Welcome Home to Father Furlong

New Zealand Tablet, 18 April 1912, Page 26

Welcome Home to Father Furlong

(By our Auckland i correspondent.)

„ „-; -------- • . April 12. , , ReVl fftjier Furlong, who left last I year on a twelve months' holiday, returned by : the Mongolia early on Wednesday morning. That evening there was a very large number of parishioners 5 present: in St Leo's Academy Devonport to bid the popular pastor a hearty welcome home /; ; On, the stage with Mr. J. J. O'Brien who. was in; the chair, were' the ; ;Ve: Archdeacon Brod le Rev. Fathers Holbrook, Chill, Brennan S nan, Tormey, Finn, Golden, ; Ormond, Ford -; 0T rell and O'Malley; also Messrs. Wright Mbylan,4. Walsh W Whelan, and J. P. Graham 'h * - :■■ - The chairman said that the pleasing duty of formally welcoming,Father Furlong home, on behalf of the l parishioners,,had ; been entrusted to him. He was delighted to be present, for no; one held Father Furlong rin higher-esteem than he. : They had all followed their parish priest in spirit 7 through the great continent of America, and on to • Ireland. Thev had watched with eagerness, too, for his return, and were

gratified that night ■■ to find Father Furlong looking the picture of health. It was their earnest ■ desire that' Father Furlong may long be spared to them at Devonport. • He then called > for three cheers for f Father Furlong, -which were given with much enthusiasm. '/. j When' Father Furlong rose to reply he was accorded quite an novation.. ; He said that twelve months before they had = assembled j there to.bid him -farewell. Since then he had ,visited a great many places, but none in which he was happier than in Devonport. , He made feeling reference to his arrival Ireland, and to. his lengthy stay with his mother and relatives in Wexford., He; had [found them all well and ; strong, which , added .much to the .enjoyment of hjs holiday. His visit .to the ' Continent, too, had been, very enjoyable, but of that and of his Irish tour he would give them a detailed account on a future occasion. ;,'„ He had brought with him some excellent lantern; slides, and with the aid of these he would lecture to them, about his tour. He concluded by thanking all who were ,- present, ;especially Fathers Golden and Ormond, who had attended to the parish in his absence Mr. O'Brien, who had presided, and the committee who,had organised the reception. . . - Lv. '

-■;■;,;; An ; enjoyable musical programme was provided by Misses Boylan, McCallum, and Coleman, and Messrs. Halliwell, Whelan, Moylan, and /Masters O'Shea and Molloy. The accompaniments were played by Miss E. Mollov, Miss Boylan, and Mr. Whittaker. .; .. Mr. Wright, on behalf of the parishioners, bade farewell to Father Ormond, ; who in the course of his reply said he had assisted at Father Furlong's ordination and server "his first Mass in Thurles, County Tipper ary. •,-'.]-.-.-:• " - - '.--■•

= During the evening Fathers Golden, Holbrook, and Brennan spoke;,also Mr. J. P. Graham. - A vote of thanks to the visiting clergy, the performers, and the chairman was carried by acclamation.