by
Alan McElwain
CARDINAL NORMAN GILROY. Archbishop of Sydney. told what was undoubtedly the last of all the stories about the late Archbishop Daniel Mannix, of Melbourne. who died last week,
aged 99.
Celebrating a Requiem Mites for hint in the chapel of the Blue NWT': Hospital in Rome. the cardinal said that on his way through Melbourne to the Ecumenical C'ouncil. he called on Archbishop Mannix to hand him a medal Pope Paul had given him to deliver to the old man.
Asked if he had a message for the Holy Father in return. Archbishop Mannix said, "Thank him -and tell him I hope he lives as long as I have", My favourite story about the Archbishop concerns one of the outstanding members of the Melbourne clergy, the Rev. Dr. Percy Jones. that brilliant musician who is trot only a director of music at St. Patrick's Cathedral. but (speaking fluent Italian) parish priest in a big suburb heavily populated by Italians and, if that isn't enough. Vice-Director of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
He was abroad one year when the Archbishop asked his 'secretary. as he did each morning. what news there was in the papers. "Princess Margaret is engaged,answered
the secretary. •
:esked to whom. the secretary replied. somewhat vaguely. -To no-one who is particularly wellknown. Your Grace: a man mimed 'Something Jones." -Oh dear.said Archbishop Mannix. clasping his hands in mock concern. "Not Percy. I hope-.
There were several attempts in the past to lure Dr. Jones away from Mellsokune and one story had it that the Vatican coveted his imrsical talents for St. Peters and for the Sistine Chapel.
Apart from Dr. Jones not wanting to leave. Dr. Mannix always .said a firm "No" when any of these proposals were pin to him. He is reported on one occasion to have told a piratical visitor. "You can take the cathedral if you like. hut you mustn't take Percy".
Healthy
Other seems Iire now proverbial
in Australia . . . A young reporter. interviewing him on his birthday when he was well into the nineties, said, as he was leaving. "I do hope Your Grace, I will be seeing you on your next birthday neet year". "Well". replied His Grace. reassuringly. "there seems to be no reason why you shoulOn't You look strong and healthy to me."
Another time an overseas radio broadcaster was doing a taperecorded interview with him. "Tell me. Your Grace". he said. "to what in you attribute having lived this astonishingly long life of yours'?" Without batting an eyelid. the old man replied. "Well. I have always mistimed it was because. I was born on the fourth of March. l64."
The late Archbishop was :t close friend of the Auctralien Prime Minister. Sir Robert Meneies. a good Presbyterian. who lived near hint in Kew suburb. Often they would walk the three miles into the city Loather a journey the archbishop kept up until compareLively recent years. and. incidentally. he would walk home again from St. Patrick's in the evening.
It was his habitto carry a pocketful of small coins which he weeds! distrilmte to poor people along the ironic_ One hitter winter morning. he say, a rigged small boy, his hare feet blue with cold. Ile took him by the hand. led him into a nearby shop end told the proprietor to give the led a smut nee pair of boots and to send him the bill.
He always like to recount Mae as he left the shop. he heard the bewildered boy ask the proprietor, "who was the old geezer wot gimme the hoots?"
1 can see the old nein moo as I did on countless oecasions. rimerod straight. his biretta so far hack on his wonderful mane of white hair that it seemed to be. kept there by force or gravity. Wet or line. 111.! would walk in procession from the clergy house across the garden-and-lawn-flanked paths to St. Patrick's Cathedral foi the High Mass at which he presided every Sunday morning. and. thet finely chiselled head held high, he would go in procession again when it was over.
He was a noted orator and. instead of giving press interviews. he made some his most notable and controversial statements while opening new schools or laying foundation stones ceremonies Oral normally would have been worth a paragraph or two in the newspapers. but which he transformed into memorable events.
"Fle was like a prince". said in Australian bishop with whom I was discussing his tremendous dignity. And Cardinal Gilroy summed him up perfectly when he said, "He was a great Irishman who also became a great Australian."
Underground
At the same hour that Moss rm. Archbishop Mannix was being said. there was another. in Santa Susanna. the "AmericanChurch. for another notable Irishman. the late Monsignor Hugh O'Flahertv.
It was celebrated by Bishop Ernest J. Primate of Manchester. New Hampshire. U.S.A. Monsignor O'Fleherty spent much of his long career in Rome in the Holy Office. and its head, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani the "boss" as the monsignor always Ca 1 led hini attended. with many other of his former Vatican colleagues and friends.
Sir Peter Scarlet), British Minister to the Holy See. was there as a tribute to Monsignor O'Flaherty's care for British escaped prisoners of war derieg his celebrated "Pimpernel" days. and there were also many of hiq former "undergroundworkers in the big congregation.
Congratulations
With San Silvestro in Capite.
the Church. rededicated. it was fitting that the first fete in aid of it. and the English Centre attaehed to it. should have been one of the best ever. Archbishop Heenan opened it. at the English School last Saturday. and Bishop Dwyer. of Leeds. and other memhers of the English hierarchy in Rome for the Ecumenical Council, rallied rotted.
Bishop-Elect Gerard Tickle. soon to leave the rectorship of the English College to be Bishop-inOrdinary to the Forces. spent an hour or two receiving congratulations on all sides. Abbot Aldan
0.5.13.. ProcuratorGeneral of the English fienedieti nes. Father Bernard Orchard, 0.5.B. (over from Englend). Monsienor William Carew. from Ow Vatican Secretariat of State. and countless other good friends of San Silvestro. were on hand.
I also ran into Lather O'Donnell. head of the English section of Veticen Rsefie. who hed just won for a Modest 100 fire in a raffle an imprcssivels large bottle of !Wien 'a lute. The clergy have all the luck.
Working away as ever were Mrs. Bermidette Morrissey and Miss Pam Charlesworth. who devote so much lime weekly to running the Centre. where many a footsore pilgrim has heen revived by Ow femme, "real cup or Ica-.
I.act rah, millington-Di 3k e end other volonteers who regularly help Mts. Morrissey and Miss t'leirliekwee th were also in charge
ol ,iii
I hope Ilvit when the receipts were el-tented, both the Church and Me Centre received adequate reward for such devoted. unselfish efforts.