RETURN OF FATHER J. McKENNA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 31, 1 December 1893, Page 18

RETURN OF FATHER J. McKENNA.

( Wairarapa Times, November 24 )

Between two and three hundred persons of all denominations assembled at the Drill Hall, Masterton, last evenicg, for the purpose of welcoming back to This district tbe Bey Father J. McKenna, who has recently been on a trip to tbe Old Country. A well-arranged concert was tht first portion of the programme and the excellent items rendered were each well appreciated and received with applause by the large audience. The following ladies and gentlemen contributed the musical part : Misses Renall and Corbett, Meedamea Butement and Anketell, and Messrs Astall, Simms, and Lilley. Tba Masterton Orchestra also played an overture with great credit.

After the concert, three pretty little children ascended the platform, and presented their popular pastor with two beautiful bouquets, accompanied by the following pretty addres?, signed by several of the Bcholars of the Catholic school : —

" To the Rev Father John McKenna — Rev and dear Father McKenna. We desire to give you an affectionate welcome, on the occasion of your ret urn amongst us onca more. We are very glad to have this opportunity of ttstifying our deep gratitude to you, for the paternal care you have always taken in our progress and welfare. Most of us are of an ag<3 to apprtciato thj kind inrerest which you hive ever manifested, as well in the performance of our school duties, as ia those little pleasures of ours which contribute to relieve the monotony of school routine. In conclusion, dear Father, we beg you will accept of this little expression of the love atid gratitude which we owe to you. Signed on bt half the pupils of St Patrick's School — Patrick O'Leary, Victor Bell, BerUc ChuptnaD, Thomas Oat-hion, Edgar Richardß, Cissy Ilourigan, Mary Connol l , Maggie McKillop, Annie Chapman — Mastertun, Nov, 23rd, IS9J."

Mr A. ii. Bunny, then, on behalf of the congregation and those assembled, spoke a few words of welcome. He said they had met

togsther to do honour to Father McKmna on his return to the Colony after a well-earned holiday. Father McKenna had been in New Zealand nearly ten yeare, six of which he had been stationed in Masterton, and it was not to be wondered at that he had become home-sick, and wished to once more see " the Old Folks at Home," and tbosa near and dear to him. During tbe last few years amongst thsm he had made himself known to all classes of the commnnityi and all had le-irne-l to esteem an 1 respect him (applause). Although his tempjrary absence from them had been severely felt, they did not b tjrulg' the holiday, for some of them knew he was only redeeming a promise made to his parents when leaving home, that he would return to see thrm at the first available opportunity. He (Mr Bunny) had it fr< m Father McKenna's own lips, that the trip had been a most bemficial one, and resulted in a most enjoyable meeting with friends ard relations. He (Mr Bunny) waa glad to say, however, that their pastor had resumed his duties amongst them with no pang of regret, but had gained fresh energy to help on his good work. He hoped that ere long Father McKenna would bo appointed parish priest for the district, and that meant that he wouhi be permanently settled amongst them, and would in all probability end his days in their mi'ist (applause; He had a ple.aant duty to perform, in preeenting an address from the parishioners of the Valley, but before he did so ho would lika tj testify to the m nt earnest manner in which the Catholic work bad been carried on in their pastor's absence. Fathers O'Meara and De Lache had performed their duties with the utmost satisfaction, and deserved the thanks of all connected wiih the Church. Mr Bunny read the following address, which was received with applause :—

" To the Rev Father McKenna.— Rev and Dear Father McKenna — We, your parishioner* in the Wairarapa heartily welcome yon on your return from the Old Country. We feel assured that you have thoroughly enjoyed the tour you have made, aud trust that you found your aged parents, relations and other friends in the land of your birth in a s f ate of piofpsnty and good health. We are all gratefully conscious of the strenuous exertions you have made for the advancement of our parish daring the time it has been entrusted to your care. Your recent and highly successful endeavours to remove the long standing encumbrances on our Church are still frtsh in our memory ; and we hope that you may be long permitted to remain with us as our parish priest, to which position you are so deservedly entitled, While your absence from amongst as has been truly felt, we, at the same time, desire to record our sincere thanks to the Rev Fathers O'Meara and De Lache, who during the period so ably administered the affairs of the parish. Masterton, 23rd November, 1893."

