Fr. Eddie's First Mass

Catholic church, Tarlee, S.A.

This report of Father Eddie Smyth's first Mass at Tarlee appeared in the Kapunda Herald newspaper in 1931.[1]

Tuesday, Dec. 1, will he a memorable day for the Catholics of Tarlee, being the occasion of the celebrating of his first Mass by Father E. J. Smyth, the first priest to be ordained from the parish for many years.

Father Smyth, who is a son of Mr. Frank Smyth, of Alma, received his early education from the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, Gawler. Afterwards he went on to the Sacred Heart College, Glenelg, and from there on deciding to study for the priesthood, proceeded to Springwood. N.S.W., and then Manly, Sydney, where he completed his studies this year.

He was ordained in St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral by Archbishop Spence on November 30. Long before the time of the commencing of the Mass., the church of S.S. John and Paul was thronged, many being unable to gain admission.

Relatives and friends of the young priest were present from far and near, including ten priests—Fathers Moloney, Eirston Noone, McElligott, Alphonsus, J. A. Gatzmeyer, F. Gatzmeyer, Redden, Barry, and Denny. There were. also present five Nuns.

The Tarlee choir, under the able baton of Mr. Frank O'Sullivan, gave a first-class rendition of excerpts from the Masses of St. Cecelia and St. Rose, and were highly commended on all sides for their meritorious performance. After Mass, all adjourned to the institute hall, where to entertain the young priest, and to mark the occasion, the parishioners had prepared. a breakfast, at which nearly 200 sat down to a sumptuous spread.

The ladies worked hard in preparing the breakfast, and no words are adequate to express to them the thanks of all those who partook of it, for the numerous good things placed before them, and for the efficient and speedy manner in which the appetites of such a large concourse of people were appeased.

The breakfast over, a musical programme. interspersed, with speeches, was commenced. Father Noone addressed the gathering, and explained that the object of the meeting was to do honour to the young priest, and heartily congratulated him on his elevation to the priesthood. Others who spoke were Fathers G A. Gatzmeyer, McElligott, Redden, Denny, and Barry, also Messrs. J. Mclnerney (Tarlee). and J. Mclnerney (Riverton), all of whom spoke in eulogistic terms of Father Smyth and his forefathers, many of whom took a prominent part in the history of the Church. and congratulated his parents and sister on producing a priest from their family.

Those who contributed to the musical programme were:--Mr. Frank O'Sullivan. Misses Hahesy, Callery. Murphy, and Pitman. The chairman, Mr. P. J. Hogan, then asked Father Noone to make a presentation of a wallet of notes to Father Smyth from the people of the parish, and thanked all who helped to make a success of the entertainment, particularly those who came from Riverton and Marrabel. Father Smyth, in responding, expressed his deep gratitude to all those who had prepared the reception, and for giving him the opportunity of meeting old friends, many of whom he had not seen for a considerable time, and had travelled up to 100 miles to be present. A spirited singing of "Faith of our Fathers" by all those present brought a highly successful gathering to a close.

Father Edward (Eddie) Smyth was my father's first cousin and they lived on neighbouring farms as children.

Both were named Edward John after their grandfather Edward Smyth who had migrated to South Australia from County Westmeath aboard the ship "North" in 1859.

SOURCE:

[1]1931 'DISTRICT NEWS.', Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 - 1951), 11 December, p. 3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108385842 

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

A Priestly Life

Early Years

Edward John Smyth was born in Alma in the mid-north of South Australia on June 1, 1905. His parents, Francis Smyth and Catherine Fitzgerald married in 1898 and when Edward was born his sister Mary was three years old. He received his early education at the Alma South Primary School. He later attended the Good Samaritan Convent School in Gawler, a town founded in 1837 as the first regional town north of Adelaide. In his high school years he attended Sacred Heart College at Somerton.[1]

St Patrick's College, Manly NSW

He studied for the priesthood at St Columba’s College, Springwood, and St Patrick’s College, Manly, in New South Wales. The Archbishop of Adelaide ordained Edward John Smyth a priest in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide, on November 30, 1931.[2] The cathedral, completed in 1858, is a significant landmark in Adelaide. Father Eddie as he became known, celebrated his first Mass at Tarlee in his home parish. Here is a report of that celebration.

Appointments

During the first years of his priesthood he was an assistant priest at Murray Bridge, a parish that at that time extended to the Victorian border. At the beginning of 1935, the eastern section was cut off to form the Pinnaroo parish, and although he had only been ordained for three years, Fr Smyth was made Parish Priest of that area. He was the first priest for the new parish. 

