REV. FATHER O’DONNELL’S SILVER JUBILEE

New Zealand Tablet, 9 July 1914, Page 13

REV. FATHER O’DONNELL’S SILVER JUBILEE

ADDRESSES AND PRESENTATIONS. SOME WELL-MERITED TRIBUTES. On June 23 (says the Walatip Mail), St. Joseph’s Schoolroom, Queenstown, was crowded to the doors on the occasion of the ceremonies attendant on the silver jubilee of the. Rev. J. F. O’Donnell’s ordination to the priesthood. The room had been tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens for the occasion, and a flag at the head of the school depicting Ireland’s national emblem gave character to the adornment. The chair was occupied by Mr. M. J. Gavin. Among those present were Monsignor O’Leary (Lawrence), Dean O’Donnell (Ashburton), Father O’Donnell (Gore), Father Coffey (Dunedin), Father Kavanagh (Riversdale), Father Corcoran (Dunedin), and Mr. O’Connell (Hyde). The assemblage was a very representative one, and comprised all creeds. The proceedings were characterised by much heartiness and enthusiasm, which must have appealed to the subject of the evening, the Rev. Father O’Donnell, himself in the best of form and spirits. The proceedings were opened by a very acceptable programme of musical items, etc., contributed by tne following: St. Joseph’s Choir, Mr. J. C. Mcßride, Miss Strowan Robertson, Mr. J. McMullan, jun., Miss McCarthy, Miss M. Mcßride, Mr. T. Kelly, Mr. H. Tomkies, Mr. J. C. Mcßride, and Messrs. James and M. McMullan, and a quartet by Messrs. McMullan brothers (4). 0 Apologies for absence, were received from Rev. Father McMullan (Ranfurly), Fathers Morkane, Liston, and Scanlon (Mosgiel), Fathers Buckley and Kaveney (Dunedin), Father Woods and Dean Burke (Invercargill), Father Hunt (Cromwell), Father Lynch (Wrey’s Bush), Messrs T. F. Malaghan, J. Cockburn, P. Lynch (Upper Shotover), J. and P. Kinney (Hyde), J. A. Scott (editor of the N .Z. Tablet and many others. The latter wrote as follows: ‘ There is no priest in the diocese, or in the Dominion, whom I hold in higher esteem than your kindly-devoted and true-hearted soggartli. The Wakatipu has been fortunate in having had his services so long. ... I take the liberty of joining with you in offering sincere congratulations to

your beloved priest, who has not only endeared .himself to his own people far beyond their power to express, but has also by his sterling straightforwardness of character, his high sense of duty, and his fine public spirit left an impress for good upon the social and moral life of the whole community.’ The apologies were all couched in congratulatory language. The chairman (Mr. M. J. Gavin) said that he had a pleasing duty to perform that evening. As they were all aware, the Rev. Father O’Donnell had just reached the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Such an event constituted a red-letter day in the life of any priest in New Zealand. Father O’Donnell had spent nearly nineteen out of the twentyfive years in Queenstown, which was a much longer period than is spent as a rule by a priest in any place. Father O’Donnell was very energetic when he came to Queenstown —he is still very energetic—and at the time of his coming the church was too small for the congregation. He then spoke about building a new church, but some amongst them said that this would be a most difficult task and was beyond their means. Father O’Donnell said it could be done and will be done, and with what result -they all knew. Every work was attended with good results. His parish was one of the largest in 4 New Zealand, but he regularly attended to his duties from end to end of it. Father O’Donnell had also taken a prominent part in many other concerns in the Wakatipu district, having proved himself a good citizen as well as a good priest. He had done much to foster mining and sport, being largely responsible for the formation of the Remarkablcs Football Club, which, while it lasted, produced a remarkable team. The address expressing appreciation of his work in the parish was then read by the secretary of the committee (Mr. J. McMullan, jun.), and Mr. Gavin handed same to Father O’Donnell, accompanied by a purse of sovereigns. The following is the address; ‘ Rev. and Dear Father, —We, your parishioners of St. Joseph’s, Queenstown, assembled around you here to-night, beg to express to you, on this, the occasion of the silver jubilee of your ordination to the priesthood, the deep affection in which we hold you, and with heartfelt congratulations join you in recalling in spirit the memory of that most happy day. The celebration of a jubilee of the priesthood is a happy and blessed event in the life of a priest, and we all unite in tendering you our warmest felicitations on the completion of your twenty-five years of incessant labor in the vineyard of the Divine Master. Your eighteen years of self-sacrificing devotion and unswerving loyalty to duty amongst us have endeared you to every heart, and we should be greatly lacking in filial devotion were we to allow this occasion to pass without showing our appreciation of the tender care you have so generously lavished upon us. You have proved and brought into prominence, by the many arduous tasks you have fulfilled, the self-sacrifices you have made, the various improvements and buildings you have effected, and especially the model church we all feel so proud of, that you are a priest -of singular administrative ability. ,In all this work you have been sustained by a buoyancy of spirit, a zeal for souls, a feeling for your fellow man, and a trust in God that has endeared you to all. Sustained by such sentiments, you have continued, in spite of failing health, to discharge duties under difficulties to which stronger men would have succumbed. You have won your way into our hearts, not by the glow of brilliant exterior accomplishments of one craving for popularity and applause, but by your sterling qualities and true priestly virtues. We have always looked up to you as a true Christian gentleman and model priest. Again, as a churchman and citizen, your singleness of purpose, broad-mindedness and genial Irish spirit, endeared you not only to your own flock, but to those outside the Church, many of whom have joined us here to-night to offer you their congratulations. In conclusion, Reverend and dear Father, we trust that you may long be the recipient of God’s choicest graces and blessings, and we ask you to accept the accompanying

