PRIEST’S JUBILEE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 10

PRIEST’S JUBILEE

Father Gondringer HASTINGS CELEBRATIONS Dominion Special Service. Hastings, November 26. A day of ceremonies celebrating the completion of 25 years of priesthood by Father Gondringer, who was ordained at his present parish church of Hastings, was held to-day. Father Gondringer has been priest here for nine months, one of his greatest achievements so far having been his success in bringing almost to a conclusion a proposal to build n new Catholic school here at a cost of £ll,OOO. The building is likely to be completed next year, and to-day Father Gondringer handed back into the school building fund a cheque presented to him by the children of the parish. This evening Father Gondringer received a presentation at a great gathering of Catholics presided over by the Mayor, Air. G. F. Roach. Thanksgiving Alnss was celebrated in the morning, and various gatherings, including n picnic and a gathering of clergy at dinner, followed throughout the day. Father Gondringer was once on the staff of St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and revived the school magazine “Blue and White’’ in 1908. He graduated B.A. st Victoria College in 1909 and later ALA. at the same university, with honours 'n English and French. Father Gondringer was born in Luxembourg in 1880 and was educated there mid in France, and also in Devon. England. He came to New Zealand in 1903 and entered Afeeanee Seminary. lie took a leading part in organising the jubilee celebrations of Archbishop Redwood, ~