POPULAR PRIEST

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 126, 30 May 1935, Page 15

POPULAR PRIEST

REV. MTHEEIQUEALY

FAREWELLED AT PETONE

The high esteem in which the Rev. Father P. Quealy, parish priest at Petone, is heldwvas shown by*the crowded/attendance last evening in the Parish-Hall, Petone, to bid him farewell. Father Quealy, who has been parish priest at Petone for twenty-one years, was to leave today for Opunake. : The Catholic clergy present included Monsigrior!Connolly, the Yen. Archpriest Kelly, Dr. Mcßae, Father McManus, C.SS.R.y Fathers Lysaght, S.M. (rector of St. Patrick's College), Hendren, S.M., Milligan, S.M., B. Keegan, Crocker, Callaghan, and T. O'Brien (assistant parish priest). Father O'Brien said that when'the news was received that Father Quealy was.to ;be shifted there was a general feeling that it was only fitting that a farewell function should be accorded to him. He read apologies.from Archbishop O'Shea, Father Hurley, and Mr. W. Nash, M.P. The Yen. Archpriest Kelly said that the large, gathering was an eloquent tribute to Father Quealy, and a wonderful tribute of what was due to the parish priest. It must be a great, inspiration to him to see such a manifestation of love and esteem. Father Quealy's fellow-priests held him in-the highest esteem, and striking proof: was given of this last year when he brated his silver, jubilee as a priest, priests from the Archdiocese meeting in' Petone on that occasion. Father Quealy was respected and esteemed by all who knew him well. The parish had been singularly blessed by having such a good and holy priest among them for twenty years. Father Quealy had been exceedingly generous in his dealings with the people of the parish. He had known Father'Quealy all the years he had been a priest, said the Yen. Archpriest Kelly, and he was grateful to feel the friendship. of a priest so'devoted to his sacred duties. THE MAYOR'S TRIBUTE. ' The Mayor of Petone (Mri A. Scholefield) said that- whatever the denomination one belonged to, all were aware of the sacrifices Father Quealy had made for the Church that he loved. He had always realised the-devotion• with wnicli Father Quealy was .attached to his Church. Petone. was losing a good citizen. He had .first made the. acquaintance of. Father Quealy when steps were being taken to erect a memorial in -the Recreation Ground. .He paid high tributes .to Father Quealy's work. , ' Mr. J. W. McEwan, who was for twenty years Mayor of Petone, ; said that his-memory of Father. Quealy went back ovet twenty years. Father Quealy early realised the steps that were needed to raise a memorial to Father McMenamin, who was killed at the war. A monster bazaar was held in what was . now known as \the Palace Theatre, the late Archbishop Redwood assisting. Father' Quealy made an excellent address 'at 'the Armistipe service on the Recreation Ground; The talks he had had with the late Father McMenomin, said Mr. McEwan, had compelled him to take a tolerant view of the Church as a whole.-- '•'•.•-■...■..■-> ......;-, "MAN OF GOD." ' ""It was'a; fine'thing to be able to stand,on the platform as a Protestant and paya tribute to,the high qualities of' Father, .Quealy,'* Said Mr. J. Kerr, senior. During twenty years in Petone he had looked on the Catholic community with Tespect-and- esteem, and ,on,vnone,,inore-so • $han,<..on**Father Quealy, for if there was a man of God on earth, it was he (applause). He believed, said Mr. Kerr, that our work on earth was ordained for us, and: he was certain': ;that Father ■ 'Qiiealy swas sent to Petone to carry but God's \vork there. His^transfer to Opunake w'iould bear good fruit in that,district;He deft Petone, sas an honoured' man* to -carry Chrjstfs message-5" to another jplace^,;-.,.,,"/ >y ~.._;-...'.;,' : . k;. ; Monsignor .Connolly:; ; said- he was associated with Father Quealy when they were curates at Palmerston North twenty-five years ago. He could expect to hear appreciation from the Catholic people who knew ' Father Quealy as a whole-hearted priest, but he was also pleased to hear appreciation from those outside the Catholic Church who had sppken with such sincerity. Father Quealy had made his mark in. Petone.. t On behalf of the parishioners, Mr. J.1 Moss said that Father Quealy came to the parish'duridg the Great War. He made a memorable speech on the Recreation. Ground, on Armistice Day. He received a deputation about the Technical School, and gave help in. that direction. He loaned material for a bazaar, to,help to raise funds for the memorial in the Recreation Ground. The' infant school "was Father Quealy's work. His life work was the memorial church to- Father: McMenamin?.; '■!'■-■'.■'.' * ■ . . ' A\P?i" ttehalf "of the parishioners, Mr. ■Moss handedjto Father Quealy a wellfilled wallet.;,> • , : Spealting oii Tsehalf of the choir, Mr. X.'.V. Ryamsaid that the magnificent organ in the>new church was built by the same makers who had built the Towa Hall organ in; Wellington, and, although a smaller instrument, it was described by the makers as a more perfect iuone than that in Wellington. This was. Father Quealy's own gift. (Applause.} He presented to him an umbrella \lrom the members of the .choir. ■> v, , • Father O'Brien spoke in appreciation of Fattier Quealy's help.to him. FATHER1 QUEAtY'S REPLY. Father Quealy was received with applause on'rising to speak. -He thanked all who had assisted with the function. The occasion, he said, was enhanced by the presence of his best and oldest friend in New Zealand, the Yen Archpriest Kelly. ;It was nearly twelve months since they had gathered together before, and that was on the occasion of his silver jubilee. That was a festive occasion, and he had received good will from people of the town of all classes and creeds, not forgettaig felicitations from Home and abroad. He knew then that the ambition of his life would soon be realised m the^building and completion of the beautiful parish church, it was at least consoling to know that it was completed. If he could not stay to enjoy the fruits of his labours it was because he had to obey orders, and atfjjhe command of his superiors go forth to fresh fields. Whenlast he had receded a presentation it was as a Petone, but that night it was £^ nM°?- they were met together * v^f I*sttime socially. When news wS?-*^™?™" came suddenly he heard that steps were being taken to get: a petition' signed and a public declaration,. but he could not -countenance that project. 'He had' lived at peace with all men and in/harmony and.friendship .with his Protestant fellow-citizens. He had done his work without going out of his way to offend anybody else. He considered-he had the approval and appreciation of the vast majority of the parishioners. He had not envied their silver or their gold, but had tried, to do his work in his own way. He greatly appreciated that among the tributes to him there should be^three from Protestant fellow-citiz^na^Whereve^-hir^-wentvJhig

thoughts would go%back to the people' of.Petone. i ,' , ■father Quealy was accorded musical Honours. ■ . ■ - , ; ; /"During the evening/items were given byMesdames W. Ryan and . L. Boyd, Mrs. R. Carpenter, Miss E. Barry, Miss E. Moss, Mr. T. Mooney, Miss J. Nicholas, Misses Molly and Margaret Keating, and Mr. J. V. Ryan. Supper was served. Presentations have feeen made to Father Quealy from the Catholic Tennis Club (handsome rug), the,school children (a fountain pen), the "altar