PRESENTATIONS TO FATHER JOHNSTON, WAIPAWA

New Zealand Tablet, 30 June 1910, Page 1017

PRESENTATIONS TO FATHER JOHNSTON, WAIPAWA

(From occasional correspondent.) The esteem in ,which the Rev. Father Johnston is held by the people of Waipawa was shown recently, when the convent schoolroom was crowded by those "who desired to bid him farewell on the occasion of his departure for Kaikoura, to which he has been appointed. The schoolroom was very tastefully decorated, and among those present were several visiting clergy and many non-Catholics. An excellent musical programme was provided by the pupils of the school, who acquitted themselves with much credit. Mr. S. McGreevy, on behalf of the parishioners of St. Patrick's. Church, presented Father Johnston with a purse of sovereigns. Before making the presentation Mr. McGreevy read the following address: ■ Rev. and Dear Father Johnston, —On the eve of your going from among us we, your Waipawa parishioners, in common with our fellow Catholics of this large parish, beg respectfully to. express to you our sincere regret at your departure. At the same time we fully realise that time inevitably brings changes, and that you cannot remain always with us. The eight years you have spent with us have sped by only too quickly, and it is only on halting to look back that we realise how they have flown. The parish has flourished greatly under your charge, and we know that it is entirely due to your untiring efforts that such a very satisfactory state of things exists. You are leaving us with a beautiful church and presbytery free-of debt,, which we feel exceedingly proud of, and it must be most gratifying to yourself to be able to hand over to your euccessor these buildings, not as you found them when you first came amongst us (in.all respect to your predecessor), but absolutely free from any encumbrance whatever.' Thanks to your efforts also our church now possesses a very fine organ, a very large church bell that would do justice to churches in the larger cities, and handsome statues and holy pictures. We take this opportunity of thanking you most heartily for the many fine statues and holy pictures that you have placed in our church at your own expense, and which you have been so good as to make a present to us, and for this we assure you we will be for ever grateful. It is our sincere wish and hope that in the years to come you may retain a kindly recollection of us who remain, and that you may not only be blessed by a long life, health, and happiness, but also that you may'in the future enjoy the full realisation of all the hopes which you most greatly cherish. We shall esteem your acceptance of the accompanying souvenir of our regard and bid you a kind farewell.—We are,-your most sincerely, on behalf of the Waipawa congregation, Stephen McGreevy, jun., Thomas Butler, Stephen McGreevy, M. Murray, E. H. Lee.' An address from the pupils of the convent school was read by Miss Eileen Whittington. D. Fitzgerald presented Father Johnston with a beautiful silver-mounted ink-stand, with a pearl-handled pen, a tribute from the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Children of Mary, and the school children while Charles Whittington handed the rev. gentleman - a . silver shaving mug, a gift from. altar boys. Gordon Limbrick presented a programme of the concert, printed on satin, which was tastefully framed, as a memento of the occasion. Miss Margie Shanly acted as accompanist. Very Rev. Dean Smyth expressed both pleasure and regret at Father Johnston's departure from Waipawa: pleasure for the expressions of kindly feeling that had been uttered regarding Father Johnston's work in the district, and regret that the people were losing such an able and conscientious priest. They could.only judge people's hearts by their outward professions, and from what he had heard he could truly say that there was a real tie of friendship between Father Johnston and his congregation. Partings were always painful. Apart from the parental tie, there was none dearer and nearer than the tie that united the priest to his .congregation, for it was a tie with God. Father Johnston left a grand souvenir behind him of zeai and devotion. The churches erected in Onga Onga and Waipukurau were monuments of his zeal, while the beautiful music of the organ he had bought afforded much pleasure to the congregation. They had every reason to appreciate