purse of sovereigns as a memento of the esteem in which you arc held. Hoping that you may long be spared to direct and guide us. * Signed by the following committee on behalf of St. Joseph’s congregation: M. J. Gavin (chairman), Jas. McMullan, jun. (hon. secretary and treasurer), F. Fitzpatrick, H. McMullan, T. Kelly, J. McChesney, and P. McMullan. 1 Queenstown, June 23, 1914.’ he address, as well as that from the congregation &t Arrowtown, was the work of the Tahiti Company. Monsignor O’Leary said that he was delighted to be present that evening to do honor to their muchesteemed priest. lie was sure he was expressing the feelings of every priest in Otago and Canterbury when he sincerely congratulated Father O’Donnell on his attaining the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. The speaker stated that many years ago Father O’Donnell was his next door neighbor at Milton, and. when he removed from that place he felt the removal very keenly. Father O’Donnell was a true man and a. man of sterling character and principles. The speaker told the assemblage of the success that attended the ceremonies that were held in Dunedin some years ago in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. This success was only attained through the grit and determination of their priest. Another thing which raised Father O’Donnell in his estimation was the fine sympathetic spirit shown by him towards the late Father Ryan, whom he housed and cared for during his illness, and after burying him was instrumental in having a magnificent monument erected over his grave. Such action excited the profound admiration of the clergy. He was delighted to notice that their priest had been thoroughly restored to health. In conclusion, he again congratulated Father O’Donnell on having attained his silver jubilee, and he prayed that he might be spared another quarter of a century to do the work of God that he had carried on so well in the Wakatipu district. Rev. Father O’Donnell (Gore) said that with the exception of his brother there was no one that knew his namesake so long as he did. He spoke of his relationship with Father O’Donnell at school 30 years aga and related that there he showed that he was , a man of striking constitution, mentally and otherwise, that he was not by any means a reed shaken by the wind. All his strong personal attributes 'subsequently made themselves felt in his work in New Zealand. Although they parted at Home they came together again in this country and were neighbors in their work. He (the speaker) then had further experience of the good qualities of Father O’Donnell. There was no work that was too hard for him to do, and he would not ask anyone to do anything that he could not do himself.' He had made and was making great sacrifices for his people, for his faith and for the community as a whole. He was, therefore, very glad to see such a large assemblage of people there that evening, and such enthusiasm in the carrying out of the ceremonies on the occasion of the attainment of their priest’s jubilee. He joined with the others in congratulating Father O’Donnell, and trusted that he would be snared to celebrate his golden jubilee. ' Dr. Stewart said that it was just on four years since he came to the district, and during that time he had had close relationship with Father O’Donnell. The more he met their friend the more he was encouraged to do so. One sometimes felt a hesitancy fli approaching a man who is a sectarian, but he could say from his experience that one need not have this feeling in relation to Father O’Donnell. Since becoming acquainted with him they had had much discussion and talk on various matters. He had found Father O’Donnell a man of powerful determination, a pithy antagonist, of strong convictions of the truth of his doctrine, and he fought pretty strongly when necessary. Although sectarian, he was at the same time a man of broad sympathies and consequently it was possible to approach him in the attitude of a student in the full

