 Upon his return to South Australia , O 'Reily immediately set about improving the financial situation of the Diocese of Port Augusta . He requested financial assistance from the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith , and divided the diocese into fund @-@ raising districts , campaigning for contributions in each of them . With the permission of Archbishop Thomas Carr in Melbourne , O 'Reily toured parishes in Victoria asking for funds for his new diocese . By 1893 , he had reduced the diocesan debt by half , with his peers describing him as a " practical , clear @-@ headed man of business " due to his administrative ability . 
