 wives." Presiding over the largest bishopric in the world and the oldest in Australia, extiptiding Vie yend
1,000 miles south Alice Springs, and
including Thursday Island, Bishop Gsell travelled for
days-by horse, camel, canoe and on foot-to reach outlying districts. In the middle seventies,
the population of the entire territory numbered scarcely two thousand. By 1919, however, it had so increased in Darwin itself that it became necessary to add a new sanctuary and transepts to St. Mary's Church. In the same year a cyclone practically wiped out Bathurst Island Mission. All the buildings had to he re. erected. In 1938 Father Gsell was named a n d consecrated Bishop of Darwin. February 19, 1942, saw the first bombs dropped on Australian soil-at Darwin. In the ensuing 18 months there were 65 air -raids. St. Mary's Church was extensively damaged, windowless, with roof and walls pierced with shrapnel. For all that the high altar
damaged, the church remained open all through the war years. Often as many as twenty Masses were offered there on morning, aftera Sunday noon and evening. Worshippers of many nationalities filled its pews. British, American and Dutch servicemen exclusively comprised the congregation. As a result of the tax on American accommodation, Army engineers voluntarily enlarged the nave, which added to the size, but not the beauty of St. Mary's. The civilians returned after the war and a vigorous parochial life was revived. By 1946 the population was
Our Lady of Mount Carmel with a solemn octave. Thus, the Carmelite Fathers at Hilton Park have instituted in the West their
-
5,000.
Two new chapels, converted from army huts, were opened to serve the settlements of Nightcliff and
Para p. In 1935 Bishop Gsell had received the O.B.E. far his work among the Darwin aborigines. In 1946, the year of his golden jubilee as a priest, he revisited his homeland. In the same year the Commonwealth Government resumed absolutely 90 square miles of land around Darwin, including all freehold titles of the area. No more freehold titles would be granted to anyone. The only title to land tenure would be a 99 -year leasehold. By this Bill the Catholic Church of Darwin would have been deprived of all its freehold property and denied the right to acquire any other freehold property in its place. Bishop G sell protested vigorously against the injustice and as a result of his
sustained
opposition
t h e
Late Bishop Gsell measure was drePPod This spirit of fortitude and
resolution characterised
Bishop Gseli's entire missionary career. For example, he laboured for 15 years to win the confidence of the Bathurst Island natives and to attract them to Christianity. At the end of that time he could claim only a hundred baptisms, mostly administered to dying natives. In 1948, at the age of 71 years, Bishop Gsell laid down the burdens of office and retired to Sydney. For his missionary servic,., in the outback Bishop Gsell in 1952 received from the French Government t h e Legion of Honour. Replying to an address of welcome on his return to Darwin in July, 1948, after a visit to Europe, Bishop Gsell said: "If my wish is satisfied, it will be in the
Northern Territory that I will die, for the Northern Territory is my home and has been for forty years. . I hope that my Lord will grant that I lay down .
my life here." Such was not God's will, but Bishop Gsell has written an indelible chapter in our missionary history. The new Cathedral rising in Darwin will be his memorial, as well as the love and gratitude in hundreds of native hearts. May he rest in peace.
VOCATIONS POSTER COMPETITION An excellent entry was received for the Vocations Poster Competition, for which entries closed in June. The judges wish to announce the following
venerable practice of transferring, as they do in the Eastern States, the solemn commemoration of the feast from the day itself, July 16, to the Sunday within the octave. This affords greater opportunity to the faithful to participate more fully in the annual commemoration of the feast. The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Scapular of Mount Carmel is at the beautiful church of the Carmelite Fathers, Middle Park, Melbourne, Victoria. The Masses at Hilton Park at 7 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, will be offered according to the Carmelite Rite. There will be solemn devotions, including a procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Very Rev. W. J. Cagney, Superior of the Oblate Community, Lesmurdie, will preach the festive sermon. The choir of St. Patrick's, Fremantle, will be present. The Carmelite Fathers invite all religious and faithful to be present on Sunday afternoon, July 17, to make the function worthy of the Holy Mother of Carmel.
Girls' Movement Chaplain Here Rev. B. Burke, national chaplain of the Young Christian Workers (Girls) Movement, arrived in Perth last Monday night, July 11, to stay for a fortnight. Father Burke has a wide knowledge of the work of the lay apostolate both in Australia and overseas. This is his first official visit to Western Australia. During his stay he will become acquainted with the local
results:
The Town Hall is opposite.
For Just One More!
A request by the Director of Child Welfare in W.A. has been made to His Grace the Archbishop. In this request, Mr. McCall has asked that the attention of the Catholic people be drawn to the need of finding suitable Catholic homes and foster parents for Catholic children who have become State wards.