assurance of always being able to learn something. What he and others had benefited in this way was in turn reflected on the neighborhood in general. Whilst paying strict attention to the duties of his office Father O’Donnell was large-spirited enough to take a deep in Iciest in the civic affairs of the township, and there were few public movements of any consequence in which be did not bear a part. He wished to heartily congratulate Father O’Donnell on his silver jubilee and to say once more that he was exceedingly satisfied with his citizenship. Dr. Stewart further remarked that he had frequently been informed that on an occasion when it was proposed to transfer Father O’Donnell to some other sphere of activity it was largely owing to Protestant influence, super-added to the wish of his own people which had retained his services to the district, thereby creating what Dr. Stewart considered a most powerful influence in the district for all that went towards the amelioration of human suffering. As a resident of the town and as a fellow man he again heartily congratulated Father O’Donnell on attaining his silver jubilee, and expressed a hope that his genial services might bo long retained in our midst. Mr. L. llotop, as one of the oldest residents of the district, also took the. opportunity of congratulating Father O’Donnell. He thought it must have been a source of great joy to Father O’Donnell to see so many of his fellow residents present and to see such evidence of the love and esteem in which he was held. The speaker also wished to add his tribute of the wonderful work that he had performed in the district. He had excited the admiration of all congregations. Ho hoped that Father O’Donnell would be long spared to live amongst them and to attain his golden jubilee. Father Coffey (Dunedin) spoke at considerable length concerning the subject of the evening. He, paid a high tribute to the strong organising power possessed by Father O’Donnell which, among other things, led to the erection in Queenstown of such a fine edifice to the service of God. It was agreed by every priest who came here that in proportion to its population Queenstown possessed a church second to none in New Zealand. Father O’Donnell had also been instrumental in having new buildings erected at Arrowtown, Cardrona, and Garston. He had done extraordinary work. There was, moreover, a certain amount of his labors which was not seen by the public. ‘ This is where he shines,’ said the speaker. The care of the children of the parish was one branch of his work to which he gave special attention. The speaker had been with him on many an occasion in his travels into out-of-way places sometimes to instruct one solitary child. No priest in New Zealand would do what he does. Then he referred to his having travelled 200 miles in one week at Easter to enable his people to participate in the rights of the Church. Father Coffey then referred to the hospitality which their friend had shown to all the clergy in the diocese during their respective sojourns in Queenstown. Father O’Donnell was spoken of in the highest possible terms of praise by all the clergy in the diocese. Beloved by his people, he in turn had nothing but good to say of them. His parish extended from Cardrona to Paradise; he trusted that' his labors would end in Paradise. In conclusion, he hoped and prayed that the present happy relationship between Father O’Donnell and his fellow priests and between , priest and people would last for another 25 years, and that they would at the end of that time be able to congratulate him on greater achievements in the Lord’s service. The Children of Mary presented an address read by Miss Julia McLecly, and signed on behalf of the members by Miss Ethel Gudgeon (president), Miss Katherine McNeill (vice-president), Miss Mary McCarthy (secretary). The address expressed the members’ joy at Father O’Donnell attaining his jubilee, and expressed their warm appreciation and gratitude of his work as director of their association. Accompanying the address was the present of a handsome surplice. Mr. J. McMullan, on behalf -of the Rcmarkables Football Club, made a gift to their priest of the cup

which was won by the club, the formation of which was largely due to Father O’Donnell. * On rising to reply the Rev. Father O'Donnell was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. He expressed his inability to reply to 1 all the things that had been said. Regarding the presentation which had been made to him that evening, Father O’Donnell said : ‘ I thank' you, Mr. Chairman, your secretary, and your committee for the magnificent demonstration to-night. 1 never knew that 1 was such a favorite with you. Today I have received 50 congratulatory telegrams from every part of the Dominion, included in which was one from the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, Bishop of the diocese, and a large number of letters.’ A silver jubilee, continued Father O’Donnell, was a great event in the life of any priest. It carried him back to his college days, reminding him of the kindly dispositions of the president and professors of the college, the genial companionships existing between himself and the students and to the morning of that great day when the Bishop conferred upon him all the rights and dignity of his office. The address referred to his self-sacrificing devotion and unswerving loyalty to duty, his buoyancy of spirits, etc. There was in these words a heartiness and sincerity that he had hardly ever before witnessed in any address. His mission had a singular fascination for him. The gigantic mountains with their snowcapped peaks, piercing the very clouds of heaven, proclaimed in their own way the infinite power and eternity of God. This always gave him a buoyancy of spirit which was indescribable. There was no greater pleasure to him than to instruct the little ones in the gullies. ‘ You see them,’ said the speaker, ‘ grow up as the mustard seed, and bring forth good fruit in their season.’ He did not consider that there was any sacrifice made on his part. He looked upon his duty in the light of enjoyment. As regards his administrative ability and particularly in reference to their present church, he would say that a good deal of the credit was due to the committee which took the matter in hand. They first of all aimed at building a church costing £IOOO, but one of the committee, in the person of Mr. James McMullan, sen., strongly advocated at that time that the cost should be £ISOO to £I6OO, and he eventually got his way. The address stated that ho had won his way into their hearts. Love was mutual. He could not expect to win his way into their hearts unless he loved them. This was absolutely true, and this was the greatest consolation to a priest. He was greatly pleased to hear them express themselves as they did. Father O’Donnell said he was delighted to see so many Protestant citizens at the ceremony that evening. Bigotry and dissension, said the speaker, could have no place in the Wakatipu. We were cut off from the rest of the world, and every element in the district must be .united. In the commercial, social, or religious life of the community, each one had his convictions, and must therefore respect the consciences of their neighbors. He again thanked all for the demonstration in his honor, also Monsignor O’Leary and other priests for having done him honor by their presence. Father O’Donnell also expressed himself in terms of thankfulness for the address and gifts from the Children of Mary, which society was established in the parish by the Dominican Nuns. . He said that this organisation was a great power in the congregation. It was the nursery for good, faithful, and holy wives, and had been productive of much good in the past. The speaker said that he was also very pleased to receive the cup which the Remarkables Football Club had won. He could assure the members that he had made up his mind that he would see his golden jubilee. In conclusion, he again thanked all for the honor that had been done him that evening, at the same time I expressing his gratification at seeing the Mayor and several of the borough councillors present. (Loud applause.) The assemblage then adjourned to the High School, where all sat down to a dainty supper. The young ladies of the congregation waited on the guests, and were particularly attentive to the wants of all. At the conclusion- of the supper two toasts were proposed

and duly honored. The first was ‘The Visiting Clergy,’ proposed by Mr. F. Mcßride and responded to by Monsignor O’Leary, and the second ‘ Father O’Donnell,’ proposed by Mr. P. McCarthy and responded to by the honored one. CHILDREN’S DEMONSTRATION. On Wednesday, 24th ult., the children of St. Joseph’s Dominicah School, Queenstown, celebrated the silver jubilee of their beloved parish priest, Rev. Father O’Donnell. In his honor a little concert was given in the schoolroom' at 2.30 p.m. The presence of Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell, brother of their parish priest, and Rev. Father Corcoran, of Dunedin, added to the pleasure of the young performers. Various patriotic recitations and musical items were given with spirit and feeling by children in all the standards, including very young ones from the kindergarten. The programme closed with a poem by ‘ S.M.S.,’ daughter of the well-known Denis F. McCarthy, entitled ‘ The Isle of Saints and Scholars.’ The children of the schools presented Father O’Donnell with a silver teapot and an address, read by Miss Jane O’Meara, granddaughter of Mr. Frank Mcßride, to whom Father O’Donnell referred as ‘The Father of the Wakatipu.’ After the presentation Father O’Donnell said a few earnest and kindly words in reply. PRESENTATION AT -ARiiOWTOWN. The Rev. Father O’Donnell attended a banquet in his honor in St. Patrick’s School, Arrowtown, on the Thursday following the Queenstown celebration, and he was made the recipient of a purse of sovereigns and an address from the parishioners. lie also received an address from the children of the school. The Rev. Father O’Donnell received a number of other gifts, including a set of vestments from the Dominican Nuns, Dunedin ; a surplice, trimmed with Limerick lace, from the Sisters of St. Joseph, Arrowtown ; and an oil painting from the Dominican Nuns, Cromwell.