PRESENTATION TO FATHER GALERNE, S.M.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 10, 7 March 1901, Page 20

PRESENTATION TO FATHER GALERNE, S.M.

(From an occasional correspondent.) A very pleasant evening was spent in the Kerrytown Schoolraom on February 27, when Rev. Father Galerne, S.M., was entertained by a large number of his well-wishere on the occasion of his removal to Christohurch. Mr. H. Brosnan occupied the chair, and capital speeches were made by Messrs. D. Angland and Jeffreys, of Temuka. Songs were given during the evening by Rev. Father G-alerne, Mr. Jeffreys, the Misses Stevenson, Coughlan, Brosnan, and the pupils of the school. Father Galerne wai presented with an address and a purse of sovereigns. The address, which was as follows, was read by Miss Nellie O'Driscoll, and the presentation was made by Miss Ettie Dore .—. — Dear Rev. Father Galerne, — It is with feelings of the profoundest regret and heartfelt love that we, your friends of Kerrytown and Pleasant Point, have through your removal to Chrietchurch to say ' Good-bye ' to you to-night. During the last three years you have been atnongbt us we have been edified by your saintly life, encouraged and supported by your kindly manner and excessive charity. Your kind consideration for tho poor, and prompt attention to the eick, will bo long treasured in our memories. We have watched with admiration your zeal for the beauty of the ' House of Uod,' and sincerely regret your leaving us before seeing your cherinhed wish realised — the erection of a tower for St. Mary's, Pleasant Point. You will be missed more particularly by the children, for whom you always had a w( rd of encouragement and a pleasant smile ; they never felt ho happy as when you were in their midst. We all sincerely trust that in the near future your superiors will see their way clear to send you amongst us again. In taking leave of you. dear Father, we ask your remembrance of us in the Holy Sa^rifioe of the Ma><H, and from our hearts we invoke for you God's blessing and happiness, and that you may be long spared to continue your divine work. We beg of you to accept the accompanying gift as a small token of our filial love and esteem. We beg to remain, your devoted people and children of Kerrytown and Pleasant Point. Father Galerne made a very feeling reply. In the course of his remarks he said it was impossible for words to express hia gratitude for their presence there that evening and for all their kindness shown to him during his exceedingly happy stay amongst them. He said, next to hia ordination, this event was one of the most memorable in his life, and that he never felt ho lonely since he left his dear native land.