Presentation to Father O'Dwyer at Manaia

New Zealand Tablet, 17 December 1908, Page 12

Presentation to Father O'Dwyer at Manaia

At a meeting of Catholics of Manaia in the convent schoolroom on December 8 a presentation was made to the Rev. Father O'Dwyer, who has been in charge of the district for the past nine months during the absence of the Very Rev. Father Power. We take the following report of the presentation from the Waimate Witness/. — Mr. J. J. Meldon' (.chairman of the committee) presided. After several vocal items had been contributed Mr. Meldon introcluced"~the business of the evening. He referred to the fact that Father O'Dwyer, in taking charge of the parish in Father Power's absence, came to them as a young man from college, inexperienced in the ways of the world, but he had done so well, accomplished so »auch, that the <ojimittee, as representing the parishioners, deciled not to allow him to resign control without some, recognition*^ -his work. His energy and earnestness in furthering Ihe interests of the Church were shown in the fact that in nine months a debt of £600 had been completely wiped out. Ft was creditable to Fatler O'Dwyer and creditable to the parishioners. All round his work had been appreciated, ad when it was decided to make the presentation there was a liberal response on the part of the parishioners. Mr. Meldon called on Mr. M. Franklin to make the, presentation. Mr. Franklin remarked that all would admit Father O'Dwyer had carried out the duties entrusted to ,him. in a, most satisfactory manner. " Recognising Father O'Dwyer'a worth, the parishioners decided that the proper course to> adopt- to show their respect and v appreciation of 'his ' services was to make a suitable presentation' before he 'gaye .up charge of the parish. He (the speaker) had been asked ' .to make the -presentation, and he- could assure '^hem* it was the most pleasant duty he ever Bad to perform during Kfs stay in Manaia for over "a period of '2B yeais.' He then read the following address: — ' „.,.,.,, 'We the parishioners of Manaia' and "district 'on the occasion of relinquishing temporary of" our" parish* desire trf tender you, not only % our appreciation of your zealous' and devoted labors for bur spiritual' "welfare iiut also our regard 'for you personally; ;; "We .recognise" mat' single-handed the discharge of ' the /"duties ' of ' your 5 'holy' office has entailed great personal sacrifices, but the obligations undertaken have been fulfilled in a befitting manner' and with due regard to the' requirements of the parish. ' You have freely and ungcudgiiigly given of your' best), and we now rejoice with' you that in the shbr£ space ' of nine months the result of your capable adtainistraiion has freed the .parish debt. - In asking you to accept the accompanying gifts as a token of our esteem we earnestly pray that you may long be spared in health and vigor to labor in the Lord's vineyard, and that your lot may be "cast in pleasant

places.' The following .were the signatures: Messrs. J. J. ■ Meldon, M. Franklin, A. O'Donnell,, Kearns Bros., E. Long, J. Burke, junl, C. Garrigan/and M. Bolger. .. - Mi. Franklin also asked Father O'D/wyer to accept a purse of sovereigns and a watcli guard and. gold sovereigncase, as tokens of the esteem jyid admiration in which he was held by the Manaia parishioners, .and accompanying , the gift was the sincere hope that the ,Rev. j? ather would be spared to enjoy a long and. happy. life in his adopted Country and remain many years amongst the Manaia parishioners. Mt. J. Bourke, jun., as president of the Hibernian. Society, referred to the good advice that Father O'Dwyer had given to the organisation. Mt. B. McCarthy (representing Mr. P. McCarthy, one of the founders of the church at . Manaia) endorsed the ■ sentiments expressed by preceding speakers, and by the address, concerning the good work accomplished by the Rev. Father O'Dwyer. It was worthy of special attention that during Father O'Dwyer's administration of parish affairs he had extinguished the indebtedness of the Manaia church with the co-opefation and assistance of the parishioners. Father Power would no doubt be pleased to find on his return that Father O'Dwyer's work had been so keenly appreciated, and that the Manaia church was free of debt, while Hawera's indebtedness had been reduced to £211. Messrs. M. Bolger, A. O'Donnell, E. Long, and D. J. Hughes also spoke in appreciation of Father O'Dwyer's qualities as a priest and his labors in the parish. Father O'Dwyer, in acknowledging the gifts, said he did not know how to express his feelings. Words could not adequately express them. If they could then he would be able to thank the people for their kindness. He was filled with feelings of gratitude to the chairman and the other members of the congregation, who had spoken such kind things of him. He had not been quite three years in the district and it had been a happy time for him. He hoped he had performed his duties in a manner pleasing to Almighty God and also to the Catholics of Manaia. The large and representative gathering that evening, and the generous gifts which they had been good enough to give him, told him that he had done some good in the district; or, at least, what he had done had been pleasing to the people. To the absent pastor some of the credit had to be given, for he was the guiding star in all these undertakings, and the speaker was sure no one would be more pleased than he, when, on his return, Manaia would present him with a parish free from debt. Father O'Dwyer also acknowledged that a great deal of the success was due to the Catholics of .uianaia. They were a happy and a united people, a religious and well-conducted people. He again thanked the people for their generous gift, and hoped God would pour His choicest blessings on the people of the Waimate Plains. During the evening songs were sung by Misses Hilles, Milner, and Condon, and Messrs. Lambert, Cosgrove, and Hughes. Mrs. Hilles and Miss Milner played the accompaniments. The ladies provided supper, and a pleasant evening was terminated with the singing of ' Auld lang syne.'