FAREWELL PRESENTATION TO FATHER O'BOYLE

New Zealand Tablet, 16 October 1919, Page 19

FAREWELL PRESENTATION TO FATHER O' BOYLE

Prior to his departure from Rangiora en route to the Homeland, the Rev. M. O'Boyle, who for the past five years has labored in that parochial district as assistant priest to the Very Rev. Dean Hyland, was met by a representative gathering in the local Catholic Schoolroom, after the 11 o'clock Mass on a recent Sunday, and made the recipient of a cheque for a very considerable amount, in appreciation of his deeply-valued services. The presentation was made by Mr. S. Ryan on behalf of the congregations of Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Oxford, and Loburn. Those associated with the movement to do honor to Father. O'Boyle included as collectors Messrs. John Fitzgibbon and Joseph Catherwood (Rangiora), Mr. Leonard Fitzgibbon (Loburn), Messrs. D. McMullan and 11. Johnston (Kaiapoi), and Messrs. James McCormack, James Cook, and Thomas Doody (Oxford). In reply to these various deputations, Father .O'Boyle very sincerely thanked the assemblage for the kindly reception accorded him, and for the substantial" amount of the presentation, „ and ■ accompanying good wishes on the ;eve of his departure. Continuing, he said: —"I have just returned from .ay trip, to the West Coast, where I . renewed old acquaintances and

viewed once more > the beauties of that historic and patriotic district, but during the four and a-half years 1 have labored in your -midst, the kindness, hospitality, and cordial co-operation :■ in the discharge of duty shown me have equalled even the proverbial kindness and hospitality of the West Coast. I am sorry that owing to illness . Dean Hyland is unable to be present here this afternoon, but his kind and paternal attitude towards me, as well as that of his Lordship the Bishop, and your devotion and gratitude, will ever remain a proud memory of the happy days. I spent in Maoriland. As the j one thing that makes life sweet is the possession of friends, so the one thing also that makes life sad is the separation from friends. Death is the lasting separation,, and owing to the great war many of you had to face this sacrifice. To the. friends and relatives of the fallen I offer my sincere sympathy, and promise to remember all at the altar in the Holy Sacrifice. I, like others, had to obey the mandate of the Divine Master: "He who loves father or mother, sister or brother, more than me, the same is not worthy to be my disciple." But in. the order of Providence I hope soon to see my parents and friends, and the land of my birth and love. I might say many more things, but you cannot hear them —that is, in regard to Ireland. Asking your prayers for a pleasant voyage, I bid you once more farewell."