Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst is a Latin rite suffragan diocese
of the Archdiocese of Sydney
, established in 1865, covering the Central West
and Orana
regions of New South Wales
, Australia
The Cathedral of St Michael and St John the Baptist is the seat of the Bishop of Bathurst, presently Michael McKenna
.
on 20 June 1865. Prior to this date, the area was considered within the juristiction of the Archdiocese of Sydney.
According to Roman Catholic Church records, the first Mass to be celebrated near Bathurst
, was by Father Therry
in early November 1830, when he was called from Sydney to attend the execution of a convict. In July 1838, the Reverend Fathers Michael O'Reilly and Thomas Slattery arrived from Ireland and were appointed to Bathurst, now established as a new church district and covered an area of 26 stations from Mt Victoria, Mudgee, Bathurst, through to Wellington and Dubbo. In June 1841, Dean O'Reilly visited Wellington and Dubbo, the first recorded visit of a priest to these districts. The area of the Bathurst mission was broken down in size as new mission centres opened. Hartley/Lithgow was already recognised as a mission centre as far back as 1842; Carcoar (1847), Sofala (1851), Mudgee (1852), Wellington (1856) and Orange (1864).
With a Catholic population of 535, towards the end of 1839 work was commenced on the parish church situated on the corner of George and Keppel Streets – St. Michael's. The Parish of Bathurst was created in 1839 and St. Michael's was opened for worship in the middle of 1841, though its building was not completed for a further two years. After about 10 years, subsidence made it unfit for public worship. By 1853, Catholic schools in Bathurst had a roll call of 90 boys and 130 girls. Arriving that year, Dean Grant was to devote eight years of his life to the building and development of the Catholic Church in the Bathurst district and it was his responsibility to raise the funds needed for the proposed new cathedral. Work was also begun on new churches in Peel and O'Connell at this time.
1865 saw Bathurst become a separate Diocese with the appointment of Dr Matthew Quinn was the first Bishop. The area covered by the Diocese changed little from when it was a mission in 1841, which extended from the River Murray to Queensland, and from the Blue Mountains to the border of South Australia. Today the Diocese covers an area of 103560 square kilometres (39,984.7 sq mi) and comprises the territory immediately west of the Great Dividing Range
; it extends north to the Barwon River, is bounded on the west by the Macquarie River as far up as Warren and then by a line to the Lachlan River 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) below Eauabolong.
and St. John's Cathedral was blessed by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr John Polding
OSB, with the blessing and opening in April 1861. The cathedral is located on the corner of Keppel and William Streets in Bathurst and is the sole cathedral church of the Diocese. Commissioned by Fr Dean Grant, the church was erected at a cost of £12,000 under the supervision of local architect, Edward Gell, initially dedicated to St John the Baptist. However, following the erection of the new diocese in 1865, the church was dedicated to dual saints as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese.
The cathedral was built in the early English style, constructed with red brick and locally cut sandstone facings. The aisles are low with an attracting clerestory
below. Gell's parish chuch terminated at the end of the nave
with a small temporary chancel
until such time as funds would allow for a more suitable sanctuary to be built. Over the next hundred yars, the cathedral underwent several expansions. An adjoining convent complex appeared in about 1895. In 1897 the temporary chancel was replaced by a larger one more in keeping with the cathedral's status and it was at this time that the east windows and marble altar were also installed. In addition several structures were erected on the north side between 1897 and 1922. In honour of its centenary, the cathedral was extensively renovated and enlarged during 1960. As the mother church of one of the oldest dioceses in New South Wales, the cathedral has seen many changes over its lifetime making it truly a historical document in stone. In spite of all the changes however the cathedral is today substantially the same imposing building planned and built by Fr Dean Grant as his visionary 'cathedral' for Bathurst over a century ago.
