FAREWELL TO PRIEST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 210, 3 August 1935, Page 8

FAREWELL TO PRIEST

REV. FATHER HERLIHY

A POPULAR CLERIC.

A pleasant evening was spent by 400 parishioners in the Catholic Parish Hall, Broadway, on Thursday. The gathering was arranged ior the purpose of farowelling Rev. Father P. J. Herlilyr, who is at an early date de_D*ftTng on a holiday trip to Ireland, to attend the ordination of his brother to the priesthood as a missioner to China. The hall was packed to capacity.

Mr J. J. O’Shea presided, and on behalf of the committee responsible for the organisation complimented the parishioners on the largo attendance, which was convincing evidence of the love and esteem in which the guest of the evening is held. A programme consi.sting.of a play reading entitled “Ihe Stoker” (Harold Brighouse). directed by Miss Babette Rodgers and comprising the following artists, was presented';—Miss V. E. Harman, Miss K. O’Connor, Messrs J. Stancombe. P. E. Flood, J. Redwood and F. K. Clayton. Vocal items were rendered by Misses M. Diederich. M. Lynch, M. Wilson, F. Doherty and Mr P. Cope. Messrs Burke and Warne rendered int strumental items. All the artists were Recalled and some were doubly recalled. Misses Z. Leamy and M. Martin presided at the piano. After tho conclusion of the musical programme, Mr F. J. Oakley, on behalf of the parishioners, thanked the chairman for the opportunity of making a few remarks. “Our object in meeting you this evening,” stated the speaker to Father Herlihy, “is firstly to bid you au revoir on the eve of your departure from New Zealand for Ireland, where. I understand, it is your intention to attend the ordination of your brother, who is to blaze the trad of New Zealand priests in the mission fields of the Far East. (Applause.) It is a little less than eight years since you came to Palmerston North, fresh from your ordination, to serve vour apprenticeship with the priests of this city, and during those years you have had the guidance and assistance of the parish priest, Very Rev. Monsignor MacManns, whoso knowledge in spiritual matters and whose judgment in temporal affairs knows no equal. (Applause.) When you arrived in this parish you at once established Yourself in our hearts, and as time lengthened that esteem grew until at the present time the love of your parishioners for you is unbounded, anu wq are srcl to think j)o-night that oui association is to be broken for a short time. We would like to say that wo will miss you, because during vour life amongst us you have always shown us the greatest consideration in spiritual and temporal matters. In the realm of sport you have always been a believer in clean sport. You took over .the control of the Football Club and the Tennis Club and found time to give encouragement to these pastimes. (Applause.) Rev. Fathei, we will think of you in your absence and look forward to welcoming you on your return. We desire on tins occasion to wish you bon voyage, a happy sojourn while you are abroad, and trust that you will return to this parish in which you have done such great work. We hope the time will not he far distant when wc will be able to welcome you back at a similar function to that we arc holding tor* mV D. W. Creed, on behalf of the Children of Mary, Holy Name Society. Hibernians, Football Club, Tennis Club and Parish Hall Committee, presented Rev. Father Herlihy with an address eulogising his activities as an office-bearer in each of these bodies. Very Rev. Monsignor MacManns apologised lor the absence of Rev. Father Homo (Wanganui), Father Lineban (Taknpau), Father Cashninn (Pahiatua). Father Ginnnne (Dannevirke). and Father Lynch (Levin), who had dseired to lie with them, but who had been unable to come. “However, the other representatives of the immediate parishes are hero to join with us this evening in giving their very best wishes to Father Herlihy, for a pleasant holiday and a safe return,” stated Monsignor MacManns. ‘Now the addresses that have been delivered emphasise how Fathei Herlihy will be missed here in Palmerston North by the sodalities and parishioners, but f can say honestly that there is one who will miss him not only more than any other, but more than all the others combined, and that is myself, because 1 felt L could always lean on him, and leaning on him T was never leaning on a broken reed. (Applause) I have taken a keen interest in the growth and development of his vocation to the priesthood and his priestly life has been spent entirely in Palmerston North. I can say honestly and without imv shadow of reserve that during the whole time of his priestly life I have found him equal to any task and immeasurably more efficient". He is a wonderful organiser and lie is- generous to a fault, unsparing of himself in the service of his Master.” GIFTS FROM THE MAORIS.

