PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER BUCKLEY, MOSGIEL.

New Zealand Tablet, 30 May 1912, Page 35

PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER BUCKLEY, MOSGIEL.

Some time ago Rev. Father Buckley was transferred from Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, with which' he was connected for several years, to St. Joseph’s Cathedral, to the great regret of the Catholics of the township with whom he was very popular. The people of Mosgiel, however, did not intend' that he should' sever his connection with the parish without some tangible recognition of the esteem in which they held him, and appreciation of his zeal on their behalf,, and his devotedness to the schools and the parish societies. Accordingly a conversazione was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Wednesday evening of last week to give the people an opportunity of saying good-bye to him, and presenting him with tokens of- their esteem. Rev. Father Liston, Rector of Holy Cross College, who presided over a representative gathering of the parishioners explained the object of the meeting and paid a tribute to the work of Father Buckley in the parish. Mr. Quelch, in a brief but pithy speech, referred to the connection of Father Buckley with the parish his zeal for religion, his devotedness to his duties his interest in the religious and secular training of the children, and concluded by 'presenting to the rev. guest of the evening a purse of sovereigns as a tangible token of the respect and esteem of the parishioners. Mr Walls made a presentation on behalf of the Children of Marv and Master V. Hawke one from the school children.. ;

Rev. Father Buckley, who on rising to reply was received with applause, said: — is frequently said on occasions like the present that one has been taken completely by surprise. Such, however, has not been the case with me, for, a few days ago, it was hinted to me that a movement was on foot to make me this presentation. I endeavoured to check the movement, but found it had advanced' too far, and so, out of regard for your feelings, I felt bound to acquiesce. Whatever you have said, and what you have handed me I recognise as the expression of a grateful Catholic people for the little I have done on their behalf during my years in Mosgiel. The greater part of my duties were confined to the college. For this reason I was not in touch with you as much as a priest usually is, and, consequently, my opportunities to do something for you were fewer than I had wished. You have cast the magnifying glass on my work ,and have rewarded meTn a handsome and practical manner. I am most grateful, and from my heart I thank you all. While, however, accepting the purse of sovereigns, I beg you to allow me to devote it to the approaching bazaar, and to hand it over to Father Liston to use as he thinks fit for the success of the undertaking you all have so much at heart. I also thank the Children of Mary, and the school children for their presentations, and the kind words -they have said in my favor. May the Children of Mary flourish and increase in numbers, and may they and the school children enjoy God’s choicest blessing is my prayer on their behalf this evening. The Rev. Father Liston, on behalf of the congregation and himself, returned thanks to Father Buckley for the very generous spirit that he had shown in handing over his present towards the funds of their bazaar. The following programme was gone through during the evening;—Piano solo, Miss Laura Hawke; song, The evergreen hope,’ Mr. Finlayson; song, ‘ Ave Maria,’ Miss A. Knott ; violin solo, Mr. Keppel; song, ‘lt was a dream,’ Miss Hawke; song, ‘Out on the deep/ Rev. Father Collins. Miss L. Hawke and Miss M. Drumm acted as accompanists. The ladies handed round refreshments, which they had generously supplied.