{"product_id":"2026200007940-secondhand-the-bishop-of-botany-bay-the-life-of-john-bede-polding-australias-first-catholic-archbishop","title":"The Bishop Of Botany Bay: The Life Of John Bede Polding, Australia's First Catholic Archbishop","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Worn\/faded, no tears\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis richly detailed biography chronicles the remarkable life of John Bede Polding, the Benedictine monk who became Australia's first Catholic Archbishop and a towering figure in the spiritual and institutional development of the colonial church. Frances O'Donoghue presents a vivid portrait of a man who navigated the immense challenges of establishing a Catholic presence in a penal colony, ministering to convicts, free settlers, and Indigenous Australians alike with extraordinary pastoral dedication. The narrative uncovers the political and ecclesiastical tensions Polding faced — from conflicts with Rome over the governance of the Australian church to the struggles of building dioceses across a vast and largely unmapped continent. Written with scholarly authority yet an accessible warmth, the work illustrates how Polding's Benedictine spirituality shaped his vision of a uniquely Australian Catholicism, setting him apart from many of his contemporaries. The Bishop of Botany Bay stands as an essential work for readers interested in Australian colonial history, the history of the Catholic Church, and the lives of those who shaped a nation's religious identity from its earliest days.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887924883675,"sku":"2026200007940-SECONDHAND","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/0b21850a-c6b9-474e-b3a2-42dc8cdc5e7d.png?v=1781749529","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026200007940-secondhand-the-bishop-of-botany-bay-the-life-of-john-bede-polding-australias-first-catholic-archbishop","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}