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