ST. BRIGID'S NEW CHURCH. OPENING AND BLESSING CEREMONY - St Brigid's Catholic Church - Red Hill - QLD - Australia - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

ST. BRIGID'S NEW CHURCH. OPENING AND BLESSING CEREMONY. COLLECTION REALISES ABOUT £2000. ARCHBISHOP MANNIX AND THE UNION OF THE CHURCHES. The blessing and dedication of St. Brigid's new Caitholic Church, Red Hill, yesterday was the most important cere- mony that has taken place in Catholic circles In Brisbane since ibe opening of St. Stephen's Cathedral about 10 years ago. Furthcrmore, it marked the con- summation, of the biggest enterprise ever undertaken by one priest in Queensland's metropolis. The parish priest (Rev. Father M'Carthy), when he took charge some years ago, recognised that he had at his command one of the finest sites in Brisbane, und be resolved to build their the finest suburban church in Brisbane. Long years of concentrated work have en- abled him and his unflaggimglv zealous committee to fulfil this purpose. The new church is built on a dominat- ing knoll on the west side of Musgrave road, near Federal-street. It rears itself to a height of 100ft., and stands like a great sentinal overlooking from the best vantage point a thickly-populated, terri- tory. Messrs. Hall and Dods were the architects, and Mr. T. Keenan the build- er. The superstructure is of brick, and massive solidity has been combined with climatic requirements. The exterior, be- sides being strongly buttressed, is so de- signed that it will readily intercept the breezes and direct them through the lofty, spacious interior. The extreme dimensions are length 164ft., breadth 75ft., and seating accommodation is pro- vided for almost as greata number as at St. Stephen's Cathedral. The sacred edifice is now the highest above sca level in the metropolitan area, but in the not far distant future a colossal spire will raise itself heavenwards. The interior of the building is even more im- pressive than tho exterior. The raised sanctuary in a beautiful alcove is a gem. Its ironitc floor surface, supported by steel girders, is richly carpeted in ecclesiastical scarlet. The high altar excels any in the metropolis. Beautiful white Carrara marble, blue marble, and Australian red marble hawc been most ar- tistically combined in its design. Two marble columns in tho lower entablature possess bases and caps richly carved and gilded. Surmounting them is a blue and white marble frieze, on which rests the unique main entablature. Six massivo gilded vases make the altar exceedingly ornate. On the main entablature is a white marble sweep nnd caping, to which is fixed a highly polished blue marble shield with a pure white dove flying downwards, golden rays showing from under the dove, and on either side are white trusses. Above the shield is a cap and cross 2ft. high. The arch or centre panel and two side panels are of red marble, and are fixed between the blue pilasters. The tabernacle, which rests on the main altar table, is of solid marble, meausurirng 2ft. by 2ft. 6in., and has a gunmetal door with a model symbolical design of a pelican feeding its young. On either side of the tabernacle is blue marble. Our Lady's altar on the epistle side is a chaste design in bluo and white marble, and the Sacred Heart altar on the Gospel side is a pretty marble com- bination in white, blue, amd red, as is also the communion rail, which, har- monises with the high altar. Mr. A. L. Petrie was responsible for the marble work. The pulpit, of ferro-concrcte. with a handsomely carved wooden canopy, is situated high up on the wall near the centre of the church on the epistle side, and is a gift from St. Brigid's branch. H.A.C.B.S. The organ, which has been installed, by Messrs. B. B. Whitehouse and Co., is encased in silky oak, and in mechanism is the most up-to-date in the State. The wind is supplied by an elec- tric rotary blower. The organ gallery is exceedingly spacious, aud is supported by two extremely massive girders-the larg- est ever used in a Queensland church. Tho whole, edifice is lit by electricity, and the sanctuary lights arc shaded from the nave and aisles. The seating accom- odation has boen provided by Mr. C.E. Oldham, of Rod Hill (secretary of 'tho Building Committee). The dedication ceremony yesterday was performed by his Grace Archbishop Dubig, assisted by Rev. Fathers Byrne, and M'Carthy. In the procession also were the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix (Coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne), Bishop , Shiel (of Rockhampton), Very Rev. Father M. J O'Reilly, CM. (Bathurst), Very Rev. Father Hennessy (Young, New South Wales), Rev. Fathers M. Potter (War wick), R. Collins (South Melbourne), D. Walsh (Gatton), M. Lane (Ipswich), and Wm. Lee (Rosalie and Toowong). During this ceremony the Litany of Saints was in- toned by Messrs. Leonard Francis, Fitz- gerald, and Redmond Byrne. The celebrant of the Pontifical High Mass, was Bishop O'Connor (Armidale), with the Rev. Father M. Jordan as deacon. Rev. Father J. Gowen as sub deacon, Rev. Father M. Lane ns assist- ant priest, and Rev. Father