PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER O’CONNELL, LAWRENCE.

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1915, Page 36

PRESENTATION TO REV. FATHER O’CONNELL, LAWRENCE.

There was a large gathering of Catholics at St. Patrick's Schoolroom, Lawrence, on Tuesday evening, March 23, for the purpose of making a presentation to the Rev. Father O’Connell, who had recently been transferred to Oamaru (says the Tuapeka Times). The chairman (Mr. H. Hart) said the guest of the evening did not want any introduction from him, nor did he require to explain at length their object in meeting him that evening. Father O’Connell was looked upon as an old and valued friend, and there was no gainsaying the fact that he had endeared himself to all classes of the community. When the order came for his removal to Oamaru he quietly took his departure. But his people here could not allow the occasion to pass without showing in some tangible way the esteem and respect he was held in, and they had invited him there that night to give effect to their desires. He (the speaker) had been closely associated with Father O’Connell since he came to Lawrence, and he had found him not only a devoted and zealous priest, but socially one of nature’s gentlemen. “ Mr. J. J. Woods, who was entrusted with making the presentation, said he was sure they were all disappointed at the absence of the Very Rev. Mgr. O’Leary, who, unfortunately, had to leave in order to attend the obsequies of the late Bishop Grimes. On behalf of Father O’Connell’s many friends, he extended to him a heart y welcome back to the dist rict. He thought he could not pay him a higher compliment than to say a few words of commendation in regard to his alma mater —Holy Cross College—which, as an ecclesiastical seminary, would stand as a monument to Bishop Verdon as long as the Dominion of New Zealand lasts. The Lawrence parish had been the first in which Father O’Connell was called to work, and they therefore claimed to be his first love, and he was sure from what he knew of him that he would never forget the people of T uapeka, where he had spent three happy years and won alike the love and respect o 1 old and young. To the young priest just out of college there was no better parish priest than Monsignor O’Leary, who was always’most considerate and helpful to his-young curates. Father O’Connell was, however, especially blessed with an amiable disposition, a trait which could not but be helpful to him in his holy work. Mr. Woods concluded by reading the illuminated address and handing over to Father O’Connell the purse of sovereigns as a token of their esteem and appreciation of his good work in the Tuapeka parish, at the same time wishing him success and happiness in the future. Following is the text of the address. ‘ Rev. and Dear Father, —On behalf of the Catholics of Lawrence district we desire to convey to you our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the very great success that has attended your priestly labors during your sojourn here as curate. in performing the duties of your holy calling you have been most thoughtful to our spiritual and temporal needs, in comforting the sick and sorrowing, and in alleviating the sufferings of those in trouble and distress. At no time or place is the good priest more seen to advantage than at the death-bed, and here it was that your amiable disposition and heartfelt sympathies were at all times so conspicuously exemplified in the consolation of our holy religion and your sympathetic kindness to the bereaved ones. At our social re-unions we shall all miss you, as you were at all times ready to lend your valuable assistance “for any charitable object and to further the advancement of the district generally in any way your talents would permit. While extremely sorry to part, it is gratifying to know that you have been appointed by our good Bishop to the Oamaru parish, where the genial climate will enable you to carry out your sacred work with less hardship and fatigue than is possible in the more strenuous climate of the Tuapeka district. In saying au revoir we promise not to forget yon in our prayers, and in return

we would ask you to kindly remember from time to time, more especially, .when offering the -.Holy Sacrifice ■ of the Mass at the altar. ■' J. J. Woods, B. Hart, J. Cowan, T. Crowley, E. Fahey.’ The Rev. Father Kaveney said he was delighted to see so many present to show their esteem for Father O’Connell and their appreciation of the good work he had done amongst them during the past three years. He apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Very Rev. Mgr. O’Leary, who had expressed his sorrow at not being able to be present to take part in the proceedings. He ventured to think he knew Father O’Connell better than any of them, for he had spent five years with him in college, and during all that time he had always found him a thorough gentleman. Since he had come to Lawrence he had heard Monsignor O’Leary speak in the most eulogistic terms of him, and everywhere throughout the district the people were loud in his praise. He concluded by wishing Father O’Connell every happiness and the best of health in the new parish to which he had been assigned. The Rev. Father O’Connell, in acknowledging the gifts, said he met them that night with mingled feelings of pleasure and regretpleasure in seeing so many old friends and renewing acquaintances; regret and sorrow because he had to part from them. Partings were always painful, and the dearer the friends the more painful the parting. During his three years’ sojourn in Lawrence he had formed many warm and enduring friendships, and it was therefore with true sorrow that he loft this district. He was exceedingly sorry that Monsignor O’Leary was unable to be present with them that night.. There was no need for him to sing his praises to them, as they probably knew him better than he did, but he would like to say publicly how much he appreciated his kindness and goodness to him during the time he had acted as his curate. They were a favored people in having such a parish priest as Monsignor O’Leary : he doubted if there was a. more zealous or self-sacrificing priest, in the Dominion. lie hail been pleased to see the line spirit, ul Catholicity that prevailed in this district, and he ascribed this as due to the fine work of Monsignor O’Leary. He congratulated the people of the parish in having Father* Kaveney as his successor. They had been fellow-stu-dents at Holy Cross College, and he could say in all sincerity they had in Father Kaveney a good priest, and one who' will do his duty amongst them and win a deep place in their affections. He thanked them very heartily for their gifts, assured them that he would ever retain happy recollections of his sojourn amongst them, and that he would not forget them in his prayers. An abundant supply of refreshments was then served by the ladies. During the evening musical and other items were contributed by the following —Misses Woods, Nieper, and Kellehcr, Rev. Fathers Kaveney and O’Connell, Messrs. Woods and Walker.