A high nave and a stained glass window by John Hardman & Co. Dominate the west end. The tower, low in comparison to the nave, marks the old west end before a new narthex
was added. The crenellated western tower is decorated by a clerestory, a tableau of the crucifixion and a statue of the Sacred Heart. The interior consists of an aisled nave with rounded sandstone piers and pointed Gothic arches which leads up to a distant sanctuary bathed in a mystical gloom. The wooden buttresses spring from corbells high on the walls in support of the open roof. The quasi-moorish arch and strainer beam is a result of the renovation as seen in a comparison with the original archway. The sanctuary is quite plain with the exception of the Sicilian marble altar introduced in 1897, from Dublin . The sanctuary is lit by two slim lancets placed in memory of Bishop Matthew Quinn, which show the Sacred Heart on the left and St Matthew on the right. Above is a trefoil
which portrays the Holy Spirit. The marble altar is the focal point of the cathedral. After Vatican II the mensa
was moved forward in order to accommodate the novus ordo with the Bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs set behind it. The style of the altar is that of the pre-Vatican II era when the altar served both as the main focal point of the church and as the throne.
The retable
with its extravagantly carved canopy and columned tabernacle in the shape of a church door remains in its place but the mensa has been moved forward to allow the bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs to be placed behind to allow the versus populam as prescribed by the new order of Mass. Of interest is the central panel showing one of the Stations of the Cross
(Jesus falling). To the left of the chancel is the former nun's chancel now used as the Blessed Sacrament
chapel and to the right is the south transept
. To either side of the sanctuary proper are two more lancets representing St Joseph and St Mary. Standing before the Joseph window is a statue of Our Lady and before the Lady window is the Sacred Heart.
In 2011, it was reported that the repair work is necessary to restore the fabric of the building, in particular the bell tower, which has become unsafe. Some of the sandstone from the 1800s has not weathered well and shows extensive fretting and disintegration, while early brickwork, decorative stained glass windows and copper and slate roofing also need repairs. In addition there is rising damp in the south-west corner of the cathedral and concerns about sub-floor ventilation. A public appeal was launched with expectations of raising A$
2.5million with the work to be completed by 2015 when the diocese celebrates its sesqui-centenary and the city its bicentenary.
with regular liturgical services
held in the following locations, with churches dedicated to particular saints:
, which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders
.
The most notable institution in the diocese where convictions for sex crimes have been recorded is St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst
. During the 1970s and 80's sex crimes against young boys and men
occurred, instigated by religious clergy:
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
of the Archdiocese of Sydney
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Erected in 1842 and directly responsible to the Holy See, the Archdiocese is responsible for the suffragan dioceses of Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore,...
, established in 1865, covering the Central West
Central West, New South Wales
The Central West region refers to the area west of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has an area of 63,262 square kilometers....
and Orana
Orana, New South Wales
Orana is a region in central northern New South Wales, Australia. It has a population of 120,000 people, and is the largest region in New South Wales with an area of 199,078 square kilometres, approximately 25% of the state...
regions of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
The Cathedral of St Michael and St John the Baptist is the seat of the Bishop of Bathurst, presently Michael McKenna
Michael McKenna (bishop)
Michael Joseph McKenna DD , an Australian suffragan bishop, is the eighth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, appointed in 2009.-Early years and background:...
.
History
The Diocese of Bathurst was erected by Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
on 20 June 1865. Prior to this date, the area was considered within the juristiction of the Archdiocese of Sydney.
According to Roman Catholic Church records, the first Mass to be celebrated near Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, was by Father Therry
John Joseph Therry
Father John Therry was an Irish, early Roman Catholic priest in Sydney, Australia.-Early Life:Therry was born in Cork and was privately educated at St Patrick's College at Carlow, and in 1815 was ordained as a priest. He did parish work in Dublin and later on was secretary to the bishop of Cork...
in early November 1830, when he was called from Sydney to attend the execution of a convict. In July 1838, the Reverend Fathers Michael O'Reilly and Thomas Slattery arrived from Ireland and were appointed to Bathurst, now established as a new church district and covered an area of 26 stations from Mt Victoria, Mudgee, Bathurst, through to Wellington and Dubbo. In June 1841, Dean O'Reilly visited Wellington and Dubbo, the first recorded visit of a priest to these districts. The area of the Bathurst mission was broken down in size as new mission centres opened. Hartley/Lithgow was already recognised as a mission centre as far back as 1842; Carcoar (1847), Sofala (1851), Mudgee (1852), Wellington (1856) and Orange (1864).
