The Catholic Weekly 10 May 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 7 10, May, 2020 Retaval Infants School Boys & Girls: Reception (4yr olds), K-1 77 Franklin Rd, Cherrybrook NSW 2126 Enquiry: Eileen Reyes 9680 4844 Generous sibling discounts on a two-school K-12 basis Redfield College Boys Years 2-12 855 Old Northern Rd, Dural NSW 2158 Enquiry: Angie Celis 9651 0381 Tangara School for Girls Girls Years 2-12 77-97 Franklin Rd, Cherrybrook NSW 2126 Enquiry: Eileen Reyes 9680 4844 Freedom nurtured. Deep in every human heart is a desire to be free and to freely choose what is good. INFANTS EXPANDING THE FOUNDING fathers of the faith in Australia were hon- oured by the Sydney Archdi- ocese via live-stream Mass on Sunday 3 May at St Mary’s Ca- thedral. The day marked the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Australia’s first sanctioned priests; Irish-born Fr John Joseph Therry and Fr Philip Conolly. The priests sailed from Cork on a convict ship to celebrate Mass in the New South Wales colony after decades of hostili- ty from the NSW government; public Mass was forbidden despite the growing number of Catholics among the soldiers and convicts. Archbishop Anthony Fish- ¾ ¾ David Ryan Pioneer priests honoured It’s 200 years since our first official clerics arrived in the Colony Fr John Therry’s cassock rabat, an item of clerical dress, his watch and chalice are displayed above his grave. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI er OP laid flowers at the burial place of FrTherry in the crypt. While Fr Conolly moved on to ministry in Tasmania, Fr Therry spentmore than40years as a priest in Sydney and left a remarkable legacy including helping to establish the first ca- thedral where the second now stands. Bishop Terry Brady, who has an affinity to Fr Therry’s sto- ry, works at the same church where Fr Therry spent many years in Sydney: St Augustine’s inBalmain. “He is a great personal in- spiration to me and to many Catholics in Sydney,” said Bish- op Brady. “For five years, Fr Therry was the only Catholic priest on the Australian main- land and he became famous for travelling to remote communi- ties on horse-back. “He was tremendously hard-working and resilient and really laid great foundations for the Church inAustralia.” Bishop Brady also spoke of the 19th Century cleric’s advo- cacy for the fair treatment of In- digenous Australians. “FrTher- ry also had a great commitment to social justice, pleading with GovernorDarling to ensure that Aborigines could access educa- tion and a good standard of ac- commodation,” he said. Australian Catholic Church historian, Fr Edmund Campi- on said FrTherry’s legacy to the Churchwas profound. “When he first arrived in Australia, he said he’d only stay here for four years, but in- stead he ended up staying for For five years, Fr Therry was the only Catholic priest on the Australianmain- land and he became famous for travelling to remote communities on horse-back.” Bishop Terry Brady a remarkable 44 years and he really became the Church for the Catholics living here at that time,” said Fr Campion. “Even though Catholics in the remote outback didn’t see him often, they knew he was here and he was dedicated to them and would minister sac- raments to them, including the last rites when they were near death.” ARCHBISHOP’S HOMILY P8-9 NEWS