The people of the Murray Bridge parish farewelled him in the Druids Hall. Such was their admiration for him that they presented him with a roll top desk.[3]

Roll top desk presented to Fr Eddie in 1935 now owned by his 1st cousin once removed

Inscription on desk

Times were difficult in the new parish. In the previous months, several families were forced off their farms because of extended drought. Fr Eddie generously shared the hardship and poverty of the local people and supported his people through their trials and anxieties.(1)

During 1938, he spent some time at Dulwich in a temporary position, but then returned to Pinnaroo until 1941 when he enlisted as a Chaplain to the RAAF. He served in both Australia and New Guinea during World War II, a conflict that significantly impacted South Australia, with many locals serving in the armed forces.

RAAF Statement of Service

After discharge from the Air Force in August 1946, he was appointed Parish Priest of Willunga, where he remained for 28 years. Willunga, known for its slate mining and vineyards, was a close-knit community where Fr Smyth became deeply entrenched. He knew the people well and he made it known that he did not want to leave Willunga.

Retirement

In 1974, due to serious illness, Fr Eddie retired and took up residence in one of the Southern Cross Units at Northfield, in Adelaide together with his housekeeper Miss Mavis Sigston, who had looked after him for many years.

In June 1978, Fr Eddie’s cancer gained the upper hand, his health failed and he died on the 15th. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on June 19.This notice was published in the Advertiser newspaper on June 16, 1978.

SMYTH. Reverend Father Edward John, Late R.A.A.F On June 15, only beloved son of the late Francis and Catherine Smyth of "Hillside" Alma, late Parish Priest of Willunga and first Parish Priest of Pinnaroo. Beloved brother of Mary of 3 Moore Street, Gawler. Requiescat in pace.

His funeral notice was published on the same day.

SMYTH - REQUIEM MASS for the Repose of the Soul of the late Reverend Father Edward John Smyth. will be concelebrated in St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral. Wakefield Street, Adelaide on MONDAY June 19, at 10.30 a.m. His Funeral will leave the cathedral after Mass for the Navan Cemetery arriving approximately 1.45 p.m. No flowers by request. Masses or donations to Anti-Cancer Fund in lieu appreciated. Holy Rosary will be in St. Patrick's Church, Grote Street, Sunday evening at 7.30.

FRANK J. SIEBERT Proprietor G. and B. Siebert

Fr Eddie is buried alongside his parents and sister in the Navan Cemetery near Riverton in South Australia.

Fr Eddie Smyth was my father's first cousin, so for my generation a 1st cousin once removed.

---

SOURCES:

[1]Adelaide Archdiocese - Biography of Edward John Smyth https://adelaide.catholic.org.au/view-biography?guid=12868

[2]1931 'NEW PRIEST FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 4 December, p. 7.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/167057872

[3]1935 'VALEDICTORY AT MURRAY BRIDGE.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 15 February, p. 14. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/167071314

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

A Calling to Mercy

Mary "Sister Catherine" SMYTH (1878-1960)

Mary Smyth was the eldest child and only daughter of James Smyth and Catherine Mulvaney. James had arrived in South Australia from County Westmeath, Ireland in 1864. Catherine, also Irish from County Cavan, arrived in South Australia in 1875. Catherine and James were married just two years later.

Mary, their first child, was enrolled at Alma South School, South Australia, on the last day in October 1887 at 9 and half years old and the register informs us that she had not attended a school prior to this date. She lived 3 miles from the school and at enrolment she joined the junior class. There is no attendance record for Mary there in 1888 or 1889 until she is re-enrolled at the end of 1889 with a note that she had come from a school at Plympton. From then onwards she remained at Alma South until the upper limit of the school's retention age in 1893.

1889 enrolment at Alma South

Mary would have grown up hearing stories about her now deceased uncle, John Smyth, who had been the Vicar General of the Catholic church in Adelaide. At age 15, now she had left school, the influence of those stories and her parent's fervent practice of Catholicism, steered Mary to consider a religious life.

Making a commitment

When Mary was 19 she was recruited with other young women to join the Mercy nuns in Western Australia. This newspaper article describes Mary's reception into the convent in West Perth at St Brigid's on 9 May 1897.

The favoured persons who were present at St. Brigid's at 4 o'clock on last Sunday afternoon had the happiness of witnessing the very pleasing and edifying ceremony of the giving or white veils to four postulants, who thereby became novices of the Order of the Sisters of Mercy. ..................The young ladies who received the White Veil were — Miss Ryan (now Sister M. Joseph), daughter of. Mr. Patrick Ryan, of Sydney, and the King's Co., Ireland ; Miss Smyth (daughter of Mr. Jas. Smyth, of Alma Plains, South Australia), who took the name of Sister M. Catherine; Miss Keys — in religion Sister M. Magdalene — daughter of Mr. Michael Keys, of Ballarat, Victoria; and Miss Buckley — in religion Sister M. Paul of the Cross — daughter of the late Mr. Denis Buckley, of Murchison, W.A. [1]

The postulants were dressed as brides and at the end of the religious ceremony a bride's cake was cut. Due to limited space only the priests got to sit down while the others and friends gathered for refreshments in a "makeshift manner." At this stage there were 14 women living in a small residence while the new St Brigid's was nearing completion. The new building cost 4000 pounds of which 300 had been sourced. Those attending the ceremony were urged to contribute to the ongoing costs.