With a Catholic population of 535, towards the end of 1839 work was commenced on the parish church situated on the corner of George and Keppel Streets – St. Michael's. The Parish of Bathurst was created in 1839 and St. Michael's was opened for worship in the middle of 1841, though its building was not completed for a further two years. After about 10 years, subsidence made it unfit for public worship. By 1853, Catholic schools in Bathurst had a roll call of 90 boys and 130 girls. Arriving that year, Dean Grant was to devote eight years of his life to the building and development of the Catholic Church in the Bathurst district and it was his responsibility to raise the funds needed for the proposed new cathedral. Work was also begun on new churches in Peel and O'Connell at this time.
1865 saw Bathurst become a separate Diocese with the appointment of Dr Matthew Quinn was the first Bishop. The area covered by the Diocese changed little from when it was a mission in 1841, which extended from the River Murray to Queensland, and from the Blue Mountains to the border of South Australia. Today the Diocese covers an area of 103560 square kilometres (39,984.7 sq mi) and comprises the territory immediately west of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
; it extends north to the Barwon River, is bounded on the west by the Macquarie River as far up as Warren and then by a line to the Lachlan River 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) below Eauabolong.
Bishops of Bathurst
The following individuals have been elected as Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst:| Order | Name | Date enthroned | Reign ended | Term of office | Reason for term end |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Quinn † | 1 November 1866 | 16 January 1885 | Died in office | |
| 2 | Joseph Byrne † | 9 August 1885 | 12 January 1901 | Died in office | |
| 3 | John Dunne † | 12 January 1901 | 22 August 1919 | Died in office | |
| 4 | Michael O'Farrell CM † | 16 June 1920 | 4 April 1928 | Died in office | |
| 5 | John Francis Norton † | 3 April 1928 | 20 June 1963 | Died in office | |
| 6 | A. R. E. Thomas † | 29 September 1963 | 12 April 1983 | Retired and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Bathurst | |
| 7 | Patrick Dougherty † | 1 September 1983 | 11 November 2008 | Retired and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Bathurst | |
| 8 | Michael McKenna Michael McKenna (bishop) Michael Joseph McKenna DD , an Australian suffragan bishop, is the eighth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Bathurst, appointed in 2009.-Early years and background:... |
15 April 2009 | present | n/a | |
Cathedral
In 1857, the foundation stone of St MichaelSt Michael
St Michael was a brand that was owned and used by Marks & Spencer from 1928 until 2000.-History:The brand was introduced by Simon Marks in 1928, after his father and co-founder of Marks & Spencer, Michael Marks. By 1950, virtually all goods were sold under the St Michael brand...
and St. John's Cathedral was blessed by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr John Polding
John Polding
John Bede Polding OSB was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop of Sydney, Australia.-Early life:Polding's father was of Dutch descent; his mother died when he was eight. He was placed in the care of his uncle, Father Bede Brewer, president-general of the English Benedictine Congregation...
OSB, with the blessing and opening in April 1861. The cathedral is located on the corner of Keppel and William Streets in Bathurst and is the sole cathedral church of the Diocese. Commissioned by Fr Dean Grant, the church was erected at a cost of £12,000 under the supervision of local architect, Edward Gell, initially dedicated to St John the Baptist. However, following the erection of the new diocese in 1865, the church was dedicated to dual saints as the Cathedral Church of the Diocese.
The cathedral was built in the early English style, constructed with red brick and locally cut sandstone facings. The aisles are low with an attracting clerestory
Clerestory
Clerestory is an architectural term that historically denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower aisles and are pierced with windows. In modern usage, clerestory refers to any high windows...
below. Gell's parish chuch terminated at the end of the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with a small temporary chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
until such time as funds would allow for a more suitable sanctuary to be built. Over the next hundred yars, the cathedral underwent several expansions. An adjoining convent complex appeared in about 1895. In 1897 the temporary chancel was replaced by a larger one more in keeping with the cathedral's status and it was at this time that the east windows and marble altar were also installed. In addition several structures were erected on the north side between 1897 and 1922. In honour of its centenary, the cathedral was extensively renovated and enlarged during 1960. As the mother church of one of the oldest dioceses in New South Wales, the cathedral has seen many changes over its lifetime making it truly a historical document in stone. In spite of all the changes however the cathedral is today substantially the same imposing building planned and built by Fr Dean Grant as his visionary 'cathedral' for Bathurst over a century ago.
