A NEW MISSION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VIII, Issue 415, 25 March 1881, Page 11

A NEW MISSION.

(From the Asiiburton Mail.') A meeting of Catholics convened by the Rev. Edmund P. Coff *y — arrived here last Wednesday evenine, 9<h inst., to take charge of the Catholic Church — was held on the following evening in that Church. The Rev. Father Chirvier occupied the chair, and called upon Mr. O'Reilly to r-ad the letter addressed by the Vicar-General of diocese to the Catholics of Ashbiuton and surrounding districts, with regard, to Father Coffev's appointment. The Rev. Chairman then briefly introduced the R"v. Father Coffey, and in deing so, stated that he himself was the fiT«t priest who celebrated mass in the Ashburron Church. Although he could not sever his connpetion with the people of Ashburton without reqrret, still be was glad th it they had now what they bad been a long time asking for — a resident priest — who would live in their midst and be «lway« with them. He had done his best to get a priest for them, and it was a source of great pleasure to him to find his efforts had proved effectual. The Rev. Path r Coff -y. who was received with much applanw 1 , said he felt diffident in coming before them that evening, as that was the first church to the charge of which he had been appointed rince his arrival in the colony. He had been in the Cathedral in Wellington, and his missionary life had been confined to that city and its surrounding districts. He was the first residpnt priest appointed to the charge of the Ashburton district, and judging from what he had heard and the appearance of the place, he had great hopes of its future. He had no hopes of receiving so important a charge as the Ashburton district, and the Vicar- General's, letter announcing his appointment took, him by surprise, imt he was now very glad that he was amongst theno, and he hoped they would all — as he had no doubt they would — give I im ever? assistance in their power to muke the mi-sion second to none in the diocese. The rev. gentleman then | stated what he intended to do with regard to matters conuected with the church. They would have to build a new church, and he would also urge upon them th* 1 necessity of establishing a good school f r the education of their children, as he considered this matter equally important. He was glad to find that a school had already b-en established, and he would urge npon parents the necessity of sending their children regularly to it. as upon the education which they would receive would depend their future well-beiny. They would always find him willing to assist them in every way he could, and he sincerely trusted he should have their co-operation ia carrying out the viewa which he had enunciated. At the request of the Rev. Father Coffey. the following gentlemen were appointed a council, viz., Messrs. O'Reilly, Dudson, Nealas, Quinn, Letrgatt, and Higgins. Mr. O'Reilly said that as the Rev. Father Chervier b.a4 now severed his connection with them, and that was the last occasion he would appear in their midst, they couM not let him go without expressing their thornugh appreciation ©f his ministration as a priest, and also the high esteem in which he had boen held by them all. They all knew how earnestly he had worked. Though nominally he was to ome only once a month, still he was frequently to be seen in Ashburton, and never hesitated to ceme when wanted. He would now move — " That a cordial vote of thinks be given to the Rev. Father Chervier. as a testimony of the esteem in which he has been held by the Catholics of Ashburton during the term of hia ministration in their midst." The mouon, having been seconded, was carried by acclamation. The Rev. Father Coffey then announced that on the next and foPowing Sundays Mass would be celebrated in the church at 930 a.m. and ii.3o a.m. One Sunday in the month, however, he intended to devote to other parts of the district. He had not made full arrangements for this as yet, but when he had, the matter would, receive full publicity. 'ihe meeting then terminated.