Completed 2005 Programme
13 February
Annual General Meeting
(at St Mary�s Cathedral)
The President, John Luttrell, gave his Report in which he reviewed the developments and programme of 2005 and thanked the members and Council for their support and interest over the year.
Grant Fraser then gave an account of the history of the Genesian Theatre Company, which was then celebrating its diamond jubilee. His numerous Powerpoint images evoked the history of the theatre building (the former Church of St John the Evangelist), past productions and company identities.
13 March (Cathedral)
The Australian Mission to Japan 1947-53
Fr John McSweeney was one of fourteen diocesan priests from Australia who responded to an invitation from Cardinal Gilroy to help in the renewal of the Church in Japan after the destruction of World War II. In his talk he outlined the general history of their mission from 1947 to 1953 and some of their experiences. By 1953 missionary orders were back in Japan to help the Church recover.
10 April
Visit to Veech Library
The Veech Library is the main Catholic library in New South Wales. It belongs to the Catholic Institute of Sydney, which in 1995 moved to Strathfield from St Patrick�s College Manly. Hans Arns, former Veech Librarian, gave a talk on the history of the library and gave special attention to the collection in its Centre for Australian Catholic Documentation. Current Veech Librarian Anne Hocking and a group of volunteers were hosts and guides for the day.
22 May (Cathedral)
The History of Catholic Care
for the Prisoners of NSW
Br John Loth cfc has spent the last three decades as a chaplain in NSW prisons. From this experience he traced the history of Catholic care for prisoners in NSW, beginning with that of early convict clergy and Archbishop Polding. He gave special attention to more recent conditions and needs since 1962.
19 June (Cathedral)
Religious Broadcasting by the ABC
Religious broadcasts have been an important section of ABC Radio since its beginnings in 1932. Dr Alison Healey outlined and analysed the changing approaches to religious broadcasting under various Directors until the 1990s, by which time it covered a broader diversity of viewpoints and included a strong journalistic element.
25 June (Cathedral)
Festival of Faith
The Festival of Faith was a day-long celebration of the many aspects of Catholic life in Sydney � there were stalls, displays, singing, dancing. ACHS volunteers staffed a stall which provided information about the Society and sold Society publications.
10 July (Cathedral)
Recollections of the Development of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in NSW
Dr Frank Fletcher msc drew on decades of ministry with Aboriginal Catholics in NSW. He first dealt with some myths and confusion on the realities of Aboriginal life in NSW, including aspects of spirituality. He went on to discuss developments in the ministry after World War II, with special attention to the impact of papal visits. He was assisted in his presentation by Mrs Elsie Heiss who voiced some of the views and concerns of Aboriginals in regard to the Church and its ministry.
14 August (at St Mary�s Cathedral)
A Cathedral for Canberra
In 1929 the Commonwealth Government allocated to the Catholic Church a splendid site in Canberra which could accommodate a national Catholic Cathedral. David Flannery gave an illustrated lecture outlining the long and unfulfilled quest for firstly a national cathedral on the site and later for a national shrine.
3 September
(Mt St Benedict Centre, Pennant Hills)
Conference: The Catholic Impact on Australia
In this day-long conference the sixty-five participants heard seventeen papers, framed by an opening address by Professor Bruce Mansfield and a concluding panel on the question: �Australian Catholic history � developing or declining?� The conference dinner was enhanced by Dr Jeff Brownrigg�s talk on �Sectarianism and Singing� which focussed on Church sponsorship of the soprano, Amy Castles.
9 October
Excursion to St Bede�s Church at Appin
This excursion first visited sites at Campbelltown: the Anglican church and cemetery of St Peter�s opened in 1823 and then the two St John�s Catholic churches � the original of 1841 and the second of 1886. We then moved to the historic church of St Bede�s at Appin (opened in 1841). The Society celebrated Mass there and heard a talk by local historian, Marie Holmes. The minister of the nearby Anglican St Mark�s Church made the Anglican hall available for our lunch.
13 November (Cathedral)
The �Ne temere� Decree, (1908)
Its civil and religious effects in Australia.
Fr Peter Blayney recounted the furore in Australia which followed the Vatican�s ne temere decree on marriage, which became law for Catholics in 1908. He traced the efforts by anti-Catholic politicians in NSW in the early 1920s to legislate against Catholic implementation of the decree.
11 December (Cathedral)
Christmas function
We concluded the year with Mass, celebrated by Fr Anthony Robbie, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St Mary�s Cathedral. This was followed by luncheon in the Cathedral College hall. Our speaker, Maria Richards, then traced the history of the Mater Hospital, Sydney. The Mater Hospital is celebrating its centenary in 2006.
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