Farewell to Father Goggan, Temuka

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 9, 5 March 1908, Page 15

Farewell to Father Goggan, Temuka

On the evening of February 19, a very= representative gathering of the Catholics etc Temuka was held in fc>t. Joseph's school room, for the purpose of saying goodbye to the Rev. Father Goggan, and of maWng> him a presentation on his departure for Napier. The following report of the meeting _is condensed trom the "•• Temuka Leader ' '--rMr.- W. Jeffries, who "occupied the chair, explained the object of the gathering. After expressing! his regret at Father Gogfean's departure, the Chairman went on to say that when the guest of the evening came to Temuka two years ago, the church was saddled with a debt of £870 ; that with other amounts spent on improvements since made a total of £1450. In spite of obstacles Father Goggan would leave the parish entirely free of debt. He thought that a wonderful record, more t's-***" pec-ially as he was not in good healthr He had worked here so- hard, yet he would leave tdxem on the following day and not take a shilling of their money. It was their work that had been done, and to-day tlieir church, pi'esjjytery, and grounds were a credit to the parish, and the admiration' of all who saw them. Father Goggan had done a great deal more for the parish than many knew of. When those who had agreed to ais;n the guarantee at the bank for the parish indebtedness went to sign the guarantes they found tihat the amount was £dOO less than they expected, and found that Father Goggan had pasid that amount from his own private purse. The gathering, would wish' him a complete restoration, to health, and that he, would be long spared to carry on the work be was so 'well fitted for 1 . Although he bad 1 labored here so well he frajdf done nothing for-him-self, and all he would take with him was the few pounds th a t had been presented to him at Pleasant Point (and part of that he had returned as a donation towards _a memorial to the late Rev. Father Fauvel at. the Point)/ and what" they were presenting him with that night. Messrs. J. Barry (president of the Catholic Young Men's Club), T. Knight '(secretary), J. Fitzgerald, O'Loughlin, and D. Fitzgerald (Kerrytowh'j, also testified to the good work done in the parish by Father Gcg^an. Mr. P. Mitten, *in presenting Father Goggan with a purse of sovereigns, said that he (Father Goggan) had dens splendid work iii the parish. He regretted that the presentation was not. much, larger. Miss Mary Barry, on behalf ct the Children of Mary,' presented. Father Goggan with an address and a handsome dressing case. . • • < Father Goggan thanked all for their presents, especially the Children of Mary, in ' whom- he took a great interest. With regard to what he. had done, there was no-t much 1 to boast of, and were it not for Mr. John Fitzgerald and a few others he did not know that „ he would have been able to carry out the programme which he had laid down when he came amongs,t them. He then enumerated certain works which be had' intended to do had he remained in the parish. He referred to the good work which was being done by the. Sisters of St. Joseph, who deserved more gienerous treatment at the! (hands of the parishioners. As to the debt on the parish: -of £1450, £1400 had been paid off. There was £50 to pay.' He would put his presentation and a little more to it', and they would Jbe free of "debt. For the work be had dene he deserved no credit, for that he was ordained. A priest did not want money. He always got his liviig. But to see his' congregation united and happy .was ' his aspiration, and when he died he boped he would get his reward.' He urged on all to help their priest, who had to do his duty because he was responsible. ' fie had been sent out' to preach the truth, and had tried to -do his- duty v During his ministry the attendance at church had been' % good^and everything had gone onwelT. '-He' wa s going to Napier for the good of his He was. told by medical men whom he consulted that he must ere to a milder climate, and' there was every nmspect of his recovery. l n Napier he would have much the snme work to do as he had done hero,, and' he had- "no db'ibt he would succeed 1 . He thanked them for their present and hoped they would have every happiness" and prosperity hereafter. Tt was decided to en rry out ~ the work referred to by -Father Goggan in his addrpss. Mr. Barry salil it wovld hurt them •• »ry r..ii-h >If "Fat : r Goggan stciild persevere in the determination to use bis 1 presentation'to e'ear off the church de"b+.. On the .speaker's- suggestion "1h.3 amount necessary for this Purpose was guaranteed by those present. After li^ht refreshments were handed round the proceedings terminated.