The Archer Letters – Letter Five
July 2, 2024
The letter written by Fr Julian to William Archer from Penola on 5 September 1865, merits more than a cursory glance. It is, once again, full of questions and demands of his good friend but, as he says “Who have I to look but you?” He is grateful that William has recommended a microscope that will suit his purposes, and his pocket.
Written in free and easy conversation style, Fr Julian’s sense of humour here is at its best. He refers to his lack of means and suggests maybe the microscope could magnify his income! “The rule is that all priests say they are poor, the exception being in my case that it is true.” He asks for a book and suggests “get it anywhere – steal it – and tell me the cost to soul and body and I will remit in both senses!”
The Archer Letters – Letter Four
On 1.6.65, Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to his friend, W H Archer Esq, from Penola. This letter perhaps proves what good friends these two really were because anyone else might have taken umbrage at receiving a letter in which most of the sentences are questions!
The letter does, however, accompany a hair specimen from an opossum mouse, requested by William Archer, so asking each other questions may not have been all that unusual at this stage when both were exploring the new country in which they found themselves. At least questioning was one way of getting the specific information needed when communication was dependent on the often irregular delivery of mail from place to place.
The Archer Letters – Letter Three
In this month’s letter (16.5.1865) Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to William Archer from Penola.
From it we get a glimpse into the number of people with whom Fr Julian had contact. He tells William Archer that he has responded to criticism from Fr Bleasdale, President of the Royal Society of Victoria and asks him to put in a good word in case he has offended him. He had, among other things, told Fr Bleasdale that he was working on overcoming his “youthful writing” day by day!
His enthusiasm for sharing his scientific knowledge seems boundless and he asks his friend, William, to support many ideas. We are left wondering what the busy William said after he read this letter!
The Archer Letters – Letter Two
In a letter written from Penola on 5.4.1865, Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to William Archer in a bantering tone. He will not be abbreviated with his words, as obviously William Archer had been in his letter of 21st!
Fr Julian’s sense of humour comes through, as does his praise of the work that William Archer is doing in the scientific area, despite his many responsibilities with the Government. He relies on his friend for resources and is keen to acknowledge him officially through naming a geological specimen after him.
The Archer Letters – Letter One
This letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to “My dear Sir”, William Archer, is rather a long one with a considerable number of explanatory endnotes. However, it is far from a tedious read!
Written from Penola towards the end of 1863, it is a good example of Fr Julian’s command of the English language, his fluent penmanship and his sense of humour. The letter from William Archer, to which he is replying, must have been an interesting one to have caused such a reaction! The endnotes, as compiled by Sr Anne Player, give valuable background to the people with whom Fr Julian associated in 1863 – and the scientific investigations that engaged his interest. He was, at this time, questioning the value of his membership of scientific associations as he was having trouble getting his writings published. However, the local papers seemed quite willing to publish his views. Riding around his far flung parish gave him ample opportunity to think about framing his next letter or article on whatever happened to be his current topic of interest.
The Archer Letters – Introduction
In 1980, Sr Anne Player [1] read 33 letters representing the exchange between Fr Julian Tenison Woods (1832-1889) and William Henry Archer (1825-1909) over the years 1863 – 1889.
Anne realised that these letters gave a different glimpse of Fr Julian, situating him within Australian society of the time and revealing aspects of his life and interest apart from the Sisters of St Joseph. Anne set out to add comprehensive footnotes to the letters to give context and meaning and, with permission from the University of Melbourne Archives, in 1983, the Sisters of St Joseph, Goulburn, published The Archer Letters.
Spirituality Ministry – Introduction
June 25, 2024
After a period of discernment and review, the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 2023 launched a new ‘whole of ministry’ approach to their spirituality and heritage programs – including and going beyond the spirituality and heritage centres across Australia. This whole of ministry approach will continue to respond to the spirituality needs in our community in a contemporary manner.
The first stage of this new approach was the appointment of a Board in late 2023. This Board includes Chair Natalie Acton, Rob Kennaugh, Josie Vescio, Brianna Ragel and Andy Kuppe, and has been meeting monthly. I was appointed Director of Spirituality Ministry, commencing in early March this year, and Xavier Crimmins joined the new enterprise as Chief Executive Officer in April. The transference of governance to the new entity will take place on 1 July 2024.
Human Trafficking – Let the Work Continue to End this Heinous Crime
Talitha Kum group.
The Second General Assembly of Talitha Kum was held at Sacrofano, outside Rome, from 18-24 May 2024. There were 153 delegates, from 71 countries, representing the 60 Talitha Kum networks committed to ending human trafficking on all continents. Two Josephite Sisters formed part of the Talitha Kum Oceania Region Delegation – Sr Annette Arnold, the Talitha Kum Oceania Regional Coordinator and Board member of ACRATH and Sr Margaret Ng, ACRATH member and Josephite Counter-Trafficking Project Coordinator.