VERY REV. DEAN McKENNA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 8, 4 July 1911, Page 4

VERY REV. DEAN McKENNA.

PRESENTATION /AT WAIT ARA,

On Sunday last, at the conclusion of the 'll o'clock Mass at St. Patrick's Church, Waitara, the Very Rev. Dean McKenmi was made the recipient of an address and presentation, on the occasion of his celebrating twenty-five years in the sacred ministry. The presentation took the form of a solid silver Ciborium. The following address was read by Mr. L. B. Grimstone (chairman of the church committee) : To the Very Rev. Dean McKenna, Very Reverend and Dear Dean.—<)n this the silver jubilee of your priesthood the members of your flock in Waitara and the district felt it was fitting that the opportunity should be. token of showing in a small way the great appreciation they have of the good and lasting work you have done amongst them. Your work as pastor has been marked by a whole-hearted and unselfish devotion to all the duties of your high calling, and of which we. can only speak of in terms of the highest praise. We ask you to accept this Ciborium as a small token of the affectionate esteem in which you arc held by all your parishioners. The address was signed by Mr. firimstone and the members of the church committee on behalf of the congregation. and a copy is in the illuminator'* hands at present, for presentation later on. Mr. Criinstone. in handing the üborium to the rev. jubilarian, said that although lie was only a comparative stranger amongst them he had ampin proof of the wonderful progress made even during his time. He instanced the many inconveniences the parishioners had to labor under in the past, and pointed out the present favorable conditions as a contrast. The prudent administration of their pastor was mainly responsible for this happy state of things. Of course the people had cooperated, and in this regard he felt he roust say how highly creditable it was to the congregation, for the church he»e at anv rate was made up of ttoe workers. One very strong trait in the Dean was his wonderful foresight and prudence. He had always kept before them the necessity of looking forward, and had shown that his confidence in the future of Waitara was unbounded. In conclusion Mr. Grimstone said he wished, on behalf of the congregation, to wish the Dean many years of life to still further extend the good work so successfully carried out since the inception of his priestly career. Dean McKenna, in reply, said: My dear brethren, words at such a time as this fail to adequately describe my feelings. I thank you sincerely for the sentiments expressed in your kind address, and also for the beautiful example of the silversmith's art with which it was accompanied. This sacred vessel will henceforth -be devoted to me service of the Most High at the Altar, and from it you will receive the Bread of Life in this little church." The Dean then briefly reviewed the incidents of his early career. When he was appointed to the charge of the New Plymouth parish some twenty years ago there were only three priests in the whole of Taranaki. Now there were twelve, and there was room for at least three more as soon as they could get them. This was progress indeed, continued the speaker, and as the future prosperity of the district was undoubted they would find tne church would be not unmindful of her great responsibilities. She had never lagged behind in the van of progress. In referring to the wonderful things accomplished in their midst, he would say it would have been an impossibility for him or any other priest to accomplish anything without their whole-hearted assistance. He endorsed Mr. Grimstone's remarks in this particular, and he could tell them that he deeply appreciated the many sacrifics they must have made during the past. He would alwav* assist them to the best of his ability m «ny project for the benefit of the parish. Concluding, the Dean said that no matter how well appointed a church might be, no matter how flourishing a congregation might be, no parish could be said to bo complete until there was a Catholic school in its midst. He hoped that such a want would before long be filled the proceedings closed with the choir pTtw" thc " Faith ~f our