Reception of Father Mahoney, Onehunga

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1905, Page 5

Reception of Father Mahoney, Onehunga

(From our Auckland correspondent.) June 16. The formal reception of the Rev. Father Mahoney, who has succeeded the late Very Rev. Mgr. Paul in the Chu(rch. of the! Assumption, Onehunga, took place last Sunday in St. Mary's Hall after the evening devotions. There was a \ery large attendance of parishioners. Mr. James Nixon, the oldest parishioner, occupied the chair and briefly explained the object of the gathering. He called upon Mr. J. Shaldrick to read an addresb from the parishioners, which was as follows :—: — ' We, the parishioners of Onehunga, beg to tender you a most hearty welcome to our parish. We really feel honored at your being chosen as our pastor, and trust that we will ever be worthy of you as our spiritual guide. It is with feelings of gratitude we learn of the work you have done in this diocese since your ordination to the priesthood, and we trust God will reward you for your noble and self-sacrificing qualities as a zealous, devoted, and well-respected priest. We know you, like most of us, claim New Zealand as the land of your birth, although you received most of your education in. the land dear to our forefathers, and on this account dear to us also. We beg you again, dear Rev. Father, to accept our heartfelt greetings, and we earnestly pray tftiat God may 'grant you many years ol faithful labor in tHis parish, and beg of you in return to pray to (rod for us that we may be ever grateful to the teachings of our late beloved Monsignor Paul, in always co-operating with our pastor in all his wishes, and in ever respecting our priests as the ministers of our . Divine Lord. Begging your paternal blessing for ourselves and all those dear to us, and promising to accede to all your desires as far as reste with us, wo wish you again a hearty welcome. Signed on behalf of the parishioners, Wm. Kemp, sen., W. Shaldrick, W. Shale, J- Boland, T. McGehanj C. Ileeman, 11. Kearin, P. Neville, G. Cutts, J. Shaldrick. An address from the Hibernian Society, signed by Mr. T. Crisp (president) and Mr. D. MeCarUn (vicepresident) was read by the former, Father Mahoney, in replying, expressed Tiis deep gratitude for the cordial welcome extended to him. It was an unusual course, but he accepted it as a haptpy augury between the people and their priest. In coming to Onehunga he had a very difficult role to fill, for he was the successor of that able and model priest, the late Monsignor Paul. However, he intended taking the deceased prelate as his model and do his utmost for the parish. Reference had been made in the address to his labors, but he was not sent to Onehunga— one of the most important parishes in the diocese— as a reward for labor, 'but because he was senior priest to Monsignor O'Reilly* He might say he was no stranger to Onehunga, as- twenty years ago, immediately after his ordination, he was sent as curate to Monsignor Paul. It was at tlhat time he got a knowledge of the people, and, coupled with his further knowledge of them by repute, he felt sure of their hearty co-operation in the work thab was before him. Replying to the Hibernians, he said he thanked them sincerely for thedr ad-

dress,, for it came as a great surprise to him. Reference had been made to his love for deaff old Ireland, and he would assure them without flattery that he loved Ireland more than his native land. In conclusion he heartily thanked them for their spontaneous expressions of goodwill, and again reminded them that he woulti, strive to follow the example set by that saintly priest, Monsignor Paul. The pupils of the convent school, Onehunga, welcomed the Rev. Father Mahoney, by giving a very enjoyable entertainment at St. Mary's Hall. The following programme was gone through : Overture, ' Irish diamonds,' Miss Simmons ; chorus, ' Welcome ' ; an address was then read by Miss Dodson ; recitation, ' Leave thy fatherland,' Miss Tapp ; vocal solo, ' The promise of life,' Miss Reai<lou , Highland fling, pupils ; pianoforte duet, Misses Ddwards and Simmons ; chorus, ' Starlight,' pupils ; Irish jig, Master Bernard ; pianoforte solo, ' Alice,' Miss Kennedy ; ' The Swiss toy girl ' (in costume), Misses Dodson, ImelSa Simmons, and Aileen McMahon , club-swinging, pupils. The second part commenced with a chorus, ' The green shores of Brin,'followed by a cornet solo and duet by Miss and Master Bernard ; vocal trio, Misses RiorWan, E. Tapp, and E. Blakey ; recitations, Misses Brown and Dempsey • ' Idyllen waltz/ Misses " E. and A. Blakey ; pianoforte solo, ' Whispering leaves,' Miss Florence Brennan; dumbbell arill, pupils ; chorus, ' Home sweet home.' Father Mahoney, in his reply, thanked the children most cordially not only for the fcind words of welcome contained in theiir address, but also for the enjoyable entertainment they had provided. He said that twenty yearsago he had had the pleasure of meeting tne mothers of many of the pupils as he was then for a sihort time curate to Monsignor Paul, and twenty years ago before that again he was what they are now, and wnat they described him in their address, a pupil of the Sisters of Mercy in Auckland, and he was very pleased to see there tlhis evening his old teacher of 40 years ago (Sister M. Ignatius) now Rev. Mother, to whose strict training; he owed much. Father Mahoney is the first New Zealander ever raised to the priesthood, he having been born In d 4 7 years ago, from whe'nee n e proceeded to Ireland 29 years ago. and, after bavins; studied under Ihe late Archbishop Croke for some time, he afterwards prosecuted his studies in Belgium, France, ana*'at Oscott in England, where he was ordained by the present Bishop of Birmingham in April, 1884. Since his ordination the Rev. Father has lived for many years In France, Italy, and Germany, and in company with his brothers, has travelled extensively.