Scrapbook of Joseph and Phillipine Ratcliffe and family in N.S.W. Australia

Joseph Ratcliffe lived near Alton, Staffordshire born 1826. In 1854 he went north with Phillipine Metzler to get married in Scotland. Following their marriage, they boarded a boat and landed in Sydney, Australia.

Father Cullen Tributes

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TRIBUTES TO FR CULLEN

Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954), Tuesday 17 April 1945, page 4


BALLINA, Monday.—The funeral of the Very Rev. Father Charles Joseph Cullen, B.A.. Parish Priest of Ballina, whose death occurred at St. Vincent's Hospital, Lismore, last Friday, took place today. It was the largest seen in Ballina for many years, the cortege consisting of over 90 motor vehicles, including six buses.

Before the funeral moved to the Roman Catholic portion of East Ballina cemetery, a service was conducted at the church, which was unable to accommodate the large congregation. Over 800 residents of Ballina and the surrounding districts were present.

The Children of Mary and pupils of the Convent schools of St. Joseph's, Alstonville, St. Francis Xavier's, Ballina, and the pupils oi St. Mary's College, Lismore, formed a guard of honour at the church and cemetery.

The service at the churchy began with a recitation of the Office for the Dead, presided over by His Lordship, the Most Rev. P. Farrelly, D.D. The Chanters were Rev. D. F. McGrath and Rev. W. Murphy. Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Right Rev. Monsignor C. Maguire, assisted by Very Rev. Dean J. Hennessey and Rev. B. Parker. The ceremonies were directed by Rev. V. Regan, D.D.

Mass was sung by the two chanters, assisted by the priests. At the conclusion of the Mass, the panegyric was presented by Most Rev. Farrelly, who also gave the last blessing and prayers at the church and the prayers at the graveside.

Most Rev. Farrelly said : "The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that heal shall live." Those, he said, are the words of the church as she contemplates the death of a priest and speak of life rather than death.

He said that words, "What does suffering matter, or sickness, or sorrow, or death; what does anything matter to these who are sons of God and are destined to rise with the Risen Christ," were the last words Fr. Cullen wrote in the last editorial of his little Catholic newspaper. They portrayed the spirit of the man, which was the spirit of Christ and his church.

Ordained on June 11, 1914, Fr. Cullen was preparing to take up his work in the diocese of Ossary when an appeal for help came from Bishop Carroll, of Lismore. With Father Scott, he volunteered to answer the appeal. They arrived in Australia in December of that year, and Father Cullen served as assistant priest on the Cathedral staff from 1914 to 1916, when he was transferred to Ballina, where he remained until the day of his death.

Most Rev. Farrelly said Fr. Cullen did all things well, the reason being that his faith was the foundation for it all. Like St. Francis of Assisi, he could well be described as a "Joyous minstrel of the Lord," for both by writing and in speech he preached a message of good tidings and good cheer and showed what a happy thing it was to be a Catholic.

Beyond Diocese

In the domain of literature and music, Fr. Cullen wrote with delicacy and skill, producing work of a high merit and bequeathing a rich store of poetry and song. The operettas which he wrote year by year for the children had given happiness to many thousands of people and had placed his name and his message far beyond the borders of the diocese of Lismore.

"I believe," said Most Rev. Farrelly, "that they are worthy to take their place amongst the masterpieces of their kind, and I hope they will be preserved. I would recall also his work in connection with the Irish Musical Festival, which, under his wholehearted work, prospered and continued to grow and expand."

Amongst the outstanding works to his credit in the building of the material fabric of the church, was the construction of the Ballina Catholic boarding school, the opening of the new convent in Alstonville, and the raising of funds sufficient to build commodious brick buildings in both centres. It was a cherished desire of his to finish this work, and he spoke of this on his death bed.

Fr. Cullen was entrusted with responsible duties and held office for many years as a Synodal Examiner, a Diocesan Assessor, a member of the Diocesan Council of Architecture and, most important of all, a special Consultor to His Lordship the Bishop.

Most Rev. Farrelly offered sympathy to the people of Ballina, the priests of the diocese and its aged Bishop, Archdeacon Scott, of Bangalow, who had lost a life-long friend and companion, and to Fr. Cullen's close relative in the convent, Sister Mary Angela.

