SILVER JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 4

SILVER JUBILEE

PETONE ORGANIST

An important event in the history of the Sacred Heart parish, Petone, the silver jubilee of the church organist, Mrs. J. V. Ryan, was. celebrated this | week. On Sunday the Rev. Father. W. 'O'Donnell, P.P., celebrated a special ;Missa Cantata for the spiritual, and temporal benefit of the jubilarian. He was assisted by the Rev. Father • OBnen. The choir,'under, the-baton of Mr. J. V. Ryan, choirmaster, sang Turner's Mass of the Good' Shepherd and Tota Pulchra es Maria. . ■ ■ The jubilee period was brought, to a close on Tuesday evening, when , the choir members gave a splendid .concert in the large parish hall, whiph was rilled to capacity. The opening choruses Gounod's "Creation Hymn" and the Gipsy Chorus were sung with exceptional artistry. • Solos by Mrs. Carpenter, Miss Nicholas, and Messrs. Mooney, Hepburn, and • Ryan/, varied with recitations by Misses Barry and Byford, with Miss Moss, violin,'made up an excellent programme," which concluded with the Anvil Chorus and the Soldiers' Chorus. ■ A pleasing incident was thp presentation to Mrs.-Ryan of a beautiful bouquet by little Shirley Dennis. ■ i Addressing the assembly, Father O Donnell complimented the artists on ' the very excellent programme, said he hoped it was the forerunner of many such performances, and then eulogised the work of the jubilarian. He mentioned that the late Father - Maples, when in need of an organist, approached the Sisters of the .Mission, and with their aid selected "a little girl from the school and duly "established her at the organ. That little girl^ was the present Mrs. Ryan, who through the years had given such faithful service to the Church. "Stating that the word "juoilarian" usually indicated a person of * venerable looks, he remarked that in Mrs. Ryan they had a lady'full of vigour, whose youthful "appearance gave promise of many further years as organist. He congratulated her and wished her succesi in the future. .-, Mr. T. Mooney, in presenting Mrs. Ryan with a silver hot water jug from ■ the choir/congratulated her oa their behalf.. For the parishioners, Mr. J. Moss presented Mrs. Ryan with a handsome ' crocodile - bag from the ladies of the parish. , , On behalf of his wife, Mr. Ryan, thanked the individual, speakers for their .congratulations, and also-the choir arid the ladies for their' beautiful gifts. ' Supper, served by .the ladies' committee, followed, after which dancing was enjoyed till midnight. -