RECEPTION OF THE REV. FATHER DEVOY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 46, 14 March 1884, Page 23

RECEPTION OF THE REV. FATHER DEVOY.

(Kumara Times, Feb. 25.) A large number of Catholics and friends of the Rev. Father Devoy, who fomerly ocoupied the position of parish priest in Kumara, met at St. Patrick's School on Satuiday evening to present an address of | welcome to the reverend gentleman, who now comes deputed by Bishop Redwood, on a special mission in connection with the establishment of a Diocesan College in Wellington. The Catholic Brass Band was in attendance, and, shortly after eight o'clock, proceedc i to the residence of the parish priest and escorted the Bey. Father Devoy to St. Patrick's school raom, the Band meanwhile playing «' St. Patrick's Day." Mr. Denis Hanuan (Mayor) occupied the chair, and said he had great pleasure on behalf of the parishioner?, in welcoming the Rev. Father Devoy to Kumara.— [Applause.] He was deputed to inform him that they had taken steps to present him that evening with an address of welcome. No sooner had the wires flashed the intelligence that the Rev. Father was on his way hither than their hearts beat with one impulse to do him honour, hence the large gathering there before him. He (the chairman) knew that Father Devoy's mission to this place was for a special purpose — that of furthering the cause of education, so dear to Catholics the world over ; which was not only their cause, but the cause of justice and freedom — that he was here in order to provide for their children in New Zealand that which they could not conscientiously avail themselves of otherwise—a Catholic University Education, so that they might be able to go forth through the world, among their fellow-men, and hold their own, both spiritually and temporally. He (Mr. Hannan) was pleased to see that the address contained a paragraph in assurance of practical sympathy with the cause the Itev. Father so worthily represented, and he trusted that the esteem in which he was held by the people of Kumara (who were ever ready in extending their hands not alone to their own people but to the stranger) would be fully manifested in the direction of materially assisting the Rev. Father in the noble work of his mission— that which he (the chaiiman) was sure was more dear to him, and would be more prized by him than any homage which conld be paid to him personally. As the assembly then present, and the address about to be presented exemplified more adequately than he (the chairman) could, were he gifted to speak for hours, the regard and love his old parishioners of Kumara had for the Bey. Father Devoy, it was needless for him to say more than to call on Mr. Duggan to read the address. Mr. P. Duggan then read the address, which was as follows :— " To the Rev. Father Devoy, B.M. " Dear Rev. Father.— With feelings of deepest love, we assemble here thin evening to tenderyou a hearty welcome to Kumara. " Although your visit is doomed to be of short duration, yet, we thank Divine Providence for affording us some opportunity of again testifying our undying attachment to you. We assure you, dear Rev. Father, that we treasure a vivid recollection of your kin-1 and fatherly benevolence, while the sight of the many monuments of your zeal in this parish never fails to awaken in our hearts sentiments of the purest affection. " Knowing that your mUsion at present is in furtherance of the laudable and charitable work of Catholic Education, by soliciting aid towards the establishment of a much-needed diocesan college, at Wellington, we promise to render you all the assistance our limited means will permit, and thereby give to some extent a tangible proof of our fidelity. " Trusting that our Lord may long favour you with strength and eve: •increasing grace to perform the duties of your sacred office, " We remain, on behalf of the parishioners of Kumara, yours very Bincerely, •' Denis Hannan, Mayor. Robbbt Jameb Smith. "W. C. MacDbrmott. John Mohan. " John Mulvihill. Michael Maloney. " D. Callaghan. p. Duggan." The Chairman stated that the Band members were also desirous of preenting an address, and called upon Mr. James Rochford, who rjad I heir address, as t Hows :—: — " To the Rev. Father Devoy, S.M. " Dear Rev. Father— We, the members of Kumara Catholic Brass Band, cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing the aaep debt of gratitude we owe to you. "Ever solicitous in our spiritual and temporal concerns, you were the means of establishing this band, that it may afford us a source of amusement, and foster amongst us bonds of brotherly attachment. J •' We are happy to inform you, dear Rev. Father, that we have endeavoured to keep these objects constantly in view, and by permitting no eatrangitnent to separate up, we are pleased to be present here this evemng to pay in some measure, suitable honour to your visit amongst us. J '• Wishing you every happiness here and hereafter is the earnest prayer of the members of Kumara Catholic Brass Band. " Wm. T. Richabds, Bandmaster. _, „, . " James Rochpohd, Secretary. The Chairman excused the Rev. Father Walshe, the parish Priest for bi» absence from the meeting, in consequence of his having had to fulfil an announcement previously made to his people at Goldsborough, viz., that he would there attend on that (Saturday) evening to their spiritual wants and would celebrate fir 6 t Mass for them the following morning. Those duties then necessarily called him away The Rev. Father Devoy, who on rising to respond was received with great applause, said— Mr. Mayor and dear friends, I can assure you that I was greatly surpri. Ed on my arrival here this evening when th ; Rev. Father Walshe told me that it was publicly announced that 1 was to receive an addi-ss of welcome. I was surprised because I do rot think that I did anything whilst among you to merit this special distinction. It is usual when a priest is leaving one parish to proceed to another, for his late parishioners to present him with a

token of their esteem and affection, and this had been done on my T fwl ra ' in a 7e7 cr y Bttl »«»ntial and gratifying manner. Indeed, I thank you very much for your great kindness. Many things, it is true, were done in this parish for the greater honour and glory of wxi while I was here, but without your generous co-operation the*} good works could not have been carried out. To you, then, in a special manner praise is due. I was greatly pleasel on arriving nere to see the vast improvements that have been done in the church the presbytery, and the grounds since I left Kumara ; on this account, aiso, l beg to congratulate you and your worthy pastor, the Rev. father Wai? 11 ?. I wa3 delighted to hear from the Rev. Father waisne that the school is in a flourishing condition. To give the children a good Christian education is the great work of the present time, and it is very pleasing to know that the Catholics of Kumara fiave always most genarously supported their school. lam glad that in your address of welcome you have touched upou the object of my mission to the West Coast. That object is, as you are aware, to collect money for the erection of St. Patrick's College, Wellington. We have several convents for the higher education of girls, but we have no college fox the higher education of boys, and St. Patrick's College. Wellington, is destined to supply this great want ; besides, it will be a seminary for the education of young men for the priestAooa. I shall have to speak to you on this subject at another time, mtn regard to the second address, I thank the membera of the .Brass Band for their kind sentiments, but I think they give me too much credit when they say that I founded the band, it was only in course of formation when I left here. The honour belongs to my worthy successor, the Rev. Father Walshe. I founded the Fife and Drum Band for the boys, and I regret to hear that, after getting on so well for a long time, they now begin to fall away. I must congratulate the members of the Brass Band on their great success, for although as yet I only heard them play one air, still, if they play the other pieces as well they certainly must have made great progress —and m a very short time also. I trust that they will persevere. They are a credit to their bandmaster, to the parish, and to themselves. I did not intend to make such a long speech when I stood up ; besides 1 feel fatigued after the long journey, so I must ask you to excuse me. 1 shall have many opportunities of speaking to you before I leave. I may be on the Coast for the next four or five mouths : in fact, the more money you give me for the great object of my mission, the longer I shall be inclined to remain amongst you. Again allow me to thank you for your great kindaes*. I have received many marks of kindness at your hands, but I look upon this one as the greatest. I have always heard it said that no matter where priests go in New Zealand, they can never find more generoii9 or kind-hearted people than on the West Coast (applause).