By Marco Ceccarelli
The Bicentenary Mass celebrating the birth of Perth’s second Bishop, Martin Griver, was held on Tuesday, 11 November 2014 at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth.
Mgr Brian O’Loughlin, Chairman of the Archdiocesan Historical Commission, celebrated the Mass alongside concelebrants Fr Robert Cross from the diocese of Geraldton and Fr David Barry OSB, from New Norcia.
The celebration was enriched with a number of period pieces of sacred music including Antonio De Cabezon’s Diferencias Sobre la Gallarda Milanesa and Cesar Franck’s Excerpt from Choral No 3 in a minor played by organist Ms Jacinta Jakovcevic.
In his homily for the occasion, Mgr O’Loughlin referred to Bishop Griver’s great achievements within the Perth Archdiocese, not least the completion of St Mary’s Cathedral in 1865, most of which can still be admired from the Murray Street side of the building.
Mgr O’Loughlin also reminded the assembly that the feast of St Martin of Tours coincided with Bishop Griver’s birthday – “a feast which Martin Griver’s parents were obviously conscious of when they named their son after this saint,” he said.
Mgr O’Loughlin laid emphasis on the similarities between St Martin’s devotion to the poor, recounting a story of St Martin cutting his cloak in half to share with a beggar, and the bond which Bishop Griver formed with the poor of Western Australia with whom he worked.
Bishop Griver’s history and achievements were further highlighted by secretary of the Archdiocesan Historical Commission, Odhran O’Brien, who addressed the congregation at the conclusion of the Mass.
According to Mr O’Brien, soon after his ordination in 1847, Bishop Griver was sent to Western Australia by Bishop Jose Maria Serra.
He arrived in Fremantle in 1849 and spent his early years undertaking chaplaincy work in prisons and hospitals in the districts of Perth and Fremantle. The extent of Griver’s altruism and dedication to serving the people of Western Australia could be seen in his willingness to visit Catholics living in the outer settlements of the colony.
He often undertook long travels in isolated and dangerous conditions in order to reach those under his care.
Bishop Griver also took a keen interest in social welfare, opening orphanages and other organisations at a time when the government was able to provide only limited support to the underprivileged.
Mr O’Brien finally spoke of the Vatican’s eventual recognition of Griver’s efforts to develop the Diocese of Perth and care for the spiritual needs of its people as he was promoted to Apostolic Administrator in 1862 and appointed Bishop of Perth by Pope Pius IX in 1873. He also described how Griver brought much stability to the Diocese of Perth by casting away the shadow of its early, turbulent leadership.
The year 2014 has truly been a time of remembrance and commemoration for the religious figures who shaped the history of the Perth Archdiocese. In early March of this year, the bicentenary celebration of the birth of Griver’s compatriot, Dom Rosendo Salvado, born 1 March 1814, was celebrated.
St Mary’s Cathedral and the Benedictine Monastery in New Norcia remain testaments to the achievements of these two great servants of God.
At the end of the Mass, those present were invited to view the historical display under the Cathedral which featured Bishop Griver’s grave.