CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1922, Page 4

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

NEW PLYMOUTH PARISH. NEW DEAN APPOINTED. The appointment of Dean Thomas McKenna as the new. pastor of New Plymouth was announced at St. Joseph’s Church yesterday by Dean Power. This appointment has been made to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Rev. Dean James McKenna. The newly-appointed dean, who is 59 years of age, is well-known in Taranaki, especially in the southern end of the province, as in 189.1 he formed the parish of Patea and was the first priest of that parish, a position he filled for 3 years, removing to Pahiatua in 1894, where he was also the first parish priest. Here he was instrumental in having the church, presbytery, convent and school built, besides acquiring a considerable amount of property for the church. For twenty-six years die conducted his labors at Pahiatua and in 1919 he was appointed parish priest of St. Anne’s, Newtown, Wellington, where he has been stationed for the last two and a half years. Dean Thos. McKenna is a brother of the Rt. Rev. Monsignor McKenna. VicarGeneral of the W’ellington archdiocese, who is at present ,in New Plymouth. The dean takes a very keen interest in athletics and will be well remembered at Patea as a football referee. He is spoken of as a very skilful administrator and he materially helped in both the spiritual and financial welfare of the parishes he has been connected with. It is expected that Dean McKenna will take up his duties at New Plymouth in two or three weeks’ time.