A Veteran Priest

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 18, 10 May 1923, Page 17

A Veteran Priest

Yen. Archdeacon Devoy Honored (From our own correspondent.) The Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M./of island Bay, Wellington, celebrated his eightieth birthday on Monday, April 16, and was the recipient of many congratulatory messages from alt over the Dominion. On that morning the pupils of St. Francis’s Primary School, Island Bay, entertained and made him a presentation. The pupils of the Sacred Heart Convent, Island Bay, entertained the Archdeacon in the afternoon, and in the evening a number of friends and parishioners called to wish him many happy returns, and - to present him with a gramophone. Among those present were his Grace Archbishop O’Shea and the Rev. Father

Cullen, Adm. The presentation was made by Mr. P. I). Hoskins, who, on behalf of the Archdeacon’s friends and parishioners, wished him very many happy returns of the day. He expressed their gratitude for and appreciation of the great self-sacrificing work which Archdeacon Devoy had accomplished for the Church in this Dominion, and Wellington in particular, during his sojourn of 44 years in their midst. The Archdeacon arrived by the good ship Duke of Athol in the year 1879, and had been strenuously carrying out, with conspicuous success, his priestly office ever since, striving to promote the kingdom of Cod in this remote part of J is vineyard. Although Christchurch, Timarn, and 'Kumara could lay claim to his early priestly labors, Wellington could claim the longest and best part of his service—--38 years. Many of them preieiTt that evening could trace back to the ’eighties when the Archdeacon, with three other Marist Fathers, opened and conducted St. Patrick's College, which had proved such a fruitful nursery for vocations to the priesthood, and which had also-proved a great boon to the Catholic youth in fitting them for the various walks of life. After six years engaged in the secondary education of Catholic youth the Archdeacon was appointed to St. Mary’s, lioulcott Street, which then embraced what now constitutes five parishes. Here he proved himself a capable and far-seeing administrator in acquiring land for additional churches and schools and enlarging old St. Mary’s. It was he who introduced the Sunday penny collection, which had brought in thousands of pounds since he inaugurated it. , Mr. J. J. McGrath also referred to the Veu.. Archdeacon’s good work. He recalled the old days of the West Coast, when he (the speaker); as a boy received his catechism instruction from the Archdeacon, who was loved and revered by the people. His life was a shining example to the younger

men, and. he (Mr. McGrath) was sure that he was voicing the sentiments of the West Coasters and very many friends, who would have dearly loved to be present to honor the Archdeacon, in wishing him many happy returns of the day. Mr. P. J. O’Regan sent a telegram regretting his absence from the function owing to being engaged in court work in Auckland, and conveyed his best wishes to the Archdeacon. Archdeacon Devoy, who was most enthusiastically received, said that it was indeed a great surprise for him to have so many friends with him that evening, and for the beautiful gift that they had made him. He was most grateful to Archbishop O’Shea for honoring the gathering with his presence. A lot had been said about his good work, bub lie was afraid it was exaggerated. Hi had done his best and he was aided by good and devoted priests. The Archdeacon then, in reminiscent vein, entertained the gathering with incidents of his missionary labors, and in conclusion again thanked them for their great kindness. The remainder of the evening was spent socially, selections from the gramophone predominating, and at the conclusion the Archdeacon was enthusiastically and heartily cheered.