Most of the children are quite young, some are only four -year -olds. Through no fault of theirs, they are homeless and parentless.
Catholic parents who will be willing to make a sacrifice to assure these children of a chance in life are requested to write to Very Rev. Mgr. M. McKeon, Catholic Migration and Welfare Assoc., Catholic Centre, Victoria-sq., Perth.
Collectors Are Sought For Drive For Funds For Native Children Permission has been received from the Chief Secretary's Department to conduct a Street Appeal on behalf of our native children at St. Francis Xavier's Native Mission, WanAs the success of such an appeal depends entirely on the number of people who make themselves available to collect on that day, some readers may sacrifice some of their time to assist the appeal by collecting before work, during the morning or during the lunch-hour. By doing so, they will be assisting in a practical way in the work of those who care for 98 native and halfcaste children who have found a home at Wandering
MiSsion.
Any person who can help to fill in the slip below and return to Very Rev. Mgr. McKeon, Catholic Centre, Victoria -square. Tins and badges may be picked up at the Sportsmen's Council rooms, Second Floor, A.N.Z. Bank building (oppo-
I shall be pleased to collect on Friday, August 5, for the St. Francis Xavier's Native Mission, between the hours of (please cross out times not applicable):
--2' -
8 a.m. 10 a.m. 12 noon 2
10
a.m.
14.noon
p.m.
4
pm .
.
p.m.
Please state if you desire any special position in the city. Name ..
.
is asked
site Commonwealth Bank, Murray -street, Perth, on Wednesday, August 3, and Thursday. August 4, from 9.30 a.m. to
5
Friday, August
p.m., and on 5, from 8
a.m.
Proved Popular, Draws Crowds
movement and will visit Bunbury to consult with His Lordship Dr. Goody, the Episcopal Chairman of the Girls Y.C.W. On Tuesday, July 19, Father Burke will meet priests associated with the Y.C.W. at a special gathering in the Catholic Centre. This meeting will be attended by the international organiser of the Y.C.W., Rene Delecluse.
-------
dering, on Friday, August 5.
Youth Dance Has
SECONDARY STUDENTS
First Prize: Madeleine Drenth, Sacred Heart School, Mundaring. Second Prize: Rita Garnicelli, St. Gertrude's College, New Norcia. The judges wished to commend the entries of Jenny Brophy and Susan Edwards, both of Loreto, Nedlands, in which the art work was of a very high order, but which lacked the simplicity and directness of a poster, and also the entries of Marianne Little and Mary Winterbourne. both of Sacred Heart High School, Highgate. PRIMARY STUDENTS First Prize: Jennifer Allen, Santa Maria College, Attadale. Second Prize: Eileen O'Grady, St. Munchin's School, Gosnells. Also commended was the entry of the youngest entrant, Geraldine Doogue, of Santa Maria. The competition produced a great variety of ideas, and more than fulfilled expectations of directing the minds and imaginations of children towards the subject of vocations. A small selection of the entries will be retained by the committee. Other entries may be picked up at the Catholic Education Office, Catholic Centre, Victoria Square, Perth. Vocations Week for 1960 will be held from Sunday, July 24, to Sunday, July 31.
602 HAY STREET
Perth, Thursday, July 14, 1960
The Saturday night Catholic Dance has now been running successfully for two months at the Y.A.L. Ballroom, Perth. Good crowds have attended regularly on each occasion, and one feature noted has been the number of newcomers from Saturday to Saturday. The dance is run on a weekly basis on every Saturday night the Y.A.L. Ballroom is available. The programme includes mainly modern dancing with a few old-time added to cater for all. Drinks, cigarettes and sweets can be obtained upstairs at the hall and dancing is from 8 to 11.30 p.m. Now that arrangements have been made with two excellent dance bands, attendances are expected to soar.
Address ..
Institutions Get Lotteries Quota Eleven Catholic institutions benefited from the State Lotteries Commission during the quarter ended June 30. From a total of £79,899 distributed by the Charities Commission, £14,879 was received by these eleven institutions. They were the Pallottine Mission Balgo, the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Vincent's Hospice, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Clontarf Orphanage, the Good Shepherd Convent, St. Vincent's Foundling Home, Tardun Agricultural School, Nazareth House and Boys' Town.
Guildford Fete At 8 p.m. on Thursday. July 21, the first committee meeting will be held to plan the fete in aid of the Daughters of Charity. All committee members and others interested in charitable works are asked to attend at the Hospice of the Daughters of Charity, Guildford. The fete will be held in September.