Pall-bearers at the church were Messrs. Ray Daley Maurice Dufficy, John Martin, James Dufficy, James Meehan, John A. Daley, and at the cemetery Messrs. Alvin Flanagan, Charles Bewers, James Crowley, Edward England, James Dufficy, junr., and Larry Walsh.

Among those taking part in the ceremonies and who carried out their respective duties were Right Rev. Monsignor C. Maguire, D.D.. V.G. Adm., Lismore; Ven. Arch. Priest J. Fitzpatrick, P.P., V.F., Murwillumbah; Ven. Archdeacon B. Scott, PP., Bangalow; Very Rev. Dean J. Hennessy, P.P., Bellingen; Very Rev. Father Kennedy, Rector, St. John's College, Woodlawn; Rev. Father Bell, Rev. F. Kelly, Woodlawn; Very Rev. P. Carey, Cowper; Rev. J. Durkin, Maclean; Rev. T. O'Regan, Coraki; Rev. T Farrelly, D.D., South Grafton; Rev. T. Cusack, Mallanganee; Rev. Father McEvoy, Maclean; Rev. P. Duggin, Goolmangar; Rev. W. Nicol, P.P., Kyogle; Rev. W. Giesen, Wardell; Rev. T. Morris, Smithtown; Very Rev. J. O'Rouke, D.D., Macksville; Very Rev. V. Regan, D.P., Lismore; Rev. C. Smith, Lismore; Rev. D. F. MCGrath, South Lismore; Rev. M. McGrath, Wee Waa; Rev. Father Tierney, M.S.C.; Rev. O. Daley, Dorrigo; Rev. T. McEvoy, A.D.M., Kempsey; Rev. J. Curran. Port Macquarie; Rev. A. Daley, Grafton, who was reared and educated in Ballina under Father Cullen; Rev. J. Relihan, A.D.M., Casino; Rev. P. Brennan, Murwillumbah; Rev. B. Parker, Ballina: Rev. W. Murphy, Casino; Rev. W. O'Brien, Casino; Rev. P. Furcheon, Casino.

Others present were Sisters from Lismore, Alstonville and Wardell Convents, and Mother Alphonsus, Rectress at St. Vincent's Hospital, Lismore.

Rev. W. Burvill (Church of England, Ballina) and Rev; H. J. Buttrum (Church of England. Alstonville) were present.

Among others present were representatives of public and other bodies. They included Aid. D. R. Clark (Mayor of Ballina), Mr. A. N. Fripp (Town Clerk), ex-Mayors A. E. Sheather and P. E. Tighe (President, Ballina Chamber of Commerce). Aid. C. Turner (Lismore), Messrs. J. Briggs, W. Hurley and W. Duffy (representing Holy Name Society, Lismore); Messrs. J. Boyle. P. J. Flood and P. O'Leary (representing Holy Name Society, Wardell); Messrs. F. Scarrabelotti, F. O'Meara and J. Buckley (representing Holy Name Society, Bangalow); Messrs. J. A. Daley, Dixon Cooke, O. Cawley (Alstonville); J. F. Meaney, J. Henderson, E. Henderson (North Creek). V. Nolan (Yamba). T. Loy (Maclean) , H. Green and Maurice Green (Lismore). McKeon and T. McDonogh (Wardell), D. A. Robins (Empire Vale), R. D. Lang (Ballina Golf Club), Mesdames Ratcliffe and Kuhn (Casino). Messrs. Jas. Dufficy (Tintenbar), H. E. Tyler (Broadwater), H. Graham (Teven), Jordan (Knockrow), A. G. Denison and D. P. Jones (Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore S.L.S.C.).

Fr Matt Cullen, Fr Charlie Joseph Cullen September 1913 Taken just before Fr. Charlies left to go to Australia
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The image in the header is that of Wilfred Joseph Ratcliffe (1857-1930) born in Australia to Joseph and Phillipine. 

Wilfred and Catherine nee Meaney had ten children, who, amongst other things, excelled as sportsmen.
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