The Caroline Chisholm Library

The Caroline Chisholm Library is a Catholic theological lending and reference library situated in central Melbourne (Level 3, 358 Lonsdale St - opposite St Francis Church). Opening Hours are 11am - 5pm Monday to Friday.


All members of the public are welcome to browse the library, use it for reference purposes or attend lectures. Persons interested in borrowing books can become library members (membership forms are avaliable at the Library).


The library catalogue is available online at the Library's website at http://www.cclibrary.org.au/


This blog will give details of events at the library, text of talks given at the library as well as reviews of books in the library collection.

Saturday 13 December 2014

Communion and Liberation Now Meets at the Library


The Melbourne Chapter of Communion and Liberation now meet at the Caroline Chisholm Library every Wednesday at 8.30 pm. 

Join us to discuss the work of Fr Guissani and how Christ is acting in our lives. 

The Communion and Liberation movement was founded in 1954 by Fr Luigi Guissani in a Milanese high school. Fr Guissani described it as a “movement of presence” through which Catholics would become both more mature in their faith and could become a Christian influence by their en- counter with others at different levels of society. The movement has a particular interest in developing a response to artistic, musical and communal culture.

See also the information at: http:// english.clonline.org 

In memoriam: Dr Les Hemingway


Dr Les Hemingway, who was a General Practitioner in Warnambool for many years, died recently. 

Three of his books are in the CCL: The Modern World and Self-control, Rent as Revenue, and Sharing the Earth


Les left school at fourteen to become a fitter and turner. He under- took further studies and graduated from Melbourne University as a doctor in 1955. He be-came a Catholic soon after leaving university, and was guided by his Faith in his medical prac-tice.


During his time in Warrnambool he caused a stir by refusing to prescribe the contraceptive pill. He and his wife Verna had eleven children. (I remember him joking at a conference on economics that people would infer from his large family that he must be a Catholic!). 


Les had a wide range of interests, including swimming, engineering and woodturning. But espe-cially economics. He followed the land philoso- phy of the nineteenth century economist Henry George, applying it to Australia to- day, and arguing cogently that the application of George’s principles would solve the dilemma of the land prices that prevent so many people from owning their home. He stood as an independent for the House of Representatives seat of Wannon at the 1993 general election.


Les was very generous with his time and advice, as I experienced about twenty years ago when I sent him a draft of my book The Natural Economy. He sent me a long and very helpful analysis after only a few weeks – and apologized for having taken so long!

He worked as a GP for nearly fifty years, mostly at Warrnambool, until ill-health forced his retirement. Some three years ago, with his health beginning to fail, he wrote to a friend that he had had to cut down his daily swimming to 600 metres! 


JohnYoung 

Come and See Your Library Refreshed!


The library is a community of communities, and there is a spring flourishing of things new and old. The library is looking brighter, cleaner, younger and colourful. 


Newest is the Caroline Chisholm Playgroup, where parents and young children from the city meet and play in the library, an early introduction to the world of culture and learning. 

This is an initiative of Pauline Kennedy, who with her husband David and others has trans- formed our meeting room on Monday mornings into a magical land with colour, cushions, books and toys, and a place for friendship and support of families who may otherwise be iso- lated in inner city living. The Committee intends to build up a collection of good books for children.



Also new is the lighter and cleaner area for the kitchen and lunch, the work largely of David Kennedy.

Anna Krohn and many new and old volunteers continue to keep the library open during the week, on the desk, cataloguing, doing the books and correspondence. They have embarked on a major project of ring- ing our lapsed subscribers, to renew contact, to ask for overdue books to be renewed or returned, and to alert people to due subscriptions.


The 350 Foundation is to be named and launched as the Friends of the Library. You are our Friends indeed! There will be an event to celebrate and launch the Friends in early 2015.

The Icon School of S. Luke (Thursdays, 10 am), The Discussion Group (Wednesdays, 1 pm) and the Catholic Book Club (Last Friday, 7 pm) con- tinue to meet and to flourish. Communione e Liberazione and other groups are also meeting at the library. (Further details in this Newsletter or on our blog page) We welcome your interest and need your presence and support, in the different ways you are able. Please come to our An- nual General Meeting on 13 December 2014 at 10.30 a.m.


Anthony Krohn 

Friday 12 December 2014

Update from the Library Icon School

Our last School excursion for the year was to “Eikon,” an exhibition of icons at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
The Director of the Gallery, Mr Gordon Morrison, has set up an exhibition, and accompanying catalogue, calendar and cards of an exceptional standard, and those members of the School who were able to attend found it to be both edifying and informative.
The Annunciation icon designed for the top of the iconostasis at the Library has been completed and mounted. It is a fuller representation of the Annunciation inas- much as, in addition to Archangel Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kings David and Solomon appear holding scrolls foretelling the event.
One is from Psalm 44 and reads, in part, “Hearken, O Daughter, and see, and in- cline thine ear, for the King hath greatly desired thy beauty,” while the other from Proverbs reads, “Many daughters have amassed wealth; thou hast sur- passed them all.”

John Daly

Playgroup Christmas Party

Come and join us for our  CCL Playgroup Christmas Party on Monday 15 December from 10 am to 12pm.  There will be carols, craft,  and cake.  We have Nativity costumes for your little ones (a great photo opportunity Grandma!) or come dressed up ready to go!

So grab your camera, your best carolling voice and (grand) child and head on down to the Caroline Chisholm Library on Level 3 at Mitchell House, 358 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.  Trains or trams are close by and parking at Queen Vic Market is $10 all day.

This is a free event for our members and families visiting the city.  

For more information please contact  Pauline Kennedy on 0411 044 988