This letter is written in the midst of a busy time for Fr Julian. Obviously the period between Christmas and the middle of January was a popular time for priests and religious to be on retreat and Fr Julian was much in demand as a retreat director. No doubt the retreat experience would have involved several talks each day over six or eight days. The timetable would have been structured around daily Mass, recitation of the Divine Office and other prayer devotions.
In the midst of the busyness, Fr Julian had found time to write a scientific paper on Corals. No wonder he wistfully remembers that, twelve months before, he had been rambling in the mountains with the Archer family. Now the memory is cause to remark that maybe, one day, when life slows down for good, they will all be rambling again in the beautiful fields of heaven!
It is interesting to note that Fr Julian was a member of the exclusive Australian Club in Sydney and certainly was a regular visitor there during 1878. This suggests that he was comfortable being with people no matter their religion or rank in society. Wherever he travelled, he also remained interested in his own extended family.
Once again, we are given a fascinating glimpse of a man of many activities…
View Letter 19 written from Bathurst on 10 January 1878: