The Archer Letters – Letter Fifteen
Fr Julian is in the Huon district, south of Hobart, where he is giving a most successful mission. He mentions receiving 18 people into the Church and the footnotes give evidence of the esteem in which he was obviously held as an orator. The timber on which he recorded the number of communions and confirmations […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Fourteen
In his letter to William Archer on 12 October 1875, Fr Julian writes from Hobart where he seems to be busy about many things. It seems Fr Julian had delayed answering William Archer’s last letter and had received, with both surprise and pleasure, a second one “tumbling in on the heels of the first”. As […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Thirteen
In a letter written from South Brisbane on 4.12.1873, we see for the first time Fr Julian Tenison Woods using the †JMJ sign at the beginning of his letters. We also learn a little more of the Archer family (both the high and low moments of their life) and of Fr Julian’s time in Northern […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Five
The letter written by Fr Julian to William Archer from Penola on 5 September 1865, merits more than a cursory glance. It is, once again, full of questions and demands of his good friend but, as he says “Who have I to look but you?” He is grateful that William has recommended a microscope that […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Four
On 1.6.65, Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to his friend, W H Archer Esq, from Penola. This letter perhaps proves what good friends these two really were because anyone else might have taken umbrage at receiving a letter in which most of the sentences are questions! The letter does, however, accompany a hair specimen from […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Three
In this month’s letter (16.5.1865) Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to William Archer from Penola. From it we get a glimpse into the number of people with whom Fr Julian had contact. He tells William Archer that he has responded to criticism from Fr Bleasdale, President of the Royal Society of Victoria and asks him […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Two
In a letter written from Penola on 5.4.1865, Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to William Archer in a bantering tone. He will not be abbreviated with his words, as obviously William Archer had been in his letter of 21st! Fr Julian’s sense of humour comes through, as does his praise of the work that William […]
The Archer Letters – Letter One
This letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to “My dear Sir”, William Archer, is rather a long one with a considerable number of explanatory endnotes. However, it is far from a tedious read! Written from Penola towards the end of 1863, it is a good example of Fr Julian’s command of the English language, his […]
The Archer Letters – Introduction
In 1980, Sr Anne Player [1] read 33 letters representing the exchange between Fr Julian Tenison Woods (1832-1889) and William Henry Archer (1825-1909) over the years 1863 – 1889. Anne realised that these letters gave a different glimpse of Fr Julian, situating him within Australian society of the time and revealing aspects of his life and […]
Trinity
On Sunday 26 May, we celebrate Trinity Sunday, otherwise known as the feast of the Holy Trinity. God, Lord and Architect of the whole world, was something more than loving towards mankind. God was long-suffering as well. So, God has always been, still is, and ever shall be out-pouring upon us the Infinite Design, great […]
Westbury Church turns 150
Friday 24 May 2024 marks 150 years since Holy Trinity Church, Westbury (Tasmania) was opened. It also marks 137 years since five Sisters of Saint Joseph were warmly welcomed into the village, having been invited by the parish priest to set up a Catholic school.
At home among the poor
On 31 May 1867, Father Julian Tenison Woods sent to Mary MacKillop the first Rule of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. This became the founding document, encapsulating the vision for the order and providing the Sisters with important guidelines for their ministry. It had arrived! Here was the fruit of their discussions. Sister Mary MacKillop […]