PRIEST'S SILVER JUBILEE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18424, 3 July 1925, Page 6

PRIEST'S SILVER JUBILEE.

REV. FATHER LEEN HONOURED. There was a large gathering in the Oddfellows' Hall, Rangiora, on AA'edncsday, 10 celebrate the silver jubilee of Rer. Father Lecn, parish priest. Mr J. Catherwood j>resided. The evening opened with a pianoforte solo by | Miss K. Catoidy, followed by a vocal , solo by Miss F. Miles. A Highland reel was danced by Misses Monica Brady, Rita Fitzgibbon. Ester McGrath; and Kitty Cole, also the seairn triubhais. Oilier items were:—Song, Miss K. Cassidy; duet. Mr and Mrs L. P. Devlin: pianoforte duet. Miss Monica, and A'cra Brady; pianoforte i .solo, Miss A'era McOrath; vocal solo, j Mrs L. P. Devlin. j The chairman said they had met to congratulate and rejoice with Father j Leen on attaining his silver jubilee as a priest. The Rer. Father was in Rangiora sixteen years ago as (urate, j and iiou- they were honoured with bav- | iug him art their parish priest. He I was not going to say what they ; thought of him, as the rest of the clergy might be jealous. Ho trusted that Father Lecn would be spared to celebrate his golden jubilee. He then asked the guest of the evening to accept a well-filled wajlet as a jubilee gift, with the good wishes of the cougreaation. The Her. Father Doherty, in offering his congratulations, said it would be unworthy of him to say very much, as he was only the curate of the parish. Tho Bishop of the Diocese, in speaking to them recently, congratulated them on having such a worthy pastor. He hoped when Father Leon's golden jubilee came along he would ibc as active as ever. He had been an ideal priest; had never shirked any duty, and had done everything required of him. Ho congratulated the parishioners on having such a good priest, and ho honed thev would take cave of him. He knew from his association with him that he ! had the welfare of his people at heart, | and his services wore always at their ! disposal. He expressed a hope that all there that evening; would he present at Father Leon's golden jubilee. Father Loen, on rising to respond, was received with great enthusiasm. In .his opening remarks ho said ho wondered if any present had sat and listened to such words of praise about themselves; he was sure they would suffer from swelled heads if they had. He felt very embarrassed at being asked to accept the handsome gift, but he greatly appreciated it. Of tho twenty-live years of his ministry, nine had been spent in Rangiora, and he had found the people most loyal to their Church. It was always a good sign when the priest and his congregation knew cath other. The priest's duty was to do as much good as possible. Although ho had been twenty-five years in \o\v Zealand he had never lost his home-sickness, and when the call came ho would have to go. He could never wish to work amongst better people than New Zealand Catholics. He very much appreciated the honour done him that evening. He also appreciated the kindly remarks of Father Doherty, who was always willing to take his share of the work of the parish. He appreciated tho gift, and the money would he spent on improvements to the school and church grounds. Before closing his remarks, Father Leen gave an outline of his twenty-five years' work in the ministry, which had begun at Kumara, on the AA r cst Coast. Tho parish was a very hig one, and the country very rough, and all his travelling had to ho done on horsoback. In conclusion, ho hoped to he spared for many years of usefulness amongst them, and he 1 hoped the people understood him as he understood them. His life work was for the people, and his services wero always at their disposal. Supper was handed round by the lady members of the congregation.