The Archdiocese of Perth will next month be launching the biographies of Archbishop Patrick Clune CSsR, by Fr Christopher Dowd, and Bishop Martin Griver, by Odhran O’Brien, at the Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth.
The Archdiocese commissioned the books during the restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral, which was completed in 2009. Both Archbishop Clune and Bishop Griver made significant contributions to the design and development of St Mary’s during their respective terms of office. The lives of Martin Griver (1814–1886) and Patrick Clune (1864-1935) also tell the story of faith, empire and social justice during the challenging early years of the local community and Church in the 19th and 20th centuries.
As Catholic Bishops, Griver and Clune were charged with both the spiritual and earthly care of the Catholic community in Western Australia. In addition to vigorously travelling the expanse of Australia for their pastoral duties, they built churches and schools, established charitable organisations and campaigned for better social welfare on behalf of the underprivileged.
As individuals, they present interesting biographical subjects. A friend of Bishop Rosendo Salvado, the founder of New Norcia, the Spaniard Martin Griver was both a surgeon and a scholar of saintly reputation, his accounts of travelling the Western Australian outback in the 1850s and 1860s give a unique glimpse into colonial life in the antipodes.
Meanwhile, Irishman Patrick Clune was a renowned preacher who was appointed a chaplain in World War I and later acted as an intermediary between Lloyd-George and the Irish leaders during the Irish War of Independence.
These two clergyman have played significant roles in the religious, social and historic fabric of Western Australia. Now, we honour the lives of Martin Griver and Patrick Clune through these detailed historical works.
Archdiocese of Perth Communications and Media Office Editor Jamie O’Brien said Catholics in Perth, and those interested in the history of Western Australia generally, should be sure to take this unique opportunity of gaining a greater insight into the Church in WA’s foundations.
“The story of Bishop Griver and Archbishop Patrick Clune are a great inspiration and testament of the solid foundations in faith that have been forged by our founding fathers for the early Catholic community,” Mr O’Brien said.
“With the Church in Western Australia being still quite relatively young, it is very fitting to note that these historical biographies will provide strong examples of faith that has been lived – right here in Western Australia,” he said.
The launch will be held on Tuesday, 28 April at the Redemptorist Monastery, North Perth at 6pm. To RSVP, contact 08 9201 1014 or click here.
Pre-launch book purchases can be made by clicking here.