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1899
23 September 1899
MONSIGNOR O'DONOVAN.
There are few towns in the colony in which our people are better served in the way of church, convent, and school buildings than Mudgee. St. Mary's Church, Mudgee (which is illustrated elsewhere), from an architectural point of view bears favourable comparison with the cathedrals in the provincial cities of New South Wales. The presbytery, to which extensive stone additions were recently made at a cost of some £550, is a very substantial and commodious building. St. Matthew's Convent, a two-story structure, with its slate roof and nicely-laid-out grounds, and the schools adjacent, are amongst the most imposing and replete educational establishments in the colony. The presbytery and ecclesiastical buildings occupy the best site in Mudgee beyond doubt, and are situate at the intersection of Church and Market streets. To Mgr. O'Donovan, who has had charge of Mudgee for 31 years - he arrived here in April, 1868, from Orange - as well as the zeal and generosity of the faithful, Mudgee is indebted for this highly satisfactory state of affairs. The presbytery, with its tastefully-laid-out garden in front, the clean-shaven lawn and trimmed flower-beds, and carriage drive at the side lined with avenues of trees, makes a striking picture. Suspended from the walls of the sitting-room, which is illustrated elsewhere, are holy pictures, which help to inspire religious sentiments and stir the seeds of faith into life. The furniture is so simple it cannot be called luxurious, and yet it is arranged so to impart an air of taste and elegance to the place. There, within the four walls, are collected copies of prints of many labouring minds. One, a striking picture, is a print of 'The Laocoon,' a wonderful piece of statuary treasured at the Vatican. Readers of Byron will remember his reference to this work of art in his 'Childe Harold.' "Turning to the Vatican, go see, Laocoon's torture dignifying pain," &c., &c. Another picture worthy of note is one taken from a celebrated piece of statuary, St. Cecilia, which is under the High Altar of the church of that name outside Rome. The whole place, this room with its well-chosen pictures and draperies, the exquisite tints of a few simple ornaments, which looked very pretty in the yellow light filtering through the blinds drawn across the glass doors; the sombre furniture, a few flowers, which lend to the room a sensation which is enhanced by the pictures and draperies making a warm background, and forming a pleasing contrast to the white ceiling, the whole presenting the appearance of a fairy bower. To Miss Hally, Monsignor O'Donovan's niece, belongs the credit of these appropriate arrangements. In the hall can be seen eight or nine illuminated addresses presented to Monsignor O'Donovan by a faithful and devoted people. The library is well stocked with rare and valuable works. The fine drawing-room and other parts of the presbytery are in keeping with the place, a subdued taste permeates it throughout, there being no pretensions to a display of luxury or ostentation. In front the garden is tastefully laid out. Every morning at 6.30 Monsignor O'Donovan can be seen at work here. Neatly-bordered flower-beds, trim shrubs, evergreens, bright and various, rare rose bushes, jessamine, and orange trees. In this early spring the tastefully-laid-out grounds wear a summer smile. Monsignor O'Donovan has done some hard work in the pioneer days. Blessed with a fine consitution and a spirited zeal, he was able to withstand hardships and privations which many less favoured by Nature might reasonably shrink from. In his younger days he was a fine horseman, and very few even now can handle the reins as adroitly or as skilfully as Mudgee's worthy pastor. Probably, as an athlete in his youth there were few who could come near him. A 6ft fence proved no obstacle to his reverence. When attending sick calls in the Orange and Mudgee districts he faced swollen creeks and dangerous rapids alike, oblivious to all personal risks and hardships. For years Monsignor O'Donovan was accustomed to all the trying work of a missionary life and sick calls, preaching, hearing confessions, &c. In his visitations he made his journeys for the most part on horseback, and it is only of late years he has indulged in the luxury of a buggy. He had to put up with all the hardships of bush life in his journeys, exposure in all sorts of weather, his food for the most part consisting of what is known in the bush as damper and pretty tough meat - the sort of thing expected in the early days. Being a good horse-man, a journey of 50 or 60 miles through the bush to attend to a sick call was only regarded as a little excursion. When Monsignor O'Donoran commenced his arduous labours in Mudgee in 1868 the Catholics were few in number. Even now they do not number one-fourth of the population. The church was a small one. Some 27 years ago Monsignor O'Donovan set to work, and the beautiful church of St. Mary's, made of the fine freestones of the district, was commenced. It was truly a big and hazardous undertaking in those days, but Fr. O'Donovan, as he was then known, being a zealous and devoted man, with plenty of discipline and administrative capacity, successfully completed the sacred structure at a cost of £15,000. Difficulties innumerable had to be encountered, but the good pastor's activity and resolute determination overcame them all. The church of St. Mary's is free of debt. In connection with the recent additions to the presbytery, there remains a debt of some £275, and on the convent close on £700. Concerted action is now being taken by the good ladies of the parish to wipe out this debt. St. Mary's Church is not yet completed; the spire is yet to be erected. What most strikes the visitor to the church is the neatness of the interior, the charmingly-designed stained-glass windows, the pretty High Altar, the fine pictures, the elegant pulpit and front of freestone, and many other rich and costly fittings and finishings - presenting altogether a very fine picture. A costly new bell, purchased by Monsignor O'Donovan whilst in Dublin some eighteen months ago, will be blessed and placed in position next November. The church grounds are planted with ornamental trees. Monsignor O'Donovan erected a church and convent at Gulgong; the church is capable of holding about 700 people; the convent is conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. He also established churches at Rylestone, Cooyal, Botobolar, and Wollar. These centres given up some time ago, have been made a separate circuit, with Father Long and Father Barry in charge. Monsignor O'Donovan is no ordinary man. Erect, of superb stature, commanding appearance, and Patrician air, he is unquestionably a dignitary of great power and ability. As a speaker, he can he truly eloquent. Two of his lectures, one an oration on the Great Liberator, delivered in the open air at Gulgong on the occasion of O'Connell's centenary and the other "Travels Abroad," giving delightful gleanings of his observations in Rome, France, and Ireland in 1897, are worth preserving. Monsignor O'Donovan's sermons are practical and simply though on big occasions, such as the opening of a church, he can rise to a high level as a pulpit orator. Generally speaking, his sermons are elaborately simple; he shuns tropes and metaphors, and uses his words and ideas with a wise thrift and economy. He never indulges in needless extravagance or profuse imagery. The words of his sermons are laid before the congregation with a grave simplicity and perfect neatness. I heard a prominent Mudgee Catholic, who is the moot regular of churchgoers, remark that the people or the congregation never tire of Monsignor O'Donovan's sermons. The gentleman I refer to is an educated man, and has been listening to the Monsignor's sermons for some 31 years. This is an eloquent testimony of Monsignor O'Donovan's preaching ability. I should add that his reverence was an intimate friend of the late Right Hon. W. B. Dalley, with whom sprang up a close friendship, which lasted to the end. Before leaving Mudgee, it was not an unusual thing to see at St. Joseph's Church, Orange, as many as 70 and 80 horses tied up near the church, people coming from far and near to attend Divine service. In those days there was a Christian Doctrine Society in Orange, of which the late lamented Mr. Marshall Casey was president, and the children's roll numbered 250. At Mr. Kelly's, Forest Reefs, where the faith is still strong, Monsignor O'Donovan administered first Communion to as many as 40 children1
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