Putting on the nine hole green after the evening meal was popular.
Here we see Murray Cox & Tim Donoghue.
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Putting on the nine hole green after the evening meal was popular. Here we see Murray Cox & Tim Donoghue. |
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 Mt. St. Marys, Greenmeadows. Sun. 17th March ’68. Dear Mum & Dad, We have just come out from a 1 ½ hr. long High Mass. The Philosophers are getting ready to play the Theologians in a game of cricket, but due to the fact that only 22 could play, some of the talent has to stay on the side-line and that is where I’ll be. Nothing much has happened during the week, except on Saturday. I think I told you all about the Sabbatine on Saturdays – where one Philosopher and one Theologian has to get up in front of everyone and speak for ¼ of an hour. It was only our 2nd Sab. for the year because of grape-picking interrupting the others. First a Theologian was called up. I was sitting there very happily getting ready to relax with a novel when the name of a Philosopher was called to speak. “Brother Goodman please”, came a voice from the back of the room. I hardly had time to shut my book before my reflexes picked me up and walked me to the rostrum. Still not being able to believe that it was me who was the unlucky one, my mind went all blank. (I had to speak on Sociology). “Well, last week Father, we were learning about the… the… er… we were studying… er… the… Pope John’s “Mater et Magistra”. Once I got that I was right for about 10 minutes, until Fr. Arbuckle stopped me and said, “What is the difference between a man and a sheep, other than wool?” I thought he said “will” (free will) so I was frantically thinking what another difference might be. However, I finished everything alright and everyone agreed that a fine job was done. The ice was broken for the Aspirants, and I alone can relax every Saturday morning with a novel for another year. We have had a little bit of rain here lately but not enough to settle the dust or green the grass. Visiting on Easter Sunday is at about 1.30 p.m. until about 5 p.m. The soutane fits alright (perfectly in fact) and so does the surplice and biretta. One thing I would like you to see if you could bring up would be a rubbish tin for my room! Not very big – about the size of the tins used to feed the chooks & collect the eggs or about the size of the scrap billy. Don’t buy anything – just bring an old tin. Also, if you are going into town could you go to Beggs & get a large manuscript. (I think Francie has one the size that I am thinking of). This is to write all the music I need for the organ into, otherwise I have 6 or 7 different music books to hurriedly open and play. Also, it will be handy to have the music gathered together when we go to ‘Highden’ next year. My Benediction went very well, and I have an English Mass next Sunday. I was also wondering if you could make me a gauze face-cloth, I think like doctors wear. Something so that it is easy to breathe through but absorbs all the dust. It is very dusty mixing up the fowl feed, and about 3 hrs. on end makes the chest sore. I don’t know how Doctor Kildare and Dr. Findley have theirs, but something along those lines with perhaps an elastic something to tie it on with. If you have not already got some open black sandals don’t worry, because the “boot-makers” here can dye mine – although a lot of students (and Fathers) are wearing brown open sandals. However, black is better. I suppose the glass house is almost or completely completed. What about the rest of the garden? Are you going to plant anything in it in the winter? Who in the ‘Goodman Family’ is in the “Merry Widow”? A sun-hat won’t really be needed now until next Summer. I was rather jealous to hear that “the rain was pouring down”. We have a few more rows of grapes to pick sometime in the future. The weather is slightly cooler which makes it more pleasant. Please, apologize to Helen & Rick for me. I meant to write & answer their letter but time seems to fly. I will write soon. The General Superior from Rome is coming here in May. He is an American. (I hear that he interviews everyone personally). I heard from some of the students that it is possible to go home for weddings in certain circumstances. I don’t know whether this includes Aspirants or whether it applies just in our holidays (which are not in May). It may be worth enquiring about however, but if the answer was “O.K.” it would pose other problems such as how would I get home & back. I read in the dining Room for my first time last Wednesday. The reading was only for approx. 1 ½ minutes. Well I think that is all the news. Love from Bruce |