ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1926, Page 1

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.

TO THE AIEMORY OF THE LATE FATHER RIORDAN, ROSS.

The first anniversary of the death of the late Rev. Father John Riordan, Pastor of Ross, was commemorated at St. Patrick’s Church, Ross on YYednesday, April 28th , 1926. Solemn High Alass of Requiem was celebrated at 10 a.m. by Rev. Father Healy Parish Priest of Ross, Fathers Long, and Holahan (Greymouth), Deacon and Sub-Deacon respectively. Very Rev. Father Kennedy was Master of Ceremonies, whilst the chant was rendered by a choir of priests. In addition to the -above there were- also present: Rev. Fathers AfcMomtgle (Grey), Finerty (Kumara) and O’Aleegan (Abaura). There was a large congregation which included representatives of Hokitika, Hi mu and outlying districts. Following on the Alass, the congregation aug- I mented by a good representation of the townspeople assembled at the Cemetery where the memorial erected by the parishioners, assisted by friends throughout the YY'est Coast, was unveiled.

In the absence of His Lordship, tho Bishop of Christchurch, Rev. Dr. Kennedy officiated at the ceremony and delivered the following address: “YVe, his fellow priests in the Deanery of Westland share the regret which you, my dear friends, the parishioners of Ross, Rimu, South Westland, and tho friends from other parts feel, that His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch is unable to be here to-day to dedicate this monument so appropriately conceived, so generously and promptly executed by your unaided efforts, to the memory of the late Rev. Father John Riordan. The Bishop’s presence amongst us during those trying days following the fatal seizure, his presence at the deathbed, at the funeral—one of the grandest testimonials to a priest’s worth ever witnessed in these parts—was a source of the' greatest comfort to all. His burning words testifying his esteem for the departed, and his sympathy with yourselves spoken at the open grave are still faithfully remembered by you all. “In the unavoidable absence of His Lordship, Father Healy, the esteemed successor of Father Riordan, has asked me to dedicate this memorial. In <loing so I need not remind you that our duty to the dead is not confined to a ceremony of this kind. The monument you have so lovingly set up is but an outward profession of our belief that wo who survive the dead are united with them in the communion of the saints and that we can assist them by sacrifices and suffrages. Such monuments as this are an appeal to God through tho merits of our compassion- I ate Redeemer that He would ho mindful of those who have gone before us 1 in the sign of faith and sleep the 1 sleep of peace and that Ho would grant ’ to them and to all that rest in Christ < a place of refreshment, light and peace.

It is part and parcel of our faith and belief that ‘it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead tlmt they may be loosed from their sins.’

“Still, while we do not complete our duly by setting up such memorials, yet the Church lias ever encouraged her children in erecting them and her art has inspired the form they slioul take.

Man.v of the monuments in the churches and cemeteries of the old land and here in our own country, are biographies in marble, stone or bronze of the lives or men and women who, in their day rendered notable services for God, for country and their fellows. Such Monuments are memorials of our forefathers’

faith in the efficacy of prayers for the departed.

“Such monuments outwardly and eloquently proclaim the truth of our im-

mortality. “I shall not- all die.” It is but my body that dies. They proclaim that other truth—a truth of Revelation—-which is in harmony with the former, as well as with out nature and yearnings, the truth that our

bodies too will live again—that we shall rise from the dead. “He that liveth and believeth in Ale- shall not die for ever.” Such a hope is laid upon the bosom of us all. “Father Rrordan died in Easter week last year, and, after a year, again we assemble here in Eastertide comforted and consoled that we shall be united with him in the Resurrection.

“There is another consideration which, though a priest myself, 1 cannot omit. No one lias a better claim to he remembered alter death than a priest by reason of the relations —in

place of those of flesh and blood renounced at ordination —he contracts with those who come within the sphere nf his ministry. He is taken from amongst men for men. His whole ministry is a series of benefits ol inrnleulable value to others, to all

willing to profit by them. It you add to the claim to remembrance tri si tig out of his ministerial character, the qualities with which the man of God—such as Father Riordan was— adorns it—self-effacement, unselfishness, heroism in doing good, then

be claim to remembrance is irresisible. “The just are in everlasting re-

membrance.” ’1 lie whole of the Scriptures. especially the inspired writings

,f the Master Priest, St. Paul, bring :mt the intimate ties between priest

and people, in life and in death. And whilst every priest of Father Riordan’s

fine, spiritually balanced character would disclaim comparison with the

saints,' still, his whole attitude, his

outlook on life as a priest up to his last day could he expressed in St. Paul’s words: “Not as though I had

already attained, or were already perfect, hut I follow after if I may by any means apprehend wherein I am also apprehended hv Christ Jesus. “ Brethren,” he too could say, “ I do'

not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and stretching forth myself to those that are before, I press towards the mark to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philipp, 111, 12, 13, 14. You perpetuate by this beautiful monument the memory of your late revered Pastor, the sacred office he held amongst you, the personal qualities with which he adorned it and which won him a unique place in your hearts and in the hearts of all who knew him. You honor yourselves by the generosity which has inspired this memorial—- “ Tt is a twice blessed gift; it blesses him that gives and him that takes.” The memorial to the deceased will be a memorial likewise in the future of the happiness of the relations of priest and people of our times. It will be a stimulus and incentive to those who will come after us towards the maintenance of such relations as, under God, are inseparably bound up with the healthy state of religion in any community. You have, to quote again St. Paul, hearkened to his exhortation in what you have done to-day; “Remember your prelates who spoke the

word of God to you ; whose faith follow, considering the end of their con-versation.”—-Hebrews XIH, 7. At the conclusion of the address the officiating priest unveiled the memorial which consists of a granite shaft surmounted by the thorn-crowned Head of our Redeemer. The inscription is as follows: Dedicated to tho memory of llev r . John Riordan, native of Kirwee, Canterbury, Parish Priest of Ross, who died 18th April, 1925, in the forty-second year of his ago and the eleventh of his priesthood. 1 R.I.R. “He that believeth in AH I although lie be dead shall live.”— John XI, 25. A tribute of love from his parishioners and friends. I Dr Kennedy, unveiling the monument congratulated tlie priest and people and committed it to their loving care. Tlie ritual blessing with prayers for tho departed concluded. the ceremony.