The Hibernian Society were then represented on the stage by Borne dozen young members of the Order, and Mr B. Dolan acted as spokesman. He had much pleasure in welcoming Father McKenna back to Masterton, and the Hibernians had felt it their sacred duty to tender him some representation of their feelingp, in recognition of the many services he had bestowed upon the band. The Society was one formed for the encouragement of mutual friendship, and their pastor had always taken a deep interest in their welfare. The presentation was only a small one, but he knew Father McKenna would look upon it with a deal ot gratitude and pleasure, Mr Dolan then presented trm with a purse of sovereign?, and read the following address : —

"To Rev Father J. McKenna.— Bev and dear Father McKenna,— With deep feelings of affection we welcome you back to Masterton after your well-deserved trip to the old land. We gladly avail ourselves of this opportunity of recording our sincere appreciation of the many kind services you have so cheerfully bestowed on our Society, and of tendering you our most grateful thanks for that assistance which has almost wholly contributed to its success. We have noticed with deep satisfaction the exertions jou have made in our bjhalf, the zeal with which you have worked for the sacred objects of our league, and the unfailing anxiety you have always evidenced in our spiritual and temporal welfare. On your return from that dear old land, in which bo many of us take an exiled interest, we beg of you to accept of this faint testimonial of the gratitude we owe you, and hope that you may be loDg spared to direct and guard the interests of our Society. Signed on behalf of St Michael's branch of the Hibernian A.C.B, Society. James Q. Hunter, president ; Humphrey J. O'Leary vice-president ; AugUßtin Stempa, treasurer ; Ben J. DulaD, secretary. Masterton, 23rd November, 1893.

Father McKenna, on rising, met with an enthusiastic reception, and made an eloquent and feeling speech. Pie said he could not find words to express his feelings of pleasure aud gratification, at tho hearty reception he had met with that evening. Ha was glad to be once more amongst them, and hoped the good fellowship would long continue. He was grateful to think that hia efforts in the pa9t to advance the little ones on the narrow and difficult path had been appreciated, and he would value the children's address more than words could tell. His welcome from the children had been most affectionate (applause). It was far from necessary for thtm to put in words their thankfulness for the services he had rendered, for ha had only done his duty, but he would prize their little token to the

end of hia days, so that his successors might see what the little ones of Masterton thought of him. In his six years' labour amongst them, everyone bad treated bim with the greatest consideration, and it was deep satisfaction to know that bis flock rallied round him. It was also evident by the numbers before bino, who were not connected with bis Oburcb, that he bad a vast number of friends in the districts. He was indeed grateful for their attendance and hearty welcome. He would accept the honour in the spirit it was conveyed, and sincerely hoped the terms of the addresses were not flattery. He trusted that for many years to follow the same kindly feelings would continue. The grand reception he bad met wiih that evening would have made every man feel proud, and it was an ample reward for one leaving the land of his binh, and the dear ones, perhaps never to see them again on earth. He felt proud as the rector for the Wairarapa district, and they wonld have to take the will for the deed, as he could not adequately exprebs his feeliDgs of gratitude (applause;. With reference to the Hibernian Society, he was one of them, and would always do his utmost for their welfare. He was glad to see the young men recognised the benefits of the order, and it would have the effect of keeping in remembrance dear Old Ireland as a place they may wel! feel proud of (applause). They could rest assured that the order would always have his sympathy, as long as the members conducted themselves faithfully and lived up to the rules. The rev gentleman then gave a brief and interesting account of the incidents of the voyage, with a brilliant description of the principal places of interest en route. Some of his reminiscences were highly amusing, and the audience testified their appreciation by continual and hearty applause.

The hall was then cleared for dancing, and fully one hundred couples enjoyed themselves until about two o'clock this morning, MeeBTB Bunny and Jeffries acting as M.O's. Mr Dolan, the secretary of the Reception Committee, and his co-workers are to be congratulated upon the thorough success of the social, thus giving the residents of Masterton an opportunity of joining in the reception of one bo thoroughly esteemed by one and all as the Rev Father McKenna.