The Sisters of Mercy have been the wind beneath the wings of all the pomp and ceremony of hundreds of Bishops’ consecrations and priests’ and deacons’ ordinations at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception over most of the past 144 years. Anthony Barich reports.
The day after Sister Ursula Frayne arrived in the Swan River Colony on May 9, 1846, she and the six other Sisters of Mercy from Ireland “bunkered down” to prepare St John the Evangelist Cathedral, then the diocese’s Cathedral, for liturgical events.
What they completed, as Ursula Frayne documented, was what was to become one of the roles her successors would fill over the next 140-odd years – the job of a sacristan.
In her Sketches of Conventual Life in the Bush that she started writing on Shrove Tuesday in 1866, Mother Frayne describes with photographic detail the task ahead:
“Door spaces with no doors; window spaces with no windows; a shingled roof through which the sun, moon and stars could be distinctly seen; non ceiling; rough unplastered walls; the floor a few boards laid loosely on the ground and clattering under one’s feet.
“A common wooden counter, which some retired shopkeeper had given, served for an altar. A faded green table cover with yellow corners and centre for antependent. A piece of white calico unhemmed which might have been washed a couple of years ago, the only altar cloth, such was the church and its belongings.
“And yet, poor as it was, it bore testimony of the undying faith of the Irish Catholic, for it was built by a few Catholics, the poorest of the poor; some giving their labour, others materials while a few were a little better off as to worldly goods contributed their mite in cash.
“And there it stood, the church, the only spot in that vast country which Almighty God the Giver of all reserved to Himself.”
They sealed the roof with calico, covered the walls with devices formed with banana leaves and branches of the blackboy tree, “which has branches something like the eastern palms such as you have seen in paintings borne by martyrs”.
They latticed the window spaces with other branches, nailed the floorboard down and cleaned them; and a white net over the altar of crimson silk, powdered with stars in gold paper gummed on, with a clean altar cloth with long ends.
They furnished the church with a “handsome” tabernacle, crucifix and candlesticks Bishop John Brady had brought, plus vestments from Lyons, a Monstrance to hold the Blessed Sacrament for Benediction, a chalice and other sacred vessels.
Mother Ursula was clearly proud of the finished product, remarking: “Altogether when the altar was lighted up and the congregation assembled, the church presented a sight not easily to be forgotten. On that first Sunday, the Bishop celebrated Pontifical High Mass with Deacon and Sub-Deacon, Master of Ceremonies and assistance in all the appropriate vestments” – all thanks to the Sisters of Mercy.
While the church was serviceable for now, the Archdiocese of Perth was to build a bigger Cathedral 100 metres up the road – the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception – and the Sisters would have a continuing role to play in preparing for every liturgical event, every feast day, every consecration and ordination. Every day of the year.
Sister Mary Ignatia de la Hoyde was appointed sacristan of the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist on January 10, 1846. She served possibly until the late 1860s.
Sister Anna Marie O’Shea, the Sisters’ archivist for over 20 years, told The Record that “it’s worth noting that a Professed Sister always accompanied the official sacristan each morning as they crossed over to the Cathedral (from their convent across the road) to prepare for each day’s liturgies”.
“On Saturdays the sacristan was accompanied by a novice as the two willing workers washed and polished the altar(s) and sanctuary floors, and treated with brasso the numerous candlesticks – large and small, as well as the branched candlesticks used for Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament,” said Sr Anna Maria, the sister of Rottnest Island chaplain Monsignor Sean O’Shea.
Caring for the sacred vessels, vestments and other liturgical items was a privilege, she said. “I know for certain that at least one sacristan had a sewing machine at hand in the sacristy,” she said.
Over the years, the number of ceremonies and occasions for which the sacristan prepared would be difficult to reckon, Sr Anna Maria said.
They also set up the altar for Mass before the 7am Mass each morning, especially the numerous Masses on Sundays; preparing the altar for Benediction and for the Novena to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception on each Wednesday, which still occurs.
The efforts of these Sisters over the years were heroic, Archbishop Barry Hickey told The Record.
One, Sr Mary Thomas Parolo, distinguished herself by falling off the ledge at the back of the high altar. Fortunately, she survived and eventually returned to her post.
Sr Mary Norbert Greally, in her second stint as sacristan, finished off at the end of 1994 after many years of hard work and faithful service by the Sisters of Mercy. She received a special invitation to the opening and re-dedication of St Mary’s Cathedral on December 8 to represent her sisters.
Other Sisters who have been recorded as sacristans over the 148 years are Sisters Mary (M) Augustine Cullom, M Ignatius Murphy, M Patricia Savage and M Theophane Johnson. Many were Australian-born, as well as Irish.
“It is most appropriate that the Mercy Sisters had a long and devoted connection with the Cathedral as sacristans for 100 years,” Archbishop Hickey said.
“They were present virtually at the foundation of the Church in Western Australia as well as at the foundation of education and health care.
“Their efforts in Perth and around the State, along with those of other Congregations of Religious Sisters, have been truly remarkable and heroic.
“The inspiration for their efforts was always their commitment to Jesus and His Church, so the additional task of caring for the Cathedral was something they undertook with joy.”