The Legacy of Father Julian Tenison Woods
Many Talented Englishman Woods was a Priest, Scientist and Explorer
Father Julian Tenison Woods was ordained for the diocese of Adelaide in Australia on January 4, 1857. In early Australia, diocese were scattered, and the priests and nuns travelled around by horse back to meet the needs of the people.
According to Boland in the book Quiet Women, Woods served ten years in the remote parish of Mt. Gambier-Penola, after which he was appointed Director of Education. This was a difficult post in that day and age.
Fr. Julian Tenison Woods Founds Two Significant Orders
Father Woods founded two orders the first was the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the second was the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
The Sisters of St. Josephwas an instant success as a native order, which flourished in Australian conditions. The first sister chosen by Woods was Mary MacKillop, who many hope will soon become Australia's first canonised saint. The Australian people affectionately dubbed the order "Mary of the Cross."
Although there were many problems that beset this order, within two years there were about 60 Sisters and Novices. These sisters were in the most part destined to become teachers, many of whom traveled the outback.
The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration were founded for a different reason. When Father Woods left South Australia in August, 1871 he traveled to New South Wales where he conducted a number of Missions and Retreats.
He felt it necessary to found a group of dedicated sisters, who would stay at home in a stable convent to pray for the success of those who roamed as roving missionaries. Characteristic of this contemplative life was that they would pray constantly before the blessed sacrament. When this order finally found constancy it was in Brisbane, Queensland.
Father Tenison Woods the Geologist and Scientist
Although Tenison Woods was an amateur scientist, he was a distinguished one. He was an early investigator in many fields in Australia. George O'Neill lists 1251 scientific works in an appendix to his biography, says Boland.
The works include books, articles, papers, and other communications such as letters to newspapers. These papers cover a wide range of sciences such as geology, botony and marine biology.
The Romantic Side of Tenison Woods
This depiction of Fr. Woods drawing in the outback was first drawn by Sister Helen, who is from the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. This painted, coloured version is called The Living Prayer.
One can see from the priest's relaxed and concentrated composure that he was equally at home with both disciplined scientific observation, as he was with the creativity of the romance of the Victorian era. He had the capacity to unite his creative imagination with scientific fact.
Boland says that when Woods described his fossil finds, he tried to recreate the botanical world at some of the stages of the evolutionary process. He of course did not "create facts," but rather combined them in a descriptive way, rather than list them in tabulatory style.
Tenison Woods Mountain
On the first of April, 1974 the Sunday Mail a local Brisbane newspaper ran a story commemorating Father Julian Tenison Woods. It read, "The Queensland Government has recently honoured - Father Julian Tenison Woods - in naming one of the rugged mountain peaks in the D'Aguilar Ranges, 31 miles from Brisbane..."
The suggestion to do this was supported and facilitated by Miss M. Walker of the Oxley Library in Brisbane. This library is the central historical library of Queensland, and the research process has enabled the great accomplishments of this gifted priest and scientist of the fields of geology, zoology botany and exploration to be honoured.
Related Article
The Story of Mary MacKillop. An interesting introduction to the campaign for canonisation of the sister who is hoped will be the first Australian saint.
The Story of Mother Mary Stanislaus An interesting portrait of the founding superior of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
Resources:
- Boland.T.P. Quiet Women. Refulgence Pub. Deception Bay Qld.(1974).
- Cresp.M.RSJ. Villa Maria. The Sisters of Perpetual Adoration & Care of the Aged. Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Pub. 2007.
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