SACERDOTAL SILVER JUBILEE Father JAMES DELANY HONORED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 24, 15 June 1922, Page 22

SACERDOTAL SILVER JUBILEE Father JAMES DELANY HONORED.

, To the parishioners of St. Patrick’s, South Dunedin, fell the, honor of fittingly celebrating the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood of Rev. Father James P. Delany, the deeply revered pastor of that parish, and right worthily did they rise to the occasion. The much beloved jubilarian (eldest son of Mr. James Delany, a prominent postal official of the Dominion during a lengthy period, and, now living in retirement at Mosgiel), was the first ecclesiastical student claiming the Diocese of Dunedin as his birthplace, to be raised to the dignity of the priesthood. He was born- at Arrowtown, Otago, and was educated at the Catholic school there, and ftt the Christian Brothers’ School, Dunedin, St. Patrick’s College, Manly, Sydney, and Collegio Urban de Propaganda Fide, Rome, and was ordained to the priesthood in St. John Lateran’s, Rome, on the eve of Trinity Sunday, 1897. On his return to New Zealand he was stationed as curate at Lawrence, and subsequently at South Dunedin, and Oamam: He was among the early professors at Holy Cross College, ■ Mosgiel, and later filled the position of relieving priest at Invercargill, Ranfurly, and Gore. Father Delany was appointed to the parish of St. Patrick’s, South Dunedin, in 1908. RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION AT THE BASILICA. Monday was a day of rejoicing in South Dunedin when the parishioners fittingly celebrated the Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of. their well-beloved pastor. At 9 a.m., the hour appointed for the commence- • ment of the religious ceremonies, St. Patrick’s Basilica was filled by a large ' congregation. Solemn High Mass of Thanksgiving was sung by the Rev. Jubilarian, the deacon being Rev. P. J. O’Neill; sub-deacon, Rev. H. E. Rooney ; master of ceremonies, Rev. D. A. O’Neill, of Riversdale. Right Rev. Dr. Whyte, and Right Rev. Dr. Liston, - of Auckland, were present in the-sanctuary., St. Vincent’s Orphanage Choir rendered the music of the Mass, and sang “Ecce Sacerdos Magnus” as the procession filed up the aisle, and “Vivat Pastor Bonus” after the last Gospel. REJOICINGS AT ST. PHILOMENA’S COLLEGE. At 11 o’clock Rev. Father Delany, accompanied by the prelates, the clergy, his father (Mr. James Delany, of Mosgiel), Mr. F. Delany (Christchurch), Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Quelch and family, visited St. Philomena’s, where the children, in snow-white dresses, were eagerly waiting to offer their heartfelt congratulations and make the four walls ring as they raised their melodious voices in choruses of jubilation in their dear pastor’s honor. The hall, which had been daintily draped in silver and pink, .was tastefully decorated with appropriate scrolls and beautiful ferns. A programme of a pleasingly varied nature was gone through by the children, and an illuminated address mounted on an elaborately carved stand was read and presented; the text of the address ran as follows: To Reverend James P. Dela_ny on the occasion- of the Silver Jubilee of his Priesthood. Reverend and Very Dear Father,—Your children of

the South Dunedin Convent Schools gather round you, on this joyous Silver Jubilee Day, to tender you our warm, respectful congratulations. Rejoicing with you we assembled this morning before the Holy Altar to pour forth our thanksgiving to God for the manifold graces bestowed upon you during the twenty-five years of your sacred ministry ; and for the precious blessings that have come to ourselves through the hands of our dear Pastorthe • Priesthood s sons to be raised to the dignity of the Priesthood. J On this happy anniversary your thoughts will revert to that glorious June day when, within the hallowed walls of St. John Lateran, you were made a priest forever; you will recall, too, that other eventful day when you stood before Our . Lady’s shrine in her own chosen ‘ Sanctuary, to celebrate for the first time the Adorable Sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Whilst these inspiring memories flood your soul with purest joy, dear rather, your ■ grateful children take up the glad “Te Demn ” our heart intones. In the five-and-twenty years that lie between Trinity Sunday, 1897. and this, your Silver Jubilee Day, you have “loved the beauty of God’s House and the nlace where His glory dwelleth”; with unswerving fidelity you have labored for His - dear in- • terests; your people have . found in you a true spiritual Father, ever ready ..with .kindly counsel and warm sympathy to share . with them their ioys and sorrows and to guide their steps Heavenwards. Fourteen years of your priestly life have been passed in this parish which; under your fostering care, has grown .and prospered, where young and old appreciate your many anxieties, (responsibilities, and noble self-sacrificing work for souls. St. Patrick’s , School, a. monument to ... , . . . - • your solicitude for the little ones of your flock, and to your zeal for' Catholic education, will cause your name to be held in grateful remembrance by future generations, of South Dunedin, children. We fondly hope that our prayers, our loyalty, and the reverent love of our hearts may, be some" compensation for your many sacrifices on our. behalf. . ; With all the _ earnestness of our youthful hearts we pray God to continue His overflowing bounty to, you, our father and friend, and to the vineyard committed to your charge; to grant you length of happy days and- to leave you here with us long after the golden bells have pealed forth-, your fiftieth anniversary. Then when comes the end—which is no end, but a true ■ beginningmay Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of Perpetual Succour, . welcome you home to the Kingdom of her Divine Son for whom alone you have lived and labored. , ... We respectfully beg you, Reverend and Very Dear Father, to accept our Jubilee gifts and to bless our teachers, the Sisters of Jvlercy, and 1 Your devoted children ,of . * , . * St. Patrick’s Parish. ''\ : v