Jas. Byrne as master of ceremonies. Archbishops Duhlg and Mannix, and Bishop Shiel, oc- cupied seats on the Gospel side of the sanctuary, and among the priests pre- sent, in addition to those who took part, in the procession, were Rev. Fathers O'Shea, R. Walsh, Power, O'Lcary, Col- lins, Horrigan, Barry, Mimnagb (Bunda- berg), and Stapleton. The last named had celebrated an overflow mass in the old church. Green vcstmcnts were used for the mass, and during the robing cere mony the choir sang Wiegand's setting of "Ecre Sacerdos Magnus" ("Behold the Great High Priest"). The sanctuary pre- sented a magnificent ensemble during the mass. The marble altar was beautifully decorated, and the episcopal purple con- trasted admirably with the green and gold chasubles. There was no available room left in the sacred building, and as many more remained outside as were gathered together inside. The Hibernians in regalia, after providing a guard of honour, linked the general congregation. The mayor in his robes was among those present. After the Gospel of the mass had been sung his Grace Archbishop Mannix deliv- ered the sermon. He took as his text, "And not for them only do I pray, but for those als0 who through their words shall believe in Me, that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one; that the world may , believe that Thou hast sent me,"-John xvii. 20, 21. Those words, the preacher said, were spoken by our Lord just, beforo he crossed the brook of Cedrón on the night before He suffered. With His dying breath, as it were, he prayed that this union of mind and heart, this unity of faith and char- ity, might reflect upon earth the eternal union of the Father with His only be- gotten Sou. And looking far beyond His disciples, He spoke that solema prayer for the unity of the Church. Every true believer was to bo incorporated unto the mystical Body of Christ. Surely it was no wonder that many of those who claimed to be Christians should feel un- easy when to-day they looked around them for the answer to Christ's prayer, when they searched for that body of be lievers whose unity of mind and heart was to recall the unity of the Divine Persons in one nature, and to proclaim with no ambiguous or flattering voice, elie supernatural origin of the Church and the divinity of its Founder. In the place of unity they found division, instead of harmony, discord, instead of light and peace, darknesB and confusion. Moro Und more curnest men felt it a shame and a scandal that religious bodies in the face of a common enemy, organised, alert, and relentless, should woatc their strength lu attacking one another. On all sides there were erics of elistreus and humiliation from rival bodies that pro- claimed themselves Christians, there were coniiu'ences to discuss the lamentable con- fusion that was paralysing Christian en- deavour; there were societies formed to dlscusii existing difleroncea and to pre- pare thu way for n union of Christian Churches. Quite recently nn invitation to a world conference bad been issued by a number of Protestant bishops, clergy, and laymen in America. The appeal was to Catholics and non-Catholics. It was modcrute in its language, ndniirable in Its tone, pathetic in its pleading. It was a clear gain when people realised the evils of disunion. It was a cause of com- plaint against the Catholic Church that Bhc stood aloof from till attempts at n union of Christians. She was alwnyR lamenting division, we were told, and that she would not allow Catholics lo fraternise with those who did no1 ac- knowledge her obedience; she would not allow them to enter a Protestant Church and join in prayer and worship to the Common Father of all Christians ; she had no regard for the feelings' of non Catholics, and hurt them to tho quick by her claim that there was no uulvntion outsido the Catholic fold. True she ex- plained that the harsh, cruel, arrogant sentence fell onlv on lho:,e who remuiDeil outside her communion thiough their own fault It was said that the tragedy of tho loth ccntuiy taught tin CuthoUo Church nn lebbon, and that she was now aB ulwavs, unbending nuil proud in the calm discussion of rival \lcvv, those who differed in religion blioulel come to"know one another That ¡n itself would ho u greuÇ advance. Theic must nribo, if mcn nro sane nnd honest, a better mutual mi derstanding, a wider und more Christian' tolerance among those who bud conscien- tiously diDered and who, perhaps, in bpite of patient endeavour, miibt be con- tent to remain apart. Honest beckon, for union could have no bympathy with tlioso who talked of Christian peace, and had nothing but ribald, insulting words for Catholics mid their belief and pr.actin for tho Holy Father, and for a celibate! clergy, for religious orders of men anil women, for devotion to the mother ot God. and to the saints, foi the contps siono.1, for the tnasb, for the adorable sacrament of tne altar, for those things and doctrines which were distinctlvrK Catholic, and about which, therefore every loyal Catholic was keenly sensitive' He had never known a case where u real or pretended convert to Catholicism had biicccoded in getting a Catholic audience to hear him revile the denomina tion which lie had abandoned Honest difference between men at good faith was better than ni union bnscd on the sacrifice of principle He was not speaking )n " controversial spirit. The man who would say that te was prepared to give wuv on this or that article of his creed showed that in reality he had nio conviction, no principle to give away. The onlv pence that would be worth having, tho onlv peaco that was lasting, was that which was based on mutual understanding uncí the "ctvnvictionj that nil vital diflcrencr*, had been removed. The position of thi Catholic Church concerning the so-oiilliil unborn of Churches should not he a matter ot doubt. She had always patiently ex- plained it to all who would listen Christ, she sahl, established on earth one Church-not many Churches Aibove nil and this was what divided her from Protestant denominat ionb-the Catholic Church maintained, and always hail main- tained, that the unify and indrstrdcii bility of the Church was provided foi In Christ in setting up within the Church a roal, living. compelling, infallible, teaching authority, the same now «s it was cm the Day of Ticntecost, I he sitmo yesterday, to-day, anti for ewer Is ron cluriiryr ho congratulated the Vcncrablo Archbishop, Iris coadjutor, Ihuii pastor, and the people of Rod Hill upon that great day in tho parish of St. Bngid the Mary of Ireland. That, church, bo imposing in its massivo grandeur, bo har- monious m its troatment, so sinking in its architecture, was not to bo the offer- ing of some wealthy citiznn. It waa something richer, nobler, moro precious. It Was the offering of jnany fituUifnl, loving hearts. St. Brigid might well tako a pride in her own people and in the faith they had brought from her own holy Ireland. May her church ann their church long stand on that noble site, nn offering of sweet savour beton1 the throne of the Most High God, tho gift and tho monument of a faithful, generous people The Rev. Father M'Oarthy's financial statement was nn follows--Cost of build- ing, including architects' tecs, ¿Lr . £15 -, 000, furnishing, including altars, organ, seats, Stations of the Cross, altar rails, and pulpit, £2500 ; total. £17,500. Amount collected Building, fund, £10 -, 258 : amount donated (furnishing fund). £1100 ; total, £ll 35 S, leaving £6142 due. The collection occupied a considerable lime, and despite tho fact that there were no very largo donations it totalled about £2000. Tile choir for the occitsitm vow spi* cinlly augmented, und Mns conductor iMr Lronard Francis) had over Ml mirent ma command. Mirb interest was centred a" the new electric organ, which limden! forth for tbei lirst tnno, and Its stralni were inspiring' in Htertr «wcwtn"fis an* majestv"líMibS O'KeciIo wau the organise, and thc| chqtr cbosc Victor Hiumnenl's mass oftT'Our Lejdy of flood Conn ii" The Proper of, ¡the Mass, tire Itlaott. Gradual. pOlTertoiiuni, mid Communion were a Sitting hji Tozer. Tho iimn-ipd soleríais 'avère Soprano, Mlsssw Mumu, Kelly, faJW'y'Murphy ; contraltos. Mis«* Tessie 'MQIrohy ami Murray ; turtors Mossra. 77 , Fishr-r nnd It. lljroe , bu*, Mr. Roberts At tho oflrrrairv Cherubim's "Ad to Domino Lcvini" was sung, aril nt the close oí the' moss Air I Hi Fisher sane .Zingarelli's "Lnudatc " THE UAJMQrrKT. St. Brigid's School Hall, over the oin church, waa not spacious enough lo m couimodato all who attended ilia ihuque-i, ami the balconies had to be rcquiaiii<,atd The chair waa talton by ltev FuUur M'Cnrthy, who had on his right, Aub bisnop Mannix nnd Bishop O'Connor, tit«, mayor and Very Rev. Father OIliillv. and on his left, Bishop Shiel. Mr lua tico Roal, Very Hov. Futhrr lleum.i>sv, and Mr. T. J. Ryan, M.L.A. Thi prnais present included the following, in ed'li tion to those who participated in it« previous ceremonies . Rev. Fathere» Oal lagher (Enoggera), Galloghct (Mackay). O'Flynn (VaUoy), K. Murphy (Rosalie), and Ü'Bricn (Boonah). Others piesent wore Messrs. J. Mullan. lions (¡. W. Gray, T. C. Bctrne, V. M'Donncll, luid T. J. O'She», MM.L.C., Messrb. Macn» san, Kirwan, Petrie, O'sullivan, Lennon, and Douglas, MM.IJ.A.. L. M. Bond (pre- sident of the Chamber of Coimuu-cu), nari W. H. Finlayson. Au apology wat, re- ceived Irom Mr. P. J. M'Pcnnott. I S 0 , and a cablegram from Ireland from Mr J. F. Donovan. After the toast of "TI» King," Father GVFlynn propobed thi health of Archbishop Dunne, who hail passed his 84th milestone. Ho eulogist ii his 50 yeurs of work among the ptopl» of Southern Queensland. Dr. Dunne was called the grand old man by all denom- inations, and wab always most eonudcr nto. Tho toast was supported by the Hon. T. C. Beirne, and acknowledged bj Archbishop Duliig, who detailed the lnst meeting of tho absent prelate with Sir Wm. MacQrcgor, when both were on thu point of breaking down.

Type of publication: Newspaper When was the article reported?: 08/10/1914 Publication: The Brisbane Courier Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: regional News Category: Arts/Culture

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