MONSIGNOR O’DONNELL

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 8

MONSIGNOR O’DONNELL

RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA. WELCOME BY PARISHIONERS. A number of gentlemen representative of the Catholic laity waited on Monsignor O’Donnell at the Presbytery on Wednesday evening to bid him welcome home after his trip to Australia. Mr James Collins acted as spokesman and assured the Monsignor that those present could speak as representing the feelings of the whole Catholic community when they said they were delighted to have him back with them again. Mr Collins feelingly referred to the genuine regret felt by one and all that the Monsignor’s health did not yet permit of his devoted people giving him an enthusiastic public reception such as they would like to. He then read and presented an address which was accompanied by a cheque for a substantial amount. The Monsignor, who was obviously not forewarned of this spontaneous expression of love and esteem for him by his people/ made a feeling reply, but there was not wanting in his remarks those occasional but brilliant flashes of humour so characteristic of him. He said he had found the Invercargill Catholics—no matter what station of life—imbued with that spirit and faith which after all was the one thing necessary. He deeply appreciated the sentiments as expressed in the address which Mr Collins had read. He referred to his long association—over 30 years—with the good people of the Gore parish, and said that his life’s work was really done there. Nevertheless he was delighted to have been associated with the fine people of Invercargill, and if he had been of some assistance to the church during his stay here, that fact alone was recompense. He concluded by paying a graceful tribute to Father Marlow, who had so capably administered the affairs of the parish during his absence.