TRANSFER OF OTAKI PRIEST.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 February 1936, Page 6

TRANSFER OF OTAKI PRIEST.

FATHER RIORDAN FAREWELLED, LARGE GATHERING : MANY TRIBUTES.

A large and representative gathering of Otaki townspeople, with visitors from outlying places, nearly filled the Catholic Parish Hall on Monday evening, when the Rev. Father J. J. (Elordan, S.M:, who has been transferred to Meeance, Hawke's Bay, was accorded a farewell social by his parishioners and representatives of various local interests, including sport, horticulture, etc. The Mayor, Mr. T. O'Rourke, presided, and was supported by Mr. L. G. Lowry, M.P., Fathers Riordan, Burning, and Cullinane Rev. J. R. Nelson t (Methodist Minister), and Messrs D. Richards and W. Mcßeth (representing the Otaki Football Club). / Vocal items, contributed by Mrs, .W. C. Fiebig, of Te lloro, and Father Durning, prefaced the proceedings.

. Explaining the purpose of the social gathering. Father stated that

it would be known to all that the guest of the evening, Father Riordan, jhad received notice of his transfer to Meeanee, near Napier, as parish priest and Superior of the Hawke's Bay Maori Mission. Believing that honour should be shown to whom honour was due though their guest of tonight would rather have avoided the ocas'ion, Father Riordan's Otaki parishioners had promoted the function, winch, aj could be seen from the size and representative nature of the audience, was *a speaking tribute I;.* the high opinion held of Father Riordan, as a priest, a citizen, and a sport (applause). The speaker said h?, could oily ( speak from one year's experience of association with his superior, as curate in the parish during the pasc twelve months. During that period, however, he had come to form a high opinion of Father Eiordan's energy and capacity .as a a preacher, and a public man, and especially to admire the fearlessness of their guests' ui'-raiK-os whin .matters of right or wrong were in l t question. Such uttciv.i'co; might not always gain for him popularity, but they showed him to be a man (ap,plase)'. His manliness also appeared ;n his well-known active intere.-.t in spcrts like football, golf hock"y, elc. In other public capacities, such as president for a period of the 11 .'ticuliural Society, and one-time lion. sec. of the Unemployment Relief:' eo'iimiv.ee, he had rendered energetic and valuable service. The friendliness of his relations with those of other religious communions was evidenced by th'j presence at that gathering of representatives of •non-Catholic denominations. Disunities many and burdensome hal had to be faced during Father Rionlan's seven years of incumbency of the Otaki parish. These years of depression following a boom might be likened 'o the seven lean kine which swallowed up the Egyptian fat kine (laughter). But he had met the difliculties with a smile on his face, whatever he might have sometimes felt like inside (laughter and applause), and had put a great deal of hard and faithful wvv.: into the I exacting duties of his larg'3 expending as it did — the .-iaor.

mission interests —from Wairarapa to Invercargi!l # They ,p'*i<"i tonight in •paying this deserved tribute to his labours and personality, and wishing ;him "Goodbye"' in the real old Fngiish sense of that word —"God be with you" (Applause). The Mayor, as a member of the Catholic communion and a citizen, associated himself with the commendation of Father Riordan as a priest and a public man, in both of which capacities he hud laboured well and faithfully. Especially worthy of mention were Father Riordairs ministrations to the sick and dying, involving at times long journeys and anxious wateuiugs, and no doubt bringing comfort to many a needy soul. His oflicial and peronial ministrations of relief to th- 1 unemployed and distressed had also been much appreciated . While regretting his departure, they wished him 'ill success and happiness in his new sphere 'Applause). The Mayor th a n presented Father Riordan with a jn\r<-2 subscribed by parishioners and others. Mr. L. G. Lovvry was glad to be associated with the expressing of admiration and esteem of the work and worth of Father Riordan. As a priest his faithful ministry had no doubt been fully appreciated by his flock, and as a man and a, sportsman his virility commanded respect. In his public capacity, his labours in many directions had helped to put Otaki "on the map," and the speaker for one highly valued what Father Riordan had accomplished in the sphere of public service. He joined with other speakers in paying tribute to their guest's many good qualities, and said that Otaki's loss would no doubt be Hawke's Hay's great gain. (Applause). That it was possible for people of diverse religious beliefs to hold each other in mutual personal respect, was a remark made by the Rev. .T. R. Nelson, who as Methodist minister of Otaki, said he and other ministers of the town had enjoyed the friendly relations which had existed between Father Riordan and his staff and themselves. He said the extent of their guest's late sphere of service had carried the speaker's mind back to the well-known utterance of another esteemed ecclesiastic, who on one occasion declared "The world is my parish" (laughter). It almost seemed as though Father Riordan desired in one respect at least to emulate John Wesley (laughter and applause). The speaker went on to say that the co-

mingling of denominations, on an occasion like the present evidenced a feeling that the old unhappy days of religious bigotry were passing away, and that people holding mutually opposed beliefs could still hold each other in. personal respect and esteem. (Applause). For that reason he was glad to be present to share in the tributes paid to Father Riordan and his work, and to wish him God-speed in Ms new field of service. (Applause). A New Zealand travelling rug was at this stage handed to Father RidVdan from members and supporters of the Otaki Football Club, the presentation being made by Mr. D. Richards, who said-that their former President's en thusiasm as a football sport had helped to make possible the winning of some of the treasured trophies of the club. Mr. Alex. Wilson, on behalf of the Horticultural Society, after apologising for the unavoidable absence of Dri Francis (the President), eulogised the efforts of their former President, Father Riordan, in helping to pilot the society through financial difficulty t.. stability, and spoke of his enthusiasm in promoting the Jove and culture J: flowers. (Applause). Mr. V. J. Ryder spoke highly of the excellent services rendered by Father Riordan, especially to the distressed and needy.

Fatlior Riordan, who on rising to respond, was accorded an ovation, said he must confess to a painful feeling- of embarrassment, after listening to references to himself and his work which, however sincere, he felt were largely undeserved. Conscious as be was of his faults and failures, he bad striven to do bis duly as a priest and a citizen, and if any small measure of success had attended his efforts, that was his thanks. In addition to the economic difficulties of the past seven years referred to by Father Burning —and they had been years, in several respects, -of strain and anxiety—he had during the past four years laboured under'ph.vsjcal difficulties, and he hoped that fact would serve in some degree to excuse a>iy impatience or harshness —kindly called "fearlessness" by Father Durning—which might have been discovered in his attitudes or utterances, lie wished to acknowledge his indebtedness to his curates (Fathers Durning and Cullinane) for valued cooperation, to His Worship the Mayor for his guidance and practical assistance i« the management of the affairs of the parish, to the choir, to the friendly spirit of tho clergy and representatives of other churches, to his coworkers in community and sport activities—in which he had found a great deal of interest and pleasure—and to all other helpers in the work of the past seven years. Father Riordan said one great cause of thankfulness that had been given to him was that during his ministry in Otaki he had been privileged to prepare two candidates for the priesthood. (Applause). He thanked the company for their valued gifts and kind expressions, asked the 'indulgence of all for his short-comings, requested their prayers for him in his new sphere of labour, and assured them of his continued kindly remembrance and thought where he was going. (Applause). Supper and dancing brought the evening to a close. Mrs. George Gray supplied the dance music while Mr. Stan Elliott was M.C.