Mercy West Perth, founded as a branch house of the Mercy Order of nuns in 1888, became independent in 1896 and so the postulants were received there as well as in the original branch established in Victoria Square, Perth. This was one of the principles that the founder of the Mercy order, Catherine McAuley had espoused, each convent should be independent rather than answering to a central authority.

St Brigid’s Convent, West Perth

The convent was completed at the end of 1897 and this description of the work of the sisters and the building was published as it was completed.

St Brigid's West Perth, built 1897

St. Brigid's Convent. — The Sisters of Mercy at St. Brigid's, West Perth, have long been favorably known, for their excellent school, and the number of pupils during the last 12 months increased so rapidly that it became imperative to extend the buildings. This work has just been completed, and the Sisters have now a convent affording accommodation equal to their requirements. The convent is entered through a spacious hall, with reception-rooms opening off and containing the principal staircase. On the ground floor are refectories and kitchen offices, &c, novitiates' rooms, infirmary, two reception-rooms, fourteen cells, and three music rooms, and the upper floor comprises a community-room, twelve cells, and a large oratory. The oratory has a coved wooden ceiling, and is well ventilated with harmoniously-colored windows, and can be approached from the street without entering the convent. Ample verandahs and balconies are provided at the back and front. The front verandahs and balconies are arcaded, and with the projecting bays present a handsome facade in late Domestic Gothic. The work has been carried out by Mr. Alfred Lee, contractor, from the designs and under the supervision of Messrs. M. F. Cavanagh, A.R.I.B.A., and J. C. Cavanagh, architects, of Perth and Fremantle.[2]

And so it was in this building that Mary took her final vows on 11th August 1900.[3] 

Here she toiled for many years.

2021 view of the restored Convent https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Brigid%27s_Convent,_Perth,_January_2021_02.jpg

The obituary

This obituary published in 1960 provides a brief view into her work as a Mercy nun. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Mercy order emphasised the need for working with the poor and providing education for women.

Sr. M. Catherine Dies, 64 years a nun

Death has taken yet another highly esteemed member of the community of the Sisters of Mercy at St. Brigid's, West Perth, in the person of Sr. M. Catherine Smyth, who died on May 8 at St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, after a prolonged illness.

Of Irish parentage, born in Alma, South Australia, the late sister entered St Brigid's after leaving school, and spent almost sixty four years in the religious life; her diamond jubilee of profession would have been on August 11 of this year.

She was proverbial for her kindly charity and her never-failing thought for others- especially the sick. Utter unselfishness was the keynote of all her activity. She has gone to her master her hands laden with good works in the interest of others.

The late parish priest of Thebarton, South Australia, Father F. Smyth, was a brother of Sr. M. Catherine, and Canon Smyth of Adelaide her uncle. It was through the friendship of the latter with Mgr. Anselm Bourke V.G., formerly of Perth that Sister chose West Perth as the field of her religious zeal.

Sr. M. Patricia of St Mary's Convent, Leederville and Sr. M. Oliver of Sisters of St John of God are cousins, as is also Rev. E. Smyth of Willunga, South Australia and Sr M. Rose and M. Marcella Byrne of the Sisters of St Joseph, S.A.

Requiem Mass for the repose of her soul was celebrated at St Brigid's Church on May 10. His Lordship Bishop Rafferty presided, right Rev. Monsignor E. Sullivan was the celebrant of the Mass, with Rev. D Brunetti as Deacon, and Rev. F. Dillon as Subdeacon.

A good Sister of Mercy, it thus stood to reason, is always active, engaged in care for others. Catherine's saying was influential in forming attitudes: a Sister of Mercy looks for rest only in Heaven. [4]

Mary was my grandmother Elizabeth Smyth's 1st cousin, so for my generation a first cousin twice removed.

SOURCES

[1]1897 'VESTING OF FOUR NOVICES AT ST. BRIGID'S, NORTH PERTH.', The W.A. Record (Perth, WA : 1888 - 1922), 15 May, p. 9. ,https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211621709

[2]1897 'GENERAL NEWS.', The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901), 17 December, p. 9 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66690836/6590376#

[3]1900 'DIOCESAN NEWS.', The W.A. Record (Perth, WA : 1888 - 1922), 18 August, p. 8. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/212342690

[4]1992 Ann McLay: Women out of their Sphere: History of the Sisters of Mercy in Western Australia p. 42 https://institute.mercy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Women-Out-of-Their-Sphere.compressed.pdf

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin