FAREWELL TO FATHER DELACH, OTAKI

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIII, Issue 18, 4 May 1916, Page 21

FAREWELL TO FATHER DELACH, OTAKI

■ N Some two years ago the news of the Rev., Father Delach’s departure from Otaki (says the local Mail ) was received with very general regret— not only by the Catholic population of Otaki, but over the whole district,, for the . non-Catholics fully appreciated Father Delach’s sterling qualities. We knew that men of his stamp were few and far between, 'we had been proud to have him amongst us, and the public had always shown their appreciation by Helping him in all his undertakings. District residents had learned with pleasure the promises made’ on several occasions by Archbishop Redwood to the Natives—an assurance that Father Delach would remain amongst us as long as he lived. Unfortunately, however, his health broke down, ■ he had to be relieved from duty, and went to Auckland to undertake medical treatment. The Natives of Otaki j paving heard that Father Delach was going Home to the Old Country for the benefit of his health, sent a request for him not to leave New Zealand without coming to say good-bye to them, and consequently Father Delach came to Otaki on April 21, and was received most enthusiastically by hosts of friends, both Natives and Europeans. : ’ No one, unless he is conversant with Native customs and feelings, can form an adequate idea of what the Rev. Father' Delach is to the Natives. He is their friend, their father, their son; his is part of their lives —a link between 'the living and the dead hence the splendid manner in which they entertained him, and the keen regret, exhibited at his departure. The Catholic Europeans -of the district, hearing of Father Delach’s visit, took advantage of the opportunity of showing their affection for the priest who had labored so zealously among them for over twenty years, and, at an informal meeting, held in front of the Maori meetinghouse, at Pukekaraka, on Easter Sunday," after Mass, the following address was presented to Father Delach by Major H. H. G. Addington: ‘ Dear Rev. Father,-We, the parishioners of the Otaki district, having learned , that you are going to pay a visit to your beloved native land, France, now our valiant-ally in arms, cannot allow the occasion to pass without an expression of our great love for you, and our earnest gratitude to you for your sterling worth as a citizen in our midst for nearly twenty-five„years, and more especially, our appreciation of your zealous labors in ministering to our wants in God’s vineyard. Your missionary work amongst the Natives forms a" theme of praise from Auckland - to the Bluff, but of that the Natives themselves desire to give expression this day. When we look back and realise , that on your arrival to assist the Rev, Father. Melu, there as but, one dilapidated church on this coast, and no presbytery or school, , and now gaze at the beautiful church practically re-erected at Otaki, and surrounded by a magnificent presbytery,, convent, boardingschool, and day-school, together with beautiful churches in all the townships—Paraparaumu, Ohau, Levin, Foxton, and Shannon-little wonder we marvel at your zeal and

devotion whereby you surmounted every obstacle and diffiv culty until you made Otaki ■; a seat ;of learning for all the ; . people of i this coast.; * : Therefore the people cry out 'in one ; glorious strain, "Long live Father Delach; :may he enjoy : a well-earned rest, and may Almighty God be pleased to : .-; grant ) him : good health, - and ' cause him soon to return - to the bosom of his family—the Otaki people." '"..-. ..' Signed on ; behalf of the parishioners , by H. vH. G. Addington, R.M, D'Ath, .T. O'Rourke, G. H. Harper, Jas. McLeavey, P. J. Hennessy, M. Moynihan.' - ..:' •;. V • w - Rev. Father Delach, inrthe coarse- of his reply, said : A few weeks ago I was asked, if 1 I would be agreeable to : receive an ' address from '. the Catholics of .- the district of Otaki, prior to my departure for the Old Countrv. I replied £ emphatically that , I was entirely, opposed 'to it, • and I considered that the chapter was thereby closed. , Today I have to put it on record that since my arrival here, -nearly: a quarter of a century ago, this is the first time that you have ever done' anything against my wish. . I must confess, however,' that my answer was .perhaps a little one-sided, _ and I therefore attach no blame to -anyone, and, more6ver, I am. most grateful to ; you for what you have done, and for what you have said. In your ! address you have mentioned Father Melu's name; we are all. sorry to see him absent to-day. One unacquainted with us might think that you were taking from him in order to give to me, but those who know us as you do, know that we are so closely united that whatever praise is given to one redounds to the credit the other. .- He was the ; head; I was the fpirid. - Our hearts always beat in unison. "We had the same aims, the same ideals, and our united efforts always converged towards the one end —the advancement of the Church, and "the spiritual welfare of the people of our parish. lam glad to say that our efforts were not spent in vain but, after aif we are to give credit to whom credit is due, then all honor to the : parishioners; for without you, what could we have done? . And tell me, who is the priest that ever had more devoted children Where is the priest; who received at any time a better response from his people than \we did from-you at all times Did you not always fill the measure of your - support *to overflowing? * No wonder then that everything progressed with us, and that you can proudly say to-day that no other parish in New Zealand is, considering the size of the population, on a better footing than the Otaki parish; . . . I J am proud of the address you have presented me; I will treasure it as a written bond of union between you and me, as a souvenir of the past happy days spent in your midst, and as a token of \ welcome, if it please Providence to ever send me back amongst you. Thank* you all for "your very great kindness to me at all times. May God give you His choicest blessings. ; -; f^,c^;j, ; ,--.' The Natives then entertained all the visitors to lunch.