“I have come here to-night to express publicly the deep sense of gratitude the Maori people feel to one of my colleagues, because Father Herlihy has been a tender friend to the Maoris in hospital, and when they heard of his intention to visit Ireland they told me that they would like to show some appreciation of what he has done,” stated father Riordan, of Otaki. “Now, I cannot exactly tell you how much time and care he has expended, but I know that the Recording Angel has been very busy during the last few rears. I am deeply grateful to Father herlihy because he has taken upon himself part of niy responsibilities. It is my duty to look after the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Maoris; and as I am 50 miles from Palmerston North Father Herlihy has generously taken upon himself that responsibility, and on behalf of the Maoris and myself I thank him most sincerely and I hope the trip which he is about to undertake to the country from which our forefathers came will be a great experience to him. (Applause.) I envy you very much, Father, because we would ail love to go back to the Land of the Shamrock, but J don’t think I ever will. Wo did not want to leave your brother out of the presentation and as we are so poor that we cannot give you anything really expressive of what our affection and love for von is, "the best act of gratitude is to present through you a gift for your brother. We know how deeply affectionate you are to one another and we thought if 1 we were to give you a little Pyx in ] which your brother will carry the Lord of Hosts, it would be tbe best possible | expression of our gratitude that we I could make, but according to Maori custom we cannot give you this without giving you something else. This cloak of love and affection, which embraces you this evening carries with it the good wishes of the Maoris for a successful journey and a safe return.” In making the presentation, Mr .7. ,7. O’Shea asked Rev. Father Herlihv t ( , accept the gift as a token of goodwill, not representing value for spiritual labours performed, but as a token of esteem and gratitude that the parishioners bore towards him. “We tiopo' that you will return full of health and vigour and that you will have an enjoyable trip,” continued the speaker. (Applause.) “Owiim to unforeseen circumstances a delegration which was to arrive here from Ash- ■ ' has

sent forward a gift from the people of Ash hurst carrying with it their coinpliments and best wishes to Rev. Father Herlihy.” (Applause.) ltev. Fathers Schaeffer (Higliden), Doolaghty (lailiape), and .Jansen (Palmerston North) added their tribute to T alher Herlihy. ■ On rising to reply, Father Herlihy was greeted with p.oloug-d applause, "it fills me with tne greatest sense or gratitude and also consolation to see so many of you here to-night to giie me this expression or your goouwiil and affection,” he stated, “there is nothing so dear to the heari oi a priest ■ as to see that the people to whom he ministers hold him, not simply in their good wishes, but ill the affections of their hearts, and I have had ample evidence of that brought home to me to-night as I listened, to the various speeches made about me, with which, however, 1 am afraid J cannot agree. As I said, I listened to the speakers saying nice tilings about me and it was difficult to believe that it was myself that was the subject. (Laughter.) However, I know that if the speakers have exaggerated my few good qualities and said nothing about my shortcomings, it is in the generosity of their hearts, and I thank you. 1 thank you all for coming hero to-night, and it is also a great happiness to me to see so many priests to wish me a happy journey and Godspeed. I want to thank the artists who contributed towards. the programme and I must compliment the members of the Drama Society. I also want to extend my most sincere appreciation to the committee who have worked so hard to produce this function. I want to thank the sodalities for having combined to present me with the address; I also thank my brother priests who have travelled long distances to come here. lam deeply grateful to receive the presentation honi the Maoris, which I know is an expression of their greatest esteem. AYliat moved me even more deeply was the magnificent idea to present the Pyx to my brother, who is shortly going to China. I extend to them the deepest thanks of the heart. In conclusion, I want to thank my two brother priests here in Palmerston North for wlnt they have said about me and for their great kindness to me during my term here. Father Jansen has been a real friend and companion and one who has given me a great example. Very Rev. Monsignor MacMantis, well, words are powerless to express what f feel for him (applause) who eas been a father, counsellor and friend. 1 want to tell you once more how dceplv moved I nm to see the affection n which I seem to be held in Palmerston North.”