FAREWELL TO FATHER ROCHE, C.SS.R.

New Zealand Tablet, 17 October 1918, Page 23

FAREWELL TO FATHER ROCHE, C.SS.R.

After Mass on Sunday, October 6, Father Roche, C.SS.R., Superior of the Redemptorist Order in New Zealand for the past six years, was farewelled by the choir of St. Gerard's (writes our Wellington correspondent). The choirmaster (Mr. Frank Oakes) presented him, on behalf of the choir, with a fine Kaiapoi rug, to which was attached a leather tag bearing the following printed inscription:—"To the Rev. Father Roche, C.SS.R., with best wishes from St. Gerard's Choir, Wellington, N.Z., October 6, 1918." Mr. Oakes conveyed to Father Roche the regrets which his departure had occasioned. Father Roche had always (he said) evinced the keenest interest in the choir, and many were the favors for which they had to thank him. The choir would never forget his kindness and consideration ; and, speaking for the members, all hoped that they would again see him at St. Gerard's. He hoped also that when Father Roche had occasion to use the rug which they asked him to accept it would remind him of his sojourn in Wellington, and trusted he would remember them in his prayers, particularly when offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Mr. J. A. Elliott, the secretary and treasurer of St. Gerard's Choir, heartily endorsed Mr. Oakes's remark?*, and added that perhaps the blow of Father Roche's departure would be somewhat softened in the knowledge that Father Whelan, his successor, was known to many of the choir members as a fine singer and an ardent admirer of St. Gerard's Choir. He wished Father Roche every happiness in his new duties at Galong, and hoped he would look back with pleasure on his sojourn in Wellington. Father Roche, in replying, said he could hardly thank the choir sufficiently for all it had done during his term as Superior at St. Gerard's. TKe choir members had at all times, at great personal inconvenience, attended to the services of Holy Church; and he could not help remarking how consistent the attendances were year in and year out. It showed that they appreciated their individual and collective responsibilities, for the membership of a choir was a high honor, which unfortunately many did not appreciate. It showed, also, that the members appreciated very highly the services of their choirmaster, who, with them, had created such a reputation of excellence for the choir. Mr. Oakes must indeed be a proud choirmaster in having such a fine and artistically trained choir doing duty willingly for the glory of God at St. Gerard's Church. Anything he had done for the choir was very little indeed, considering what they did for the Church. He thanked them for their very beautifal music during the past six years, and hoped that God would bless them all, and that they would for many years continue their fine efforts to glorify God and edify the congregation. The music rendered by the choir at Mass was Gounod's "Messe St. Cecilia," Byrrd's "Ave Verum" being sung at the Offertory, and the "Hymn for Peace" (Oakes) at the end of the Mass, the con-

gregation ' standing during the singing of the hymn. Father Roche preached his farewell sermon in the evening to a large congregation, and the choir sang special music, including Jacob Arcadelt's "Ave Maria" and the "Hymn for Peace." Father Roche left for Sydney on Saturday last.