FATHER DELANY’S. RESPONSE' Rising to respond, Rev, Father Delany, who was heartily greeted by the children, expressed his warm gratitude to their Lordships Dr. Whyte and Dr. Liston for honoring the function with their presence; ho thanked his young parishioners for what they had done to commemorate the twentyfifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood; he thanked them for their artistic address and gifts, particularly the Spiritual Bouquet, which he prized above all else..- In the address they had made allusion to two eventful days of his life in Rome—the day he was raised to the sacred ministry in the Basilica of St. John Lateran and the day of his first .Holy Mass in the Church of St. Alphonsus;. he had a distinct remembrance of those two happy days, but what he* remembered most was the ideals he had then how good he meant to bethe children’s prayers would help him to make up in some way for what had been wanting in the past, and help him, too, in the years remaining to him in® which to work for his Divine Master. In return he assured them of a continued memento at Holy Mass, and interest in their welfare. The priest takes an affectionate, personal interest in each child in his parish, and this kindly interest does not cease with their-school days; it is always a great jo' r to the heart of a priest to be able to help his people in their difficulties ; the children should know that in after life, wherever their lot is cast, they will always have in their priest a good Triend always ready with paternal affection to give them helpful counsel in doubts or difficulties and consolation in the hour of sorrow. The children’ presented Rev. Father Delany with a set - of altar charts and a Roman Missal.

After the entertainment their Lordships the Bishops, the Jubilarian; and relatives were, with the local and visiting clergy, entertained , at luncheon in the convent by the Sisters of Mercy. THE PARISHIONERS TRIBUTE. The Town Hall, South Dunedin,- was crowded to its utmost capacity on Monday evening, when the parishioners, and friends generally, assembled to offer their tribute of affection,' respect, and esteem to Father Delany, and to congratulate him on the attainment of the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. Mr. J. J; Marlow presided, and seated on the tastefully decorated stage were their Lordships Right Rev. Dr. Whyte and Right Rev. Dr. Liston, Rev. Fathers Foßy, Adm., Morkane, D. O’Neill, Hunt, Buckley, Collins, McLoughlin, P. J. O’Neill, Graham, Rooney, Fenton, Rev. Dr. Buxton, and the guest of the evening, also a number of representative laymen, including Father Delany’s father (Mr. James Delarfy), _and brother (Mr. F. C. Delany). After a few brief introductory remarks by the chairman, the following excellent musical and elocutionary programme was presented, the audience showing warm appreciation bf the various items: Orchestral selection, Pupils of St. Philomena’s College; song, “God Remembers When the World Forgets,” Miss McManus; song, “Kathleen Mavourneen,” Miss Kelliher; song, “Avourneen,” Miss M. Fenton; song, “The Mountains of Mourne,” Mr, J. P. Redden; recitation, “Erin, 0 Erin,” Miss E. McGrath; song, “Yonder,” Miss F. Gardner; horn solo (selected), Mr. D. Whelan; song, “An Irish Folk Song,” Mrs. S. Foote; duet, “Springtime,” Miss A. and Mr. Fitzpatrick. Miss Noonan was accompanist. At the conclusion of the musical programme Mr. Marlow, on behalf of the parishioners, paid an eloquent tribute to the devoted and unwearying labors of Father Delany in the parish of South Dunedin, over the lengthy period of 14 years. The great gathering there that evening to pay honor to their guest was the best indication of their grati- , tude. He referred, to the remarkable progress the parish had made under the' guidance of their worthy pastor, whoso organising powers, administrative abilities, and priestly qualities were well-known and appreciated. He enumerated the numerous interior features of St. Patrick’s Basilica - personally supplied by Father Delany, and said that the fine parish school building erected at a cost of over £3OOO, one of the best appointed schools in Australasia, and opened, free of debt, would ever remain a monument to the zeal of their parish priest. Mr. Marlow read letters of congratulation to Father Delany from the Hibernians of 'Dunedin and Invercargill, and in conclusion asked the Jubilarian to accept a cheque for £122, the voluntary offering of a number of sincere friends, who stipulated that the amount should be applied solely to his personal use, preferably in helping him to enjoy a well-deserved holiday. A presentation was also made on behalf of the altar boys. His Lordship Dr. Whyte, who was greeted with prolonged applause, said: Before I congratulate Father Delany on the attainment of his Silver Jubilee in the priesthood, I congratulate him on the number and earnestness and sincerity of his friends, Those friends, I am glad, to perceive, are not limited to the palish under his care at resent. They seem to com- ■ prise many people from every parish in which he has ever ministered. The whole-hearted manner in which Father Delany s parishioners have presented to him the tribute of their esteem is as complimentary to them as it. is to him. It lie had not been generous in his attention to you,;-, you would not have found it so great a joy to display to-night you unmistakable affection for him. I congratulate all who nave helped to make this day a memorable day for the . parish and their pastor.

