LATE FATHER RIORDAN

Grey River Argus, 22 April 1925, Page 3

LATE FATHER RIORDAN

FUNERAL AT RO.SS. a VERY LARGE COR-TEGTj. Th c largest concourse ol people seen in the town of Boss tor many a dax was that which assembled from al, parts of the West Coast on the or casion of the funeral obsequies da>\- of the Rex . Father John Riordan. From Okuha settlement in tbc far south t) Rcelton in the north, everx locality on the West Coast was represented, and the funeral cortege, a> it wended its way at midday from me Catholic Church to the ccinetery on thc hill overlooking the town from tin* north of Donnelly's Creek extended ;,long the full length of the main street, hi addition to practically n.ll the local residents, those present included some twenty-eight car loads of visitors, among whom were two Bishops and twenty-two Priests. ’The Hoss enuveh proved altogether too l small to aciommodato the assemblage when the- obsequies began shortly after It a.m. with the celebration of Pontifical Boquiem Mass, and as many had to content themselves with assembling outside the church as those who were able to gain entrance. The celebrant of the Ma-.s was the Vcr\’ Bev. Dean O'Donneil, (of Ashburton) (u relative of the deceased priest), Bev. Father Leen (Bangioraj being Deacon, and Bev. Father Seward (Barfield) SubDeacon, while the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, I (Hokitika) was Master of Ceremonies. Within tlie Sanctuary were their Lordships B:shops Brodie (Christchurch) and Liston (Auckland), while the beautiful Gregorian music of the Mass, including tb c souLstirr ng ‘‘Dies Irac," was chanted lyx a ch; ir G ; Priests (•ompri.Jng th-.* Rev. Fatlm’s Cconex ( l.yt telton), Ollaiu J.oncoln), O’Connor ( Adding-ton). Roche, S.M.. (St. Marx’s? Christchurch). Hrriicrt and Herring (Reelx.m;, O'Pegan. McMonagle, Madden and Huuljh:>n (Greymouthy Fogarty (Abaura). Gilbert, M.S.C., (Sydney), Ha malum (Papanui), Ha Ivey (Hawarden). Healey and Joyce tChristc’iurch Caihed'aij. At the conclusion of Mass the Blessing of the ('atalalqm was g-ven by Bisshop Lston. Headed by the Altar Buys and the elerg-, who iin med in lely preceded the Bishops, ihe (ortege then formed in line, the next divi>ion qcmg that of lli<- Catholic School (hildrc:-. I olio wed lix the Ho>s aml ILikitika Sisters of Mercy. .Next came the em:dren of the Ro.-s ’Mate School, m full force, in (-b;rrg,- of their Headmaster. Mr. Pitt, and ibe r oilier teacliers. Then was the coffin, which* wa> cmt ied by relays of the men parisliionci a of the deceased Priest Irom all parts of South Westland and the pall bearer-, were members of the Hibernian Society from Gicymouih, Hokitika a>nd Ross. Auer the public xxho wcie mi foot in large iiuni!.*' i - came about a .•■(.•ore id motor •r>. Ihe whole pro(•ession was a moM imposing- spc ! i;i(i V . in the brilliant -nidight a s it ascended the cemetery hill, the choir of i lergx chanting the 'De Prof midis" and other Gregorian music the while. Tin prax ers a't the graxe. which is located a*! the xi rx ( row n o| the (cnicterx bill 'vere recited by Bishop Rr.xlio, whdst the " Benedict ns" was sung !>\ tinclei’gx most imptossiveh . Bishop Brodie Drierix auurt-ssing (he large assemblage said he felt deep ly a debt of gratitude not ortry to (tie Catholic people o' Ro-s parish but al.-o to their many iion-Calliolic friend-, pi'cst'nt, for (he great honour thex had united that day to pay the menmr. o; the beloved priest w nose oc.a.ii incy all so greatly lamented. In I'lc ibex had honoured him. but in death they had honoured him even, more It wa-' not the occasion for many \tmds but he could not help giving some expres sion to the deep gratitude he lelt tor the magnificent testimony of respem. and regard the people gave by their presence iu such numbers. They were >utniuoned there by (hose words of faith-. "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for thc Dead;" and they prayed for the repose ol thc soul of the deceased Priest with every hope for they all knew his life fo ! ‘ what it had been, one free from injustice. Time had inspired Fatb.e' Riordan with such a love for his parishioners tha<t when he (the Bishop) had contemplated his transfer—and he trusted that he did hi-g memory no injustice to disclose the fact—their late pastor had always expressed his wish to remain in Ross. He loved the Hussites and South AVcstlanders and liked to be among them. The life that had merited their tribute was an example adikc to Bishops ami Pi’ests recalling the fact that by «uch live.' thc history of the Church was enriched. After over eleven years of service as their Priest, Father Riordan left behind him thc most convincing evidence of the manner in which he had endeared himself to all. not only bis own denomination, but a circle larger still. He made many am arduous journey among them, and it seemed that the further he went the greatei was his joy’ in ministering among them. As he had not spared himself for tliem. the speaker would remind them all to i pray for him. Visibly moved himself. Bishop Brodie exhorted hns hca t >..s. among whom Father Riordan had left the memory of a noble example so worthy' of imitation to do all ibex could to live up to that example. ..nd concluded by once again complinK’niing the community on the honour paid to a worthy pDest, and commending him to their prayers for his soul’s eternal repose. 'Each member of the elery pi'csent their deposited a quota of earth on the casket as soon as was lowered, and the funeral corctr.ony concluded. Subsequently a subscription n,.

cnc’l for a memo* nd to tHv late Father Riordan), and a substantia] sum xva< raised. . Special reference was niad<to thc ministrations <>f Mrs Herl»(*rt. n Ross lady not of his oxvn coinzreiiation. to thc late Father Riordan dur’ncr his last illness, she having- never eeaised tending him unt’il his death.