Presentation to Father James Lynch, Palmerston South

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10, 12 March 1908, Page 24

Presentation to Father James Lynch, Palmerston South

(From an occasional correspondent.)

A pleasant' function took place at the Presbytery, Palmerston (South, on Friday afternoon last, when the repres^n<bati\es of e>ery district of the Palmerston parish assemLLd to Say farewell to theijt, pastor, Rev. Faiher Lyuch, who,, on Monday last, left for a trip to Ireland,. Great Britain, and the Continent. The object of the gatheiing was introduced by. Mr. Edward O'Oonnell, who s<iid that -Father Lynch had labored amongst th^rn fox about twelve years , that it was not possible to mate an estimat.-on of the t°°d works that" had been accompii. h.d by him throughout the parish , that work was known to and appreciated by everyone of Ms paris', i.ners: They were all gUd of" the privilege granted them that day to demonstrate to him their esteem and appreciation of the work that he was doing amongst themi, and for which God has so well fitted him. His parishioners hoped that, their pastor would thoroughly enoyhis holiday, and they-pr a yed that he would return to them ra n> ii ooratjd 0 oratjd to cont Due his .good work. Mr. John (Jrisp read the following address :—: — ' Dear and Re* erend Father,— lt is with mingled feelings of regret and' pleasure, that we, the representatives of the Palmerston parish, meet here, prior to your' departure for Ireland 1 , to express our appreciation of the zeal and demotion that have characterised your work amongst us. We regret exceedngly that we should lose your services for e\eni a short time, but are pleased to have this opportunity of expressing our feelings, aoidi rejoice that after an absence of years you are about to> revisit the land of your bii-th, to see your dear relatives ard renew old acquaintances. With regard to the practical side of your work it as superfluous to enumerate the many works you have carried out during the many years you have labored amongst us, your work is selfevidont and displays that line artistic taste with which you delioht in embellishing the House of God. With inference to thu s: ittitual side of your mission, we owe you out heartfelt than' s for the sacrifices you have made en our behalf, including the many long drives undertaken in the depths of winter, over bad roads at great personal risk and inconvenience to attend to our spiritual wants. We are indeed deeply grateful to you for affect'iomte attention to this 'our most important need. We, therefore wish you a very jleasant and profitable holiday, and fervtn ly hope that you may find all who are d.ar to you in the best of health, and also that you may be at.le to mark much progress in that dear homeland, a love for which you have consistently ard successful y endeavored to keep alive in this new country. 'We look to you to bring us goodi tidaius^ from home, and earnestly hope you will return much benefited by your trip, to again take up y°ur duties amongst those who have beome so much attached t^ you through your devotion to their interests. . 'In conclusion, dear and Rev. Father, we wish you to accert the accompanying purse of sovereigns as a slight token of our esteem, and with fervent God speed, we remain, yo'irs in gratitude, on behalf of your parishioners, Edward O'Cann^ll, Hu?h O'Neill, Michael Joyce, James O'Conmll, P. M. Collins, John Kenny, William Fr<:s r, Patrick Krmy, James O'Connell, John Crisp, ' Mr. Patrick Kenny ifan presented Father Lynch with a purse chaining one hundred and ten sovere gns, a h ndlsome rtg, aid an umbrella suitably inscribed. ' In maYing th« pr se-itation, Mr. Kenny sad that while Fater Lynch "s pari Moners regretted his absence 'from them for even a short time, they were glad that he was a, ont to take a short rest from the arduous work that re had been do-no; for so many years, and they were a3i]g.'it-,d to h^e the opportunity of expressing to him the lo;e that Ihey bore him because of his zeal and araour m aWend'ng to the soiritual wants of the parish The parishioners did not pretend that the gift was an ade^ate representation of Father' Lynch's work The value of that work could not be assessed on earth Neither did the gift adanaiat-ly represent the feelings of his parishioners It, was given as a slight to^en of their ccci res-ect, their heartfelt gra+atude, and their high esteem for hum who did not consider or spare himself in attending to their spiritual reeds. The Palmers'on Parish was n© sinecure ; many weary miles had to be trave leri in the neat of summer and through the snows of winter alone ro'iph and frequently dangerous "roads, in order that has Peon i e hvin- in the most distant-^parbs of it nriffht have an opportunity of assisting at Mass Nn w25 +^ f de ,f T* a h ? itl *y than ' father Lynch. He trusted, that God would lon ff spare him. to carry on His work, and that he would return from his tour of the

world 'brimful of health and spirits. He cauld assure him that wherever he went hs devoted parishioners would follow Mm in their prayers. ,Mr. William Fraser, ou behalf .of the ladies of < Macraes, presented Father Lynch with a travelling rug. He' expressed the wish that Father Lynch would' be spared - to use the rug for many a day, and that it would con'tribwte to his comfort in Ms journey to' the Homeland. . Rev. Father Lynch, in reply, said, he could not prer tend that the Land! words addressed to him and the accompanying gifts bad token him by surprise for better, ' nobler, holier people 'than the majority of ths Catholics of the Palmerston parish he never expected to meet this ' side of heaven. On the d a y that he left thie land of bis. birth and the home of bis fathers the wish was formulated, and the hope cberLhcd, that he would one day return, and now the truly Catholic generosity of his par- ' ish.oners (which he highly appreciated) would enaJLs him to go abroad into the great -Catholic world, and perhaps while there he would learn what would enable him ti-e better to guide his people through the storm and Peril of their journey here below. He highly appreciated the gift, but -he v^ued th 3 spirit 1-hat prompted it more than tjie gift itself. When he returned to Ireland it* would be Ms proud privilege to te'.l of the grand Catholic spirit of his parishdoners, of their high patriotic principles, and their E reat lo\e for Ireland. He h d el--ways tried to inculcate the necessity for a strong fa/ith and a robust piety that could st a nd the wear and- tear ot this woxk-a-day world, and he thanked God the seed had fallen on fertile soil. While he was away they could rest assured thatb their more than generous support should not be forgotten— ''Where'er I roam, ard whatever realms I sco My heart will fondly turn back to ye ' Mr. Joyce and Mr. Collins joined with th 3 other VnTTL ? eulo^isfn- the work of Father Lynch, and T?o e r h r WOU^ d retu 5 n to tllem full of health 'and Aijor to> continue his gocd work. «:+Pi5 ?V i Father , Lynch Was also ' P rese nted wKh a , substantial purse of sovereigns by the prae§ts of the dioi^f 1 w, a i^ 7* ° f T. th ' 3 hi^ h esteem lv whllc h they hoi° d f th H Q e . ft f ° r Eur °Pc on Monday, and was seen off at th e station by a representative gathern- of his oar-