REV. DEAN M'KENNA'S JUBILEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9040, 16 March 1908, Page 6

REV. DEAN M'KENNA'S JUBILEE.

SPECIAL SERVICES AT ST. PATRICK'S. TRIBUTES OF THE DEAN'S WORK. 'Wednesday last was the 25th anniversary of the ordination of the Very Rev. Dean McKenna to the priesthood, and with the exception of four years of that time, nis ecclesiastical life has been spent in Masterton. To celebrate the occasion, services of a special nature were held at St. Patrick's Church, yesterday, and the Dean was the recipient of two addresses and a purse of -sovereigns from the parishioners and local Hibernian Society. At 7 a.m. mass was celebrated bv hid Grace the Archbishop of Wellington and at 8 a.m. the Venerable Archdeacon Devoy was the celebrant. At 10.30 o'clock, solemn high mass was celebrated. The mass chosen was St. Mary Magdelene's, the Rev. Dean McKenna being the celebrant. Archbishop Redwood presided. The occasional sermon was preached by Very Rev. Father Keogh, Rector of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, who delivered an able and interesting address on the priesthood. At the evening service, when the presentations took place, there was asr-im a very large congregation. After th?! recital of the rosary, Archbishop Redwood delivered an address confining his remarks to references of a eulogistic character to the Dean. Mr B. J. Dolan then read the parishioners' address to the Dean, to whom it was presented together with a purse containing over 100 sovereigns, by Mr A. R. Bunny. The latter spoke briefly on behalf of the parishioners. The full text of the address was as follows: To the Very Reverend Dean McKenna.—Very Reverend and Dear Father,-On the 11th March, 1908, you attained the 25th anniversary of your ordination to the sacred ministry of the priesthood. For 21 years of that period, the greater part of your sacerdotal life, you have been the Pastor of this parish. We, your parishioners, desire to offer you our heartfelt congratulations on this the occasion of the celebration of your Silver Jubilee, and we feel ourselves bound to do so by every dictate of respectful duty. When you were first appointed the parish was in troubled waters, overburdened with a heavy liability, and there was no apparent prospect of uplifting it. But your admirable administrative capabilities soon devised the means of extinguishing the debt, and to-day the financial position of the parish is satisfactorily assured. Under your careful stewardship great things have been achieved. Beauteous convent gruunds adorn the vicinity of the Church whereon picturesque and commodious edifices have been erected, whence the saintly and accomplished sisters of the Brigidine Order disseminate sound knowledge religious and secular. St. Patrick's Church and the adjacent Presbytery have been extended and new Churches have been built at Eketahuna and Mauriceville. We recognise that those advantages owe their existence almdst wholly to your eminent zeal and ability, and we desire to express our full appreciation of the work you have done for the flock committed to your care. We trust ( and pray that God may lori4 spare you in the exercise of your priestly functions, and that it may be your lot to yet celebrate your Golden Jubilee amongst your loyal and devoted parishioners. Signed on behalf of the Parishioners—AßTHUß R. .BUNNY." Mr S. O'Regan also read an address on similar lines from St. Michael's branch of the Hibernian Society, and this was presented to the Dean by • the President, Mr H. J. O'Leary. Rev. Dean McKenna, in the course of a lengthy and feeling reply, first of all thanked the Archbishop for his kindness and consideration in attending, and the visiting clergy, who had left their respective parishes at great inconvenience to assist at the ceremonies. He went on to speak of the generous treatment he had always received at the hands of the local press and from the public men of the district, especially Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., who he was pleased to see present that night. He would not be doing justice to the gathering if he did not mention that he had received messages from Revs. A. M. Johnson and A. T. Thompson, both of whom displayed a Christian spirit which he could not belp but admire. He might say that the monetary gift would not be turned to his personal use, but to keep the Church, especially the altar and its surroundings, in a fit and proper state, which he had always striven to do since his advent to Masterton. He especially thanked Mrs Holmes, of Matahiwi, for her generous gift of vestments, and the beautiful lace which adorned the front of the altar, the school children, the Children of Mary, and the Hibernian Society, for their respective gifts, and the Sisters at the Convent for their many kindnesses to him, especially on the present occasion. Though he had been successful in his work, it was because of the congregation's generosity to him. Vhey had been always willing to assist him, and had in fact been more than good to him. He had also received valuable support from non-Catholic friends not only in Mastertnn but the whole of the Wairarapa, and he was grateful of tha opportunity to make public acknowledgment of his gratitude. From the address he received encouragement