As the various speakers are likely to say how long they have known the hero of this occasion, I had better put in my own claim to a long acquaintance. Very many of you think most probably that I have known him only about two years. I wish to correct that mistake at once by assuring you that we became acquainted 30 years * ago. Amongst the New Zealanders whom I met about that time was one whose views on Irish matters were recently decided by a judge and jury to be more sound that the views held or supposed' to be held by Mr. Massey. Father Delany’s work in this parish and his devotion to duty are evidently appreciated by you. Your address makes that very clear. Many priests of the diocese have ministered to your spiritual wants and I feel justified in saying that t look back with pride to the consolations they found in working for you in this parish. Father Delany found a fine Catholic spirit here and he has fostered and strengthened it. His unselfishness and his industry and his incessant vigilance have won your hearts and made you rally round' him when he needed your assistance, whether financial or personal. Your beautiful school buildings speak of his zeal and your generosity. In other parishes, too, bis efforts have left pleasant memories for his devotion to duty and for undeniable success. Two institutions in this parishthe Orphanage and the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor— benefited by his kindly, fatherly spirit; and, in return he has the good-will and the affection and the prayers of those two classes especially beloved of Almighty God —the aged poor and helpless orphans. It should add- to his joy on this occasion that his father is present to witness the pleasant and friendly relations that exist between the people of this parish and their pastor. This morning Mr- Delany had an opportunity of seeing the undoubted affection that the children have for our jubilarian, and the great kindness of the Sisters was in return for' numerous acts of thoughtfulness that he has generously done in behalf of the community. His father, I am glad to say, had the privilege, not granted to many fathers, of realising the depth of the affection that to-day has been lavished upon his son. And many a priest would have given a good deal if his father could have seen what Mr. Delany has had the good fortune to see this day. I am very pleased to have been able to come and see how dear to your hearts is Father Delany. The presence of so many parishioners tells that he has been to you a true friend, genial and unselfish, and that vou are aft devoted to him as he undoubtedly is devoted to you. Right Rev. Dr. Liston, wso was accorded a demonstrative reception, spoke at ..some length on his personal association with Father Delany, whom he characterised as “a true priest of God—first and last and all the time.” He expressed great happiness in being present to participate in doing honor to their guest, and trusted the jubilarian would attain at least a period of 50 golden years in the service of his Divine Master. ■ *

Other speakers included Rev. Fathers Buckley (Riverton), P. J. O’Neill, and Hunt (Alexandra). Rev. Father Delany, who wais greeted with cheers, said the feelings uppermost in his mind on that occasion were - thankfulness to Almighty God for first permitting him to become a priest, and gratitude for His infinite patience regarding his (the speaker’s) response to the graces given. To Monsignor Mackay, Father P. M. Lynch, -and the senior priests of the diocese his deep gratitude was due for the many and signal services they had rendered him. To Bishops Moran and Verdon, of revered memory, whose sympathy and kindness towards him he would ever cherish, was due in a great measure much that had helped him during life. He very sincerely thanked the parishioners and all his friends for the generous celebration of the present eventful occasion in his priestly career, and especially the Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Nuns, and Christian Brothers for all the helpfulness and kindness he had received at their hands. '