Fr. Martin Toal to Nunciature

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Fr Martin Tal 2023-10-04/ 770 The Presbytery, Kooringa, South Australia, 5th April, 1930. The Most Reverend Paschal Robinson, D.D., O.S.F.; Anostolic Nunciature, Dublin. My Lord Archbishop, I am taking the liberty of again addressing Your Excellency upon a matter, concerning which I asked Your Excellency's advice just on two years ago. You may recall that I visited you for the purpose of obtaining an opinion, such as one of Your Excellency's position and experience could give, on the practicability of a possible Benedictine foundation at Sevenhills College in South Australia on the lines suggested to myself in a letter from Dom Lebbe of Glenstal Priory, Co Limerick, which I received a short time before I was due to return to my Diocese. I furnished, at Your Excellency's request, copies of a short memorandum on the matter dated 10/17/'37. Although no forward step has since been taken or even been possible, I have thought frequently that I owed it to the interest and courtesy which Your Excellency showed at the time and the help you gave in providing me with suitable letters of introduction, to inform Your Excellency how the matter now stands. So far, as I said, nothing has been made done or was possible. On my return, I spoke of Dom Lebbe's succession to me to my own bishop. Dr Gilroy, who approved the idea warmly, in general terms. He was, however, almost immediately transferred to Sydney as Co-adjutor Archbishop. Since then the See has been continuously vacant - for nearly two years. It is now again filled, but the bishop is a young man, native born and a stranger to this state, and without much experience, who will consequently have to feel his way for many years before he could lend himself to any such decisive undertaking as this. The Metropolitan, in whose Archdiocese the College lies is now in infirm health and would not be inclined, I consider, to favour anything he might not himself initiate or actively support. So much for authority. As to vocations, two priests who before were earer to enter such a religious foundation, now appear not to wish to do so. As to myself, notwithstanding that I am quite convinced of my unsuitability and unworthiness, I should be prepared to do all that in me lay either in undertaking, or if necessary, in assisting this desired foundation. I have corresponded with Dom Lebbe and Dom Verner Messe Moore and told the former all that I now tell Your Excellency. I have also talked of the matter to the Jesuit Provincial who was my rector in Mungret College.