A high nave and a stained glass window by John Hardman & Co. Dominate the west end. The tower, low in comparison to the nave, marks the old west end before a new narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
was added. The crenellated western tower is decorated by a clerestory, a tableau of the crucifixion and a statue of the Sacred Heart. The interior consists of an aisled nave with rounded sandstone piers and pointed Gothic arches which leads up to a distant sanctuary bathed in a mystical gloom. The wooden buttresses spring from corbells high on the walls in support of the open roof. The quasi-moorish arch and strainer beam is a result of the renovation as seen in a comparison with the original archway. The sanctuary is quite plain with the exception of the Sicilian marble altar introduced in 1897, from Dublin . The sanctuary is lit by two slim lancets placed in memory of Bishop Matthew Quinn, which show the Sacred Heart on the left and St Matthew on the right. Above is a trefoil
Trefoil
Trefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
which portrays the Holy Spirit. The marble altar is the focal point of the cathedral. After Vatican II the mensa
Mensa
Mensa meaning table in Latin, may refer to:*Mensa International, an organization for people with high IQs*Mensa , a southern star constellation*Mensa , a term used by geologists to refer to an extraterrestrial mesa...
was moved forward in order to accommodate the novus ordo with the Bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs set behind it. The style of the altar is that of the pre-Vatican II era when the altar served both as the main focal point of the church and as the throne.
The retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
with its extravagantly carved canopy and columned tabernacle in the shape of a church door remains in its place but the mensa has been moved forward to allow the bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs to be placed behind to allow the versus populam as prescribed by the new order of Mass. Of interest is the central panel showing one of the Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
(Jesus falling). To the left of the chancel is the former nun's chancel now used as the Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
chapel and to the right is the south transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
. To either side of the sanctuary proper are two more lancets representing St Joseph and St Mary. Standing before the Joseph window is a statue of Our Lady and before the Lady window is the Sacred Heart.
In 2011, it was reported that the repair work is necessary to restore the fabric of the building, in particular the bell tower, which has become unsafe. Some of the sandstone from the 1800s has not weathered well and shows extensive fretting and disintegration, while early brickwork, decorative stained glass windows and copper and slate roofing also need repairs. In addition there is rising damp in the south-west corner of the cathedral and concerns about sub-floor ventilation. A public appeal was launched with expectations of raising A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
2.5million with the work to be completed by 2015 when the diocese celebrates its sesqui-centenary and the city its bicentenary.
Parishes
The diocese has nineteen parishesParish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
with regular liturgical services
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
held in the following locations, with churches dedicated to particular saints:
- BathurstBathurst, New South Wales-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
(Cathedral of St Michael and St John and The Assumption Church), and Burraga, Perthville, RockleyRockley, New South WalesRockley is a small village in the Central Tablelands region in New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Rockley had a population of 174 people....
, Trunkey CreekTrunkey Creek, New South WalesTrunkey Creek is a village located in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia in Bathurst Regional Council. It is about south of the city of Bathurst and about north of the city of Goulburn on the Bathurst Goulburn Road...
, and Wattle Flat - BlayneyBlayney, New South WalesBlayney is a farming town and administrative centre with a population of 2,745 in 2006, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia...
(St James), CarcoarCarcoar, New South WalesCarcoar is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, in Blayney Shire. In 2006, the town had a population of 218 people. It is situated just off the Mid-Western Highway 258 km west of Sydney and 52 km south-west of Bathurst and is 720 m above sea-level...
(Immaculate Conception), ManduramaMandurama, New South WalesMandurama is a village in the Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The site of the village and surrounding areas was home to the Wiradjuri people prior to settlement, and the name "Mandurama" is derived from their word for 'water holes'...
(St Laurence O'Toole), and MillthorpeMillthorpe, New South WalesMillthorpe is a town located between Orange and Blayney in New South Wales, Australia in the Blayney Shire. At the 2006 census, Millthorpe had a population of 725 people....
(St Canice) - CanowindraCanowindra, New South WalesCanowindra is an historic township located near Cowra in the central west of New South Wales, Australia in Cabonne Shire. Canowindra is on the Belubula River. The curving main street, Gaskill Street, is partly an urban conservation area. At the 2006 census, Canowindra had a population of 1,499...
(St Edward) and Cargo (St Patrick) - CoonabarabranCoonabarabran, New South WalesCoonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
(St Lawrence), BaradineBaradine, New South WalesBaradine is a small town in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Baradine had a population of 593.Baradine is located on the Coonabarabran-Pilliga road, about midway between Coonabarabran and Pilliga...
