JUBILEE OF THE CHURCH AT THAMES

New Zealand Tablet, 28 March 1918, Page 13

JUBILEE OF THE CHURCH AT THAMES

(From our own correspondent.) The following is a letter written by Rev. Father F. J. Dignan, our much-respected parish priest, having reference to our past esteemed pastors —Father Nivard Jourdan, and Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, and to the golden jubilee of the Church of St. Francis at Thames : The Rev. Father Nivard Jourdan, 0.5. F., of happy memory to Thames early settlers, landed at Thames on the 18th of October, 1867, by order of the late Right Rev. Bishop Pompallier. He relates inter alia that Thames was a strange place, perfectly bush country. "Coming amongst unknown people and with the duty of putting up a Catholic church, God helped me, gave me strength and courage, and three months later I had the consolation to see the church finished at the end of January, 1868, opened and. blessed on the 10th of February, 1868." It comes to the presentday inhabitants to remember that on the 10th February this year, 1918, occurred the golden jubilee of this same church, or in other words, its fifty years of noble standing. To every observer it would appeal, and say: "I have seen my best days." Hence now is the acceptable time when a combined effort must be made to make provision to put up in the near future a church worthy of the Catholic people past and present, as also worthy of such a large place as Thames. It may however to some seem difficult to take up such a big proposition. But to perform any work it requires only a little self-denial, and hence to call upon you at the end of fifty years cannot be considered too great. I would therefore appeal with hope and confidence to every Catholic in Thames and district to be generous and continuous in their donations to a new church fund, and especially this year, its jubilee. And whilst we cannot expect the same assistance from those who do not belong to the same faith, still, in my opinion of them, proved from experience during the years I have lived amongst them, they will in their own good way be glad to share in so noble a cause ; if only from appreciation of their Catholic friends with whom they are, I am glad to say, in such perfect harmony, not to mention their kindly actions towards Father Nivard, and of recent years, the Rieht Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, who took such a great interest in the welfare of Thames and district.