A Meddling Priest makes a return in time for Christmas

Sydney
11 November 2001

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A Meddling Priest makes a return in time for Christmas

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A Meddling Priest makes a return in time for Christmas

Fr John McSweeney after the launch last year of A Meddling Priest

Despite its absence on the shelves of big shopping centre bookshops, A Meddling Priest, a biography on Fr John Therry published last year has sold well and is entering its second print run.

Fr Therry was the first officially recognised priest in the new colony of NSW and is credited with beginning to build St Mary’s Cathedral 180 years ago.

The author of the biography, Fr John McSweeney, said he was happy with the way the book has been received.

“I’m surprised at the way it’s been read and enjoyed by so many non-academic people, people like myself who enjoy a nice easy read,” he said.

But academics have also enjoyed the book.

Fr Edmund Campion, emeritus Professor of History at the Catholic Institute of Sydney said Therry’s life was a part of Australia’s history.

“Fr Therry is at the heart of the Australian story,” he said.

“To understand him is to understand what came afterwards.

“Modern Australians will profit from John McSweeney’s wise reflections on this pioneering life.”

Fr McSweeney agreed the story of A Meddling Priest was a very Australian one, but said he had also had interest from Ireland, from Therry’s home county of Cork.

Interest has been high all around, but more copies of A Meddling Priest are on the way and should be ready for Christmas.