(St John), and BinnawayBinnaway, New South WalesBinnaway is a small town located on the Castlereagh River in central New South Wales near the larger centre of Coonabarabran, which is about 35 kilometres to the north. In 2006, the town had a population of 495 people. The road linking these two towns closely follows the meandering Castlereagh River...
(St Peter and St Paul) - CowraCowra, New South WalesCowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia in the Cowra Shire. It is located on the Mid-Western Highway, 317 kilometres west of Sydney on the banks of the Lachlan River at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census Cowra had a population of 8,430...
(St Raphael), GooloogongGooloogong, New South WalesGooloogong is a village located in central New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gooloogong and the surrounding area had a population of 852....
(St Malachy), WoodstockWoodstock, New South WalesWoodstock is a village in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. Itcontains remains of a brief goldrush during the late 19th century which left behind a number of substantial buildings before the village relapsed into relative isolation. It includes a restored railway station, hotel,...
(St Brigid), and Wyangala DamWyangala DamWyangala Dam is a large water storage facility located in the southwest slopes area of New South Wales, Australia. The dam is situated below the junction of the Lachlan River and Abercrombie River. It was the second water storage project to be constructed by the Water Conservation and Irrigation...
(St Vincent) - CoonambleCoonamble, New South WalesCoonamble is a town on the central-western plains of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Castlereagh Highway north-west of Gilgandra. At the 2006 census, Coonamble had a population of 2,549...
(Our Lady of Perpetual Help), GulargamboneGulargambone, New South WalesGulargambone is a village in the central west plains of New South Wales, Australia, on the banks of the Castlereagh River, in Coonamble Shire. It is 526 kilometres north west of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Gulargambone had a population of 395....
, and Quambone - DubboDubbo, New South WalesDubbo is a city in the Orana Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest population centre in the Orana region, with an estimated population of 38,037 and serves an estimated catchment of 130,000....
(St Brigid and St Laurence), Ballimore (Our Lady of Lourdes), and GeurieGeurie, New South WalesGeurie is a small village in central-west New South Wales, Australia in Wellington Council. It is located midway between Wellington and Dubbo in the Orana Region of the State. It is located on the Main Western railway line, and is served by the daily Countrylink XPT service between Sydney and Dubbo...
(Holy Name of Jesus) - DunedooDunedoo, New South WalesDunedoo ) is a village of 836 inhabitants situated within the Warrumbungle Shire of central western New South Wales, Australia. Dunedoo is well known to Australian travellers due to its distinctive name...
(St Michael), CoolahCoolah, New South WalesCoolah is a town in the central northern part of New South Wales, Australia in Warrumbungle Shire. At the 2006 census, Coolah had a population of 798....
(Sacred Heart), Elong Elong (St Teresa of the Child Jesus), and Mendooran (St Mary) - EugowraEugowra, New South WalesEugowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located in the Cabonne Shire Local Government Area, west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Eugowra had a population of 535....
(St John the Baptist) and CudalCudal, New South WalesCudal is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. Cudal is in the Cabonne Shire Council Local Government area, west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Cudal had a population of 389...
(St Columbanus) - GilgandraGilgandra, New South WalesGilgandra, is a town and Local Government Area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the junction of the Newell Highway, Oxley Highway and Castlereagh Highway. It can be reached in about six hours by car from Sydney. Like Coonabarabran, Gilgandra can be...
(St Joseph), Collie (Holy Cross), and TooraweenahTooraweenah, New South WalesTooraweenah is a small village just off the Newell Highway about north east of Gilgandra in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Tooraweenah had a population of 239....
(Immaculate Conception) - GulgongGulgong, New South WalesGulgong is a 19th century gold rush town in the Central-West of the Australian state of New South Wales. The town is located about north west of Sydney, and about 30 km north of Mudgee along the Castlereagh Highway. At the 2006 census, Gulgong had a population of 1,907 people...
(St John the Baptist) and GoolmaGoolma, New South WalesGoolma is a tiny village community in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Dubbo road, which links the towns of Mudgee, Gulgong and Wellington. At the 2006 census,the Goolma region had a population of 31 people....
