WELCOMED HOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16625, 6 January 1922, Page 5

WELCOMED HOME.

DEAN REGNAULT RETURNS. The Very Rev Dean Regnault, S.M., parish priest of St Mary’s, Manchester Street, who has recently returned from Europe, where he attended a meeting of the General Chapter of the Society ol Mary in Belgium, was welcomed home by his parishioners last nightThere was a very large gathering of people and clergy in the new hail, and the Mayor (Dr Thacker) was present. After a short musical programme had been given, the Rev Father Kerley, SdVI., who has been in charge of the parish during the Dean’s absence, made a speech of welcome on behalf of the clergy and people. Mr M. Prendegast spoke on behalf of the parishioners. The Rev Father Seymour, S.M., gave some details of the work entailed as the result of the erection of the new school and announced that £IO2O had been realised from the recent garden party. The Mayor made a short speech of welcome. On rising to reply, Dean Regnault was received with tumultuous applause. He expressed his gratitude to those who had carried on his work during his absence, and he was more especially i pleased to see the task of erecting the school completed. The x manner, in , which this was done spoke well for the enthusiasm and zeal of those whose energy made it possible. The Dean gave some interesting reminiscences of his travels in Europe, and especiallv in the northern French war area, where, he said, eight of the nine million devastated acres were now under cultivation.

Supper was provided by the ladies or the parish.