ST. MARY’S PARISH

Southland Times, Issue 20662, 18 April 1929, Page 5

ST. MARY’S PARISH

WELCOME TO FATHER HOWARD. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. The Victoria Hall was well filled last evening when the residents of the Invercargill parish gathered to welcome their new parish priest, Father Howard. Tables were arranged throughout the hall and those present sat around these from the commencement of the programme and so obviated the necessity of a rearrangement before supper was served. Mr J. Collins presided, and associated with him on the stage were Father McKay, Father Loughnan, Brother Egbert, Brother Manuel, Messrs St. John Loughnan, F. G. O’Beime, M. Miller and T. Pound. After an excellent programme had been presented the chairman thanked the performers and apologized for the absence of Father Farthing and Mr H. Grace. He was pleased to preside because ho had known Father Howard ever since he came to New Zealand. They were there to give him a hundred thousand welcomes. The laity always looked up to and showed devotion to the priesthood and they were all pleased to know that they had a parish priest who had been so loved by his parishoners in the past.

Mr St. J. Loughnan read an address expressing the pleasure of the parishioners in welcoming Father Howard. They heard of him before and many of them knew him. They were sorry for the parishioners of Milton, but their loss was Invercargill’s gain. Father Howard would receive the confidence of the people of St. Mary’s and it was with great pleasure that they welcomed him among them.

In presenting the address Mr Loughnan mentioned that the people of the parish knew of the work done by the priests and the Reverend Father was assured of love and devotion in his new parish. They were pleased that he was one of those Irish priests who had done so much for the (,'atholic people of New Zealand. Mr O'Beirne also spoke in welcome, and said that Father Howard had been in charge of the parish of Milton for 20 years and he had done much to endear himself to the people. He had left much to come to Invercargill, but he had not come among strangers. Many of them knew him and all would soon love him. Mr O'Beirne spoke of the good work done by the late Monsignor Burke and the late Monsignor O’Donnell. He hoped. that Father Howard would long be spared to work in the parish of St. Mary’s. He called for three cheers for Father Howard and these were given with a will and were followed by the spontaneous singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Mr. M. Miller spoke on behalf of the Marist Old Boys’ Debating Club. The people of the church were always ready to honour the priesthood, and it was only right that they should meet on suitable occasions to do honour to them. The priests of Christianity were taken from all parts of the world, but Catholic Ireland had always been famous for the number of

priests and missionaries she had produced. They had gone into all parts of the worla and Father Howard was one of these. They knew of his work in Dunedin and Milton, and they felt sure that he would make a worthy successor to the very able priests who had gone before him in the parish of St. Mary’s. Father Howard was received with prolonged applause when he rose to reply. He expressed pleasure at the welcome accorded him and appreciation of the work that had been done. There was a great spirit of progress and co-operation in the parish. They had done a great deal towards Catholic education, and what they had done was a living testimony of their zeal and devotion. They were attending to the development of the soul and were carrying out the instructions of their Saviour, “Go ye and teach all nations.” He was deeply impressed by the ability of those who were attending to the commercial work of the parish. He congratulated the congregation on their splendid Hibernian Society and thanked the performers and speakers. He said that the committee had been very anxious to attend to his temporal wants, but he asked them all to remember his spiritual wants also and remember him in their prayers.

Supper was then served and a social hour spent to enable the members of the congregation to meet, their new pastor. The programme presented during the evening was as follows: —Chorus by St. Mary’s Choir; Mr. J. Miller, song; Miss Mollie Wills, character dances; Masters J. and N. Pound, duet; Miss Shepherd, song; Misses Shepherd and Fox, and Messrs. Ferry and Miller, quartette; Miss F. McKay, song; Mr. J. Ferry, song; Miss Woods, song; Mr. J. Shepherd, recitation.