PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH’S

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 November 1927, Page 4

PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH’S

CAREER OF THE REV. FATHER CULLEN.

The Very Rev. P. F. Cullen, 8.A., the newly-appointed parish priest or Hawera, and vicar torone of Taranaki, who succeeds the late Monsignor Power V.F., was born nearly 40 years ago in Christchurch. He received his early education in the public and parochial primary schools of the Dominion, being at one time a pupil of the old Marist Brothers’ school in Boulcott Street, Wellington. His higher education was obtained at Otago University, where he obtained his 8.A., and a.t Holy Cross College, Mosgiel. He was ordained priest in 1916 and was first appointed assistant at Palmerston North. Shortly after this he was appointed' a military chaplain to the New Zealand Forces during the Great War, and did .service in Europe. After the armistice he went with the New Zealand Forces into Germany, and was located at Cologne for eight months. When peace was signed he returned to New Zealand at the end of 1919, and was appointed assistant priest at Westport. In the following year, 1920. he was appointed administrator of the parish of St. Joseph’s, Buckle Street, Wellington. In 1925, while still retaining charge of St. Joseph’s, he was appointed chancellor of the archdiocese of Wellington, which office he filled until his appointment last week to succeed' the late Right Rev. Monsignor Power, V.F., as pastor of Hawera and vicar forone of Taranaki.

Father Cullen has proved himself a very able administrator, and his executive and organising ability will assist him to complete the great work so well nrenared for and begun hv his predecessor—the erection of the new church of St. Joseph in Victoria Street. Archbishoo O’Shea and Father Cullen left for Wellington yesterday morning. The latter will return to Hawera on November 25 to take up his duties.