(St Francis Xavier) - KandosKandos, New South WalesKandos is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Mid-Western Regional Council. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way. At the 2006 census, Kandos had a population of 1,306 people.The main non-agricultural industry is the production of cement...
(St Dominic) and RylstoneRylstone, New South WalesRylstone is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the Central Tablelands region within the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area. It is located on the Bylong Valley Way road route... - LithgowLithgow, New South WalesLithgow is a city in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia and is the centre of the local political division City of Lithgow. It is located in a mountain valley named Lithgow's Valley by John Oxley in honour of William Lithgow, the first Auditor-General of New South Wales.Lithgow is...
(St Patrick) and Bowenfels (St Francis Xavier) - MudgeeMudgee, New South WalesMudgee is a town in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the broad fertile Cudgegong River valley 261 kilometres north west of Sydney. Mudgee is the centre of the Mid-Western Regional Council Local Government Area...
(St Mary of the Presentation), Botobolar, and Windeyer - MolongMolong, New South WalesMolong is a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, in Cabonne Shire.Molong is located on the Mitchell Highway about 300 kilometres west of Sydney and about 30 kilometres from the city of Orange. It is elevated at 529 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census, Molong...
(Sacred Heart of St Lawrence O'Toole), CumnockCumnock, New South WalesCumnock is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the now closed cross-country railway line from Molong to Dubbo. The town is located in Cabonne Shire. At the 2006 census, Cumnock had a population of 288 people...
(St Dympna), and ManildraManildra, New South WalesManildra is a small town located halfway between Orange and Parkes in Cabonne Shire, New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Manildra had a population of 503.-Industries:...
(St Michael) - OberonOberon, New South Wales-See also:*Oberon Correctional Centre*Mount Trickett*Mount Bindo*Shooters Hill-External links:***...
(St Ignatius) and Black Springs - OrangeOrange, New South WalesOrange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
(St Mary and St Joseph) and Mullion CreekMullion Creek, New South WalesMullion Creek is a locality in the central west of New South Wales, Australia, in Cabonne Shire, near Orange.It is a quiet town with a school, hall and church. The church is going through debate about a cemetery next to the Roman Catholic church...
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(St Vincent) and WallerawangWallerawang, New South WalesWallerawang is a small township in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately 14 km northwest of Lithgow on the Main Western railway line at the junction of the Gwabegar line. A now closed railway station opened in 1870. Wallerawang Power Station opened in...
(Sacred Heart) - WellingtonWellington, New South WalesWellington is a town in inland New South Wales, Australia located at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers. The town is the administrative centre of the Wellington Shire Local Government Area. The town is 362 kilometres from Sydney on the Great Western Highway and Mitchell Highway...
(St Patrick), Stuart TownStuart Town, New South WalesStuart Town, formerly known as Ironbark, is a small town on the Central Western Slopes of New South Wales, Australia in Wellington Council. It is located north-west of the state capital, Sydney. At the 2006 census, Stuart Town had a population of 104....
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(Our Lady)
Controversies
The Diocese of Bathurst, like many in Australia, has been part of the Catholic sexual abuse scandalCatholic sexual abuse scandal in Australia
The Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Australia is part of the wider Catholic sexual abuse scandal which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders....
, which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders
Abuse by members of Roman Catholic orders
As distinct from abuse by some parish priests, who are subject to diocesan control, there has also been abuse by members of Roman Catholic orders, which often care for the sick or teach at school...
.
The most notable institution in the diocese where convictions for sex crimes have been recorded is St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst
St Stanislaus College (Bathurst)
St Stanislaus' College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, conducted by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul's priests and brothers...
. During the 1970s and 80's sex crimes against young boys and men
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
occurred, instigated by religious clergy:
- In 2011, a conviction was recorded against William Stanley Irwin, a former Catholic brother, on two counts of gross indecency on a male under the age of 18.
- Kevin Francis Phillips, pleaded guilty in 2010 to four counts of gross indecency with a child under the age of 18; and was later sentenced to a total of 15 months jail.
- Brian Joseph Spillane also was convicted during 2010 on nine counts of indecent assault against three girls aged between eight and seventeen while he was based in Sydney in about 1979, a Vincentian priest at that time. During bail proceedings it was heard that Spillaine faces a further 135 charges relating to alleged offences against boys at St Stanislaus' College whilst Spillaine was chaplin. Spillaine was refused bail.