Hastings

New Zealand Tablet, 12 August 1909, Page 1257

Hastings

(From Our Own Correspondent.) August 2. Mr. Moriarty, the representative of the Tablet, was 'n town to-day, and his presence brought forth an eloquent appeal from Very Rev. .father Keogh at the 11 o'clock Mass on Sunday on behalf of the Catholic newspaper and Catholic literature in general. Mr. Edmund Moriarty, an old and respected resident of Hastings, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, July 27. Deceased was a devoted member of the Church, and led an exemplary life. He had been suffering for some considerable time from cancer, so that his end was" not unexpected. The funeral took place on Thursday, July 29, and the cortege was one of the longest seen in the district for some time. The members of the Hibernian Society, of which deceased was a member, attended in a body to the number of 75. The Rev. father Quinn officiated at the graveside. — R.I. P. Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., 8.A., late rector of St. Patrick's College, arrived in Hastings on Thursday evening last to commence his new duties as parish, priest. On Friday morning he was the guest of the pupils of the convent schools at a concert given in his honor, at which a presentation of an address was made by the children to their future pastor. The concert programme was as follows : Welcome song, ' Vivat, pastor bonus, 3 pupils ; action song, infants; club ex,ercises, juniors; song, 'Come to the woodland,' juniors; song, ' The minstrel boy,' seniors; recitation, Miss Alma Pop pelw'ell ; song, 'The shamrock,' girls; recitation, Miss Ivy Home; song, 'In happy moments,' girls; recitation, Master Peter Bridgeman; song, ' Let Eria remember,' boys; flower drill, junior girls. Master Dau O'Brien then read the following address : ' Very Rev. and Dear Father, — We are assembled here to-day to bid you welcome. Welcome to Hastings and to our scliools. It is indeed a great honor, which we assure you, dear Rev. Father, we appreciate, to have you with us as our future pastor and guide: We trust that you will find your new children, in their small way, worthy successors to your old pupils, and a consolation and a glory to you. May God bless you with health and strength to fulfil your, duties in Hastings for many long and happy years. This is the fervent prayer of your devoted children, the pupils of the Convent Schools.' Speaking on behalf of the Sisters and children, Rev. Father Quinn extended a hearty welcome to Very Rev. Father Keogh, who, he said,, had been his professor for many years at St. Mary's College, Dundalk, where he (Father Quinn) and all the pupils under Father Keogh had reaped the benefit of his wise counsel and gentle rule. The children of Hastings wotild find him a father and a friend — one who would enter into their little joys and sorrows and help them to fit themselves for their different walks in life. In replying, Father Keogh thanked the children very sincerely for their warm welcome, and for the kindly motives which prompted their presentations to him. He wishel them every happiness and success in their future careers, and concluded by granting them a holiday. In the evening Very Rev. Father Keogh was tendered a reception by the Catholic congregation in St. Patrick's Hall, which was filled with an overflowing audience, including representatives of the general public. Mr. W. T. Dennetti presided,' and the visitors included Rev. Fathers Goggan and O'Connor, of Napier, and Rev. Fathers Tymons and Macdonald, of Meeanee. The first part of the programme took the form of a short musical entertainment, consisting of the following items : ' The radiant morn, Sacred Heart, Choir; duet, 'Lovers nocturne,' Mr. and Mrs. V. R. Roach ; pianoforte solo, Master F. Sheehan ; song, Miss Hickey; mandolin solo, Miss Cronin; song, Mr. Avison; quartet, Misses Hickey and Vickers and Messrs. O' Sullivan and Vickers. At the conclusion of the concert an address of welcome was read by Mr. Dennett to Father Keogh as follows : ' Very Rev. and Dear Father, — We, the parishioners of Hastings, beg to offer you a sincere and hearty welcome

to our midst. When it became known to us that we were to lose Dean Smyth sorrow filled our hearts. He had labored long and well for the spiritual and temporal welfare of his flock, and we could not part with him without genuine regret. Our sorrow was, however, greatly lessened by the announcement that his successor was to be Very Rev. Father Keogh. Your fame reached us long before the news of your appointment to our parish. We have heard of the noble and great successes you have achieved in the highest educational institutions during the past thirty-four years m the Old Land and also in New Zealand. To sever connections with your beloved staff, college, and pupils must have caused you a keen pang. Still, we trust our loyalty to you and our fidelity in following, your wise counsels, will compensate you in some measure for the sacrifice you have made. Once more extending to you a sincere and hearty Cead mile failte, -\ve beg to be, your devoted children, the parishioners of Hastings.'

Mr. Dennett also read the following telegrams: — From Dean Smyth : ' Gladly uniting with parishioners in hearty welcome.' From Very Rev. Dean Regnault (Provincial), Wellington : ' With Hastings congregation in wishing you welcome and success.'

Mr. Dennett welcomed Father Keogh on behalf of the congregation, and Rev. Father Quinn and Rev. Father Goggan (who was a fellow-student with Father Keogh -'n France) also extended their greetings, and wished Father Keogh health and God's choicest blessings in his new work. In returning thanks for the y.ery cordial reception accorded him* Father Keogh paid a high tribute to the great work accomplished by Dean Smyth in Hastings, which he (Father Keogh) hoped to continue.

Refreshments were then handed round', and Father Keogh mingled with the assemblage, being introduced to those present by Pather Quinn.