El * w J . < ? rk nd / to - feel sorrow at his departure. On behalf of the Fathers of the Meeanee Seminary, he expressed sorrow at Father Johnston's departure. He felt sure he would ,display the same zeal in his new parish as ho had done in Waipawa. He wished him God-speed and many happy days m his new sphere of duty. - :-; -J . ««,«, v y ReV ' f ather Keogh, in a happy and humorous speech, expressed regret at parting with a neighborly friend, and paid a tribute to Father Johnston's zeal, eloquence hi tho district d W ° n f ° r him the esteem of all parties Fn+Z h °T I l eV ' + Fat il Cahill alluded to the good /done by Father Johnston for the material progress of the -■ Church/: especially 111 the outlying portions of his parish. On the spiritual side, his striking eloquence had stirred up a great interest in his congregation, while his ministrations had his dep^lureJ 6 of goA " They had S eat , ca «. to regret l/£ father . Johnston said words were inadequate for him to express his thankfulness and gratitude for the gifts they had given him and the kind expressions which had ?nSv Pa Ti ed them - , - The dress was the outcome of geneosity They gave lain credit for constructive work, which he did not deserve. Ho had been helped by generous people and without their aid he could, do nothing. He thanked them for what they had done for him. He also iked the non-Catholic portion of the community, many of whom Mere his very good friends, and he was gad to see the present that : night. Amongst the number was their progressive Mayor (Mr W. I. Limbrick), who had performed his civic and social duties in an admirable manner There was also Dr Ross, whom he had to thank for his kindness and generosity to the Sisters. He would always look back lS 1r ?i ea + l Ure ° n i* 116 t ght »W r ears he had spent Waiofwa them A and his thoughts would often turn towards \\aipawa. He especially appreciated the gift of the children. He thanked the Sisters of St. Jofeph for the kindness extended to him, and made touching reference to their unselfish devotion to the spiritual and secular education of those entrusted to their care. There are few words LiWtH gU " ge ' continued the speaker, more touching .thair. Good-bye ' and no more beautiful words among Christian people. ; Of all their troubles, parting was til greatest But the word was full of 'partings. The aged parents had to part with: their children when the reaper gathered them m, and relations-and friends had to part with one another. God, in His wisdom, ordained partings to show them that they were only pilgrims" upon this eartS' Their youth their joys, and their riches were only of brief duration.. The day of parting must come. A vacant efii? the longing for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still. Such was the lot of all He was sorry to leave them but he looked forward to a meeting in the other world, where all. was happiness. " He wishe3 G h oTrsd a tiefffiVnf ectionate good - nFght ' ght to a Cl ° Se by the audi - ce Tho nAMi?* tl ? e x?° 1 n I gi ; e J a . tio ? Provided: refreshments. The Oddfellows - Hal l' Waipukurau, was crowded to the Johnston M°r CC W ol \ of 3 16 t arow ? 1 ! *? the Rev. Fate Johnston Mr W. A. Chambers (chairman of the Waipukurau Town Board), who presided had on his right Rev. Father Johnston and on his left Rev. Father Cahfll (Danneyirke). Rev. y-W-, Martin (Anglican) was also present. After a number of musical items had been given, the chairman addressed the gathering. He referred to Father Johnston s many good qualities; not only was he a good pastor but a sincere friend. Personally he would feel his departure very much. Father Johnston had left an impression that would endure, and his removal meant the loss of one of their best citizens. He then called on Mr. P. S. Carroll to make the presentation. , - w«miuu ™ o;£? Ir Carroll said that Father Johnston had come here I«a +1 years ago, when the parish was comparatively small and the parishioners very scattered. As the result of his zeal, churches had been built and the scattered parishioners brought together. Father Johnston was leaving P them, 23 they congratulated the people of Kaikoura on getting a pi lest endowed with so many graces of mind ■ and heart. He then presented Father Johnston, on behalf of the con: gregation, with a purse of sovereigns. In replying, Father Johnston said he could not find morels to express his thanks for the generosity shown him and for the flattering remarks made about him. He was glad to see Rev. Mr. Martin and others present. Thev had come there m a good spirit, showing that in this community there was n sectarian bias. He was leaving the place which for the past eight years had been his Home wherehe had made many friends, but it would not be 'out of sight, out of mmd.' He would be with them in spirit and "V prayer, and if he should not meet them again in AVaipukurau ho hoped to meet;them in the next world ; where there were no sorrows and no good-byes ' - ' 't? u RGV, T I ? atI i Cr Cahi ! l spoke briefly of his association with lather Johnston, and referred to tho good he had done both materially and spiritually. He regretted the departure of such a gifted priest, and wished him success in his new parish. « ■ , ,-" During the evening songs were sung by Mr. T St .Lawrence Toner (of Napier), who had come specially to sing, out of friendship for . Father Johnston, and also bv Messrs. Richardson, Merton, and Arthur. Mr. Carroll contributed a recitation, and Miss Bird a pianoforte solo