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History of Saint Denis Parish
FOREWORD
This history of the foundation of the Servite Friars
in Australia was written 30 years ago. Those were pre-computer days, so it was
punched out on that now obsolete machine known as a typewriter. It is presented
without alteration and without apology. Except apologies for typographical
errors and occasional smudges!
In 1970 the Servites in the United States were celebrating their centenary. The
then prior provincial had in mind to publish a history of the province, a
project that never materialised, at least in the form intended. He had asked me
to write a chapter for that book, the story of the Australian foundation. When
the publication failed, nothing came of my chapter. It has been resting in my
file cabinet all these years, except for a few occasions when I have been called
upon to refer to it for some talk or reminiscence. The opportunity to make it
available, at least to a limited audience, has now arisen with the celebration
in 2001 of the 50th anniversary of the Order in Australia.I offer it as one
small contribution to all that has been done by us friars in the Antipodes over
these years.
I would like to stress that this work is based solely on legitimate historical
data. In that sense it is an accurate recording of the foundation of the Servite
Order in Australia. I was able at that time, as I still am today, to access
original letters, deeds and other documentation in the archives and files of the
vicar provincial's office at Tuart Hill. Although I did not footnote every fact,
I have indicated within the text itself many of the sources that I have called
upon.
I have had the audacity to call this Part 1 of the history of the Australian
Servites. It would be a fond hope of mine to update it some day. Part 11 would
be called "The Vicariate: 1970 to 2000". The material for this second part is
available in archives and would be much more abundant and complex. What is not
available is the time to do the painstaking work. The Australian Vicariate now
been returned to the status of a Delegation and that wiIl be another story for
someone to tell.
Some readers will already be familiar with much that is said here. For others
there may be some revelations. I hope that, in the spirit of this year of the
50th Anniversary of the Servite Friars in Australia, it will be an interesting
and,useful tool in building our sense of pride in who we are. May it also be an
inspiration to carry on courageously what the pioneers described here have
planted.
Christopher M. Ross O.S.M.
12 January 2001
Feast of St. Anthony Pucci, O.S.M.
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