Address to the Rev. Father Moreau.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 10, 3 July 1883, Page 2

Address to the Rev. Father Moreau.

[communicated.] As, in aH probability, it was the last occasion on which Father Moreau would uddress his Feilding congregation before leaving for his mission up the Wanganui River, there were large congregations on Sunday last, both morning and evening. At the conclusion of the 11 o'clock Mass Mr William Campbell, on behalf of the congregation, presented the Rev. Father with a purse of sovereigns, having first read the accompanying address : — "To the Rev. Fatheb Mobeatt. " HET. AND DKAB FATHEB : "We, the Catholics of the Feilding district, approach you this evening to express to your reverence how great is our sorrow caused by the news of your removal to another portion of our blessed Lord's vineyard. We are deeply sensible of your self- sacrificing and untiring care in the work of furthering our spiritual advancement during the years of your apostolic labor amongst us. During your long pastorate, you have been most unsparing of yourself, when God's glory and your neighbor's welfare were concerned. " Allow us to assure you, Rev. Father, that the good advice and telling lessons of humility, sincerity, and self-abnegation you have given us will never be obliterated fin >m our memories. May God grant you a great reward in Heaven for all your devotedness and may He give you grace of soul and bodily health in such fulness that you may be able to bring many souls to His love and service in the new mission to which you are appointed. " As a very inadequate mark of our high appreciation of your untiring labors in the interests of our holy religion in this district, we beg to offer you the accompanying purse of sovereigns, and, humbly begging your blessing on ourselves and our families, and requesting you will remember us in your holy Masses and Prayers, " We remain your gratetul Children in Jesus Christ, " The Parishioners of Feilding." Father Moreen, who was visibly, abected, thanked the congregation for the presentation they had made, but begged them to excuse any further remarks till the evening, as, partly from emotion, and partly because he was suffering from the effects of a very cold drive from Palmer* ston that morning, h» felt quite unable to proceed. [Father Moreau's reply in full to the above address will appear in our next issue.]