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THE CATHOLIC LEADER: JANUARY 14, 1937 PRESENTATION CONVENT, MURGON. Blessed and Opened by His Grace the Archbishop. ––––––––0–––––––– Sunday last was the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the parish of Murgon, and, therefore, it was fitting that that day should have been chosen as the day on which the ceremony of blessing and opening the new Convent for the Presentation Sisters should have been performed. The new Convent occupies a commanding position overlooking the town, and in the layout of the building full advantage is taken of the site to obtain ample light and maximum ventilation, the delightful airy dormitories being a feature of the planning. The main portion of the building is of two storeys, the ground floor comprising chapel, reception room, office, music room, boarders’ dining room and study, and nuns’ dining room, while on the first floor are two spacious dormitories, well appointed bath rooms and accommodation for the staff of Sisters. A single storey portion at the rear houses the kitchen, maid’s bed-room and bath room and the laundry. Verandahs and balconies afford protection from the heat and weather on the western and southern sides. The building is replete with every modern convenience, including electric refrigeration and septic installation. The Archbishop celebrated the 8 o’clock Mass, at which the members of the Holy Name Society made their monthly general Holy Communion, Father Cullen and Father Cahill meanwhile celebrating Masses at Wondai and Kilkivan respectively. His Grace presided at the 11 o’clock Mass at Murgon, which was celebrated by Rev. Father Cahill, and the music of which was supplied by the choir from Wondai. Sisters Welcomed. After the Mass the Blessed Sacrament was removed and the congregation resolved itself into a meeting to welcome the Sisters, six of whom, including Rev. Mothers Ursula and Patrick, were present. In introducing the various speakers, Rev. Father Cullen P.P., recalled the old saying: “Actions speak louder than words.” He asked the Sisters to bear in mind that the actions of the people of the parish in providing a home where they could live in some small measure of comfort, and a school where they could teach the children with no small degree of efficiency, spoke more eloquently than any words that might be uttered. He then called on Mr. T.G. Thorpe, Mr. T.W. Webb, Mr. W. O’Mara, and Mr. S. Dunn to extend a welcome to the Sisters on behalf of the Catholics of the Murgon and Mondure, the Kilkivan and Woolooga, the Goomeri, and the Wondai and Proston districts respectively. The last three mentioned speakers all insisted that the present was an occasion on which not only the residents of Murgon, but the residents of the whole parish might well rejoice, for the labours of the Sisters would not be confined to Murgon, but would extend throughout the whole lower South Burnett district. The Sisters had already undertaken to visit Kilkivan, Goomeri and Wondai in order to conduct a weekly Catechism class, and in recognition of this action the people of these centres had instructed their representatives to promise £250 towards the Convent furnishing fund. About £150 of that amount was Page 1 now in hand, and it was hoped that when the weather broke, the remaining £100 would be quickly realised. His Grace’s Response. The Archbishop, in responding for the Sisters, congratulated the people on the great event of that day. It had been his own great ambition to bring Catholic education to every parish in the Archdiocese. From the day, 31 years ago, on which he accompanied the Sisters of Mercy across the north western plains to the far distant outpost of Winton until that day he had never ceased to establish communities of nuns wherever it was possible. He had not been long in Brisbane when he had the pleasure of seeing convents and schools founded in such distant towns as Charleville, Cunnamulla and Goondiwindi. He remembered how the nuns were welcomed with a torchlight procession at Nanango – and with what enthusiasm they were received at Augathella. They had now three convents and schools along the main line of the South Burnett, namely, Nanango, Kingaroy and Murgon, and please God, others would follow. The Presentation Sisters came to them with a fine reputation. They were the spiritual daughters of one of the great trio of distinguished Irishwomen who founded religious congregations in the last Century. Catherine McCauley founded the Sisters of Mary, Mary Aikenhead the Sisters of Charity, and Nano Nagle, the Sisters of the Presentation. Nearly 40 years ago the Presentation Sisters came from Young in New South Wales, to establish a community in Longreach, and ever since they had served the Church in Queensland magnificently. They now had convents and schools in Longreach, Emerald, Rockhampton, Clayfield, Herston, and Murgon, and they were about to be established at Graceville. He looked forward to excellent results from their work in Murgon. The Ceremony. At noon a procession was formed, and marched from the church to the convent, which was then solemnly blessed by His Grace, assisted by Rev. Fathers Cullen, Troy, Cahill, and Frawley. Father Cullen welcomed the people, and cordially thanked them for the generous manner in which they had supported the movement to build the convent and school. The school was already paid for. The cost of the convent was £2,075, and with furnishing the total cost would probably be about £2,500. He called on the Archbishop to make an appeal for funds. His Grace said that the convent was a well planned and excellently constructed building. He was surprised that the cost was so low, and he therefore congratulated the architect and builder on their services. The design and arrangement of the building was excellent for its purpose, and the Sisters had in it that measure of comfort and convenience which was so necessary for their life and work and the saving of time. The building would serve as a model for others, and he was grateful to Mr. Frank Cullen for having so appropriately planned it. His Grace’s appeal for funds met with a generous response. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. E.V. Burton, and seconded by Mr. C.J. Thompson. Most of those present waited to be shown through the building ––––––––––– (This document was typed from a photocopy of the original newspaper article supplied by Catholic Archives, Brisbane) Page 2 .

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