By Amanda Murthy
A collaborative partnership by the University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA) Fremantle Campus and the Archives Office of Perth’s Archdiocese has resulted in an annual lecture series titled “MJ Keating Catholic History Lecture”, the first of its kind.
To kick-start the series on Tuesday 31 March at 6pm onwards is a topic presented by visiting Senior Lecturer Dr Colin Barr, which will specially capture the attention of the local community.
Titled “Catholicism on Greater Ireland’s Western Frontier: Matthew Gibney’s Perth”, Dr Barr will take attendees on a journey through the influence of the Irish in the history of the Catholic Church of Australia from the late 1800s.
A teaser synopsis to the event quoted the words of former Archbishop of Sydney and first Cardinal elect from Australia, Patrick Francis Moran: “who at the consecration of Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral back in 1897 boasted of what he called the ‘spiritual empire of St Patrick’s Apostolate’ through which the faith of Ireland’s sons, ‘like a golden chain, binds the whole English speaking world to God’.”
Cardinal Moran’s prediction would indeed come true. As history would claim, by the 19th century, Irish Catholic Bishops, Priests and Religious Sisters had come to dominate the Catholic Church throughout the English-speaking world, including Australia.
The synopsis includes a brief introduction to the challenges faced between the English Benedictines in New South Wales, adding that Western Australia was one of the last areas to fall under the control of the Irish, after the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth John Brady, an Irishman stepped down and was succeeded by a series of Spaniards.
The Irish would reclaim their leadership control in 1886, with Perth Bishop Matthew Gibney, the long-serving Bishop who had great influence within the community.
In this lecture, Dr Barr will focus on Bishop Gibney’s life and episcopate, and with its story – what is now the Archdiocese of Perth.
Dr Barr stated he would take the opportunity at the event to launch his latest work published by Cambridge University Press, a paper titled Ireland’s Empire: The Roman Catholic Church in the English-Speaking World 1829 to 1914.
Archdiocesan Director of Archives Odhran O’Brien encouraged the Catholic community of Perth to attend the event, citing it would be a rare opportunity for Perth Catholics to learn more about our diverse heritage, which eventually led to where the Archdiocese of Perth is today.
“It has been the mission of the Archives Office to track down and unpack the journey that our leaders and Catholics went through so that we can tell our story – and now we are ready to tell the first one, focusing on the influence of Bishop Matthew Gibney, an Irishman, who played a huge role in various areas including education,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We are so excited and privileged to be a part of this event and hope everyone will come and learn about the rich history of our local Church.”
For more information on the event and to register your interest by 24 March 2020, email faith@nd.edu.au or call 08 9433 0860.