Mother M. Gonzaga Barry I.B.V.M. Her Life and Letters
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MOTHER M. GONZAGA BARRY I.B.V.M. HER LIFE AND LETTERS VOL. 1 By M. M. Francis Tobin I.B.V.M. (Compiled 1923) “What have I in heaven; and besides you my God, what have I desired upon earth.” Note on footnotes and M. Francis’ sources. This publication was originally typed, copied and bound in four volumes. Multiple copies were made and distributed to Loreto schools and communities. In order to make this manuscript more accessible it has been re-typed and edited. Typing errors and spelling errors in the original have been corrected. In editing, an attempt has been made to locate the sources of quotations used in this work. If the source is located, a footnote as to its location has been added. Unfortunately it would seem that some of the sources available to M. Francis are no- longer extant. Although this is not a primary source, in some cases M. Francis’ manuscript is the only source for the material quoted. Images have also been added to M. Francis’ original text. MOTHER M. FRANCIS TOBIN I.B.V.M. 1860 - 1956 Mother M. Francis Tobin was among the first pupils at Mary’s Mount, the seventh student to be enrolled. The school register records: Lizzie Tobin, Auburn Villa, Ararat; ;. 15 years; 5 October, 1875 - December 1879. She entered Mary’s Mount as a Postulant on 21 June, 1884, and was professed on 2nd August, 1888. In the early record of the Institute Members, 1903, Mother Francis is listed on the Mary’s Mount staff as “Dispenser, Cooking Classes, Latin and Care of the Gas” (no electricity in those days!). She taught for a short period in Albert Park, in the early 1930s, then was transferred to Kirribilli, where she spent her last years. From the relevant dates, we conclude that Mother Francis, as a student, and later as a Member of the I.B.V.M., would have known Mother M. Gonzaga Barry intimately. She died quietly in her room at Loreto, Kirribilli, on the 12 August, 1956. INDEX VOL. 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... a PREFACE ....................................................................................................................... d CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................... 1 1834 - 1842 PARENTAGE AND CHILDHOOD CHAPTER 2 .................................................................................................................... 8 1842 - 1848 EARLY SCHOOL DAYS - “TRULY STORIES” CHAPTER 3 .................................................................................................................. 16 1848 - 1850 SCHOOL DAYS AT GOREY CONVENT CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................................. 20 1850 - 1853 CLOSING SCHOOL DAYS RATHFARNHAM CHAPTER 5 .................................................................................................................. 31 EARLY RELIGIOUS LIFE CHAPTER 6 .................................................................................................................. 38 LIFE IN GOREY - APPOINTMENT TO AUSTRALIA CHAPTER 7 .................................................................................................................. 54 1875 “UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS” ARRIVAL IN MELBOURNE AND BALLARAT CHAPTER 8 .................................................................................................................. 67 1875 FOUNDATION OF MARY’S MOUNT VOL. 2 CHAPTER 9 .................................................................................................................. 76 1875 - 1882 LORETO OF THE SACRED HEART DAWSON STREET, ST. JOSEPH’S CHAPTER 10 ................................................................................................................ 82 1876 - 1878 “MARY’S MOUNT” (i) CHAPTER 11 ................................................................................................................ 93 1878 - 1883 SUNSHINE AND SHADOW SILVER JUBILEE. CATHOLIC UNION. NEW STONE WING DEATHS OF MEMBERS. DEATH OF DR. O’CONNOR CHAPTER 12 .............................................................................................................. 101 1883 - 1887 TRAINING COLLEGE. PORTLAND FOUNDATION BUILDINGS IN “MARY’S MOUNT”. EUCALYPTUS BLOSSOMS CHAPTER 13 .............................................................................................................. 114 MOTHER MARY GONZAGA’S VIEWS ON EDUCATION CHAPTER 14 .............................................................................................................. 137 1887 FIRST VOYAGE TO IRELAND CHAPTER 15 .............................................................................................................. 157 1887 - 1892 FIRST MELBOURNE FOUNDATION CHAPTER 16 .............................................................................................................. 173 1887 - 1891 VISITS, LETTERS & PLANS CHAPTER 17 .............................................................................................................. 187 1875 -1891 NOTES OF EXHORTATIONS TO NOVICES AT MARY’S MOUNT VOL. 3 CHAPTER 18 .............................................................................................................. 206 1891 - 1894 THE HOME FEELING OF MARY’S MOUNT EDUCATIONAL CONGRESSES THERE THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS SYDNEY FOUNDATIONS CHAPTER 19 .............................................................................................................. 230 1894 SECOND VISIT TO EUROPE CHAPTER 20 .............................................................................................................. 240 1895 MOTHER PROVINCIAL FIRST YEAR OF OFFICE (ii) CHAPTER 21 .............................................................................................................. 251 WESTERN FOUNDATIONS: ADELAIDE TERRACE, PERTH: 1897 OSBORNE: 1901 CHAPTER 22 .............................................................................................................. 262 1889 - 1902 HOW THE CHILDREN’S CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AT MARY’S MOUNT WAS PRAYED FOR, HELPED, AND FINALLY BUILT ITS OPENING CEREMONIES & SOME NOTES ABOUT IT CHAPTER 23 .............................................................................................................. 278 DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED EUCHARIST CHAPTER 24 .............................................................................................................. 291 END AND BEGINNING OF CENTURY AUSTRALIA A COMMONWEALTH LORETO FEDERATIONS CHAPTER 25 .............................................................................................................. 305 1902 - 1903 GOLDEN JUBILEE VOL. 4 ......................................................................................................................... 323 CHAPTER 26 .............................................................................................................. 324 1904 - 1905 LAST FOUNDATIONS. CORRESPONDENCE LORETO FARM. ADELAIDE. HAMILTON CHAPTER 27 .............................................................................................................. 337 THE CENTRAL CATHOLIC TRAINING COLLEGE. 1906 TO IRELAND AGAIN. 1907 CHAPTER 28 .............................................................................................................. 356 “THE PATCHWORK YEAR” 1908 1909 DEATH OF MOTHER MARY MACKILLOP BLOSSOMS LETTER CHAPTER 29 .............................................................................................................. 369 HOME THOUGHTS 1910 NEW YEAR LETTER. MLLE. DELSOITE OTHER LETTERS OF THIS TIME CHAPTER 30 .............................................................................................................. 381 1911 AT HOME. TALKS TO THE CHILDREN DEATH OF CARDINAL MORAN THOUGHTS ABOUT DEATH. SYMPATHY SPIRITUAL ADVICE (iii) CHAPTER 31 .............................................................................................................. 399 1912 HELPS TO THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. HOW TO REGARD SICKNESS POVERTY. GENEROSITY. CHARITY. ENFORCED REST NEWS FROM THE BRANCH HOUSES. LORETO FREE KINDERGARTEN CHAPTER 32 .............................................................................................................. 423 1912 - 1913 VALUE OF SPIRITUAL THINGS SCHOOL PROJECTS INTO LIFE LAST VOYAGE CHAPTER 33 .............................................................................................................. 440 1914 - 1915 DIAMOND JUBILEE MEMORIAL EXHORTATIONS AND LETTERS LAST ILLNESS AND HAPPY DEATH APPENDIX ................................................................................................................. 479 (iv) INTRODUCTION A few words may be necessary as to the origin of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in order to show how the plans of the Foundress, Mary Ward (the Pioneer of the Active Orders for Women)* were carried out by her spiritual daughter the Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry. The Foundress, Mary Ward, like all chosen by God for a great work, was cast in heroic mould. Born at Mulwith Manor in Yorkshire, England on 23rd January, 1585, she inherited from her ancestors, nobility of character and intrepid faith. Brought up in an atmosphere of piety, she was early distinguished for holiness. She had a great love of God and a very sweet and attractive personality. When she heard God’s call to a religious life she had the courage to respond promptly at a cost of more than ordinary sacrifice. Persecuting laws had proscribed