CAREER OF A CATHOLIC MISSIONARY. Death of Very Rev. Father Forest.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 70, 4 October 1884, Page 6

CAREER OF A CATHOLIC MISSIONARY. Death of Very Rev. Father Forest.

Napikr, Sept. 29. i The Very Jtovercnd Father Forest died yesterduy morning. The deceased gentleman, Mho was in his 80th year, had been ailing Jor several years, but had always succeeded in performing his priestly duties until about six months ago, when he became completely incapacitated. Father Foiest, w ho was ;i very old colonist, was born atLyons, France, in ISO 4, was ordained a piie&t in IS3O, and was one of the original founders of the Marist Order in ISIU. He left London for New Zealand in a London packet on the 9th November, 18-U, the salute announcing the birth of the Prince of Wales being fired as tho London packet was leaving the docks. Father Forest arrived at Wellington in April, 1842, accompanied by Rev. Fathers Keignicr (Mcanee), Lampilla (Kaikoura), and other Catholic missionaries. After somo delays the party reached the Bay of Islands, and Father Forest was then appointed to the charge of Auckland district, where he remained till 1559. Dming his stay in Auckland he built the Church of St. Patrick, the present Cathedral. On appointment of Father Viard (afterwards Bishop) to the charge of Wellington district, Father Forest accompanied him, and remained in Wellington till IS6B, when lie was appointed parish priost of Napier, where, with the exception of two short periods, when lie was administering the diocese after Bishop Yiard's death, Father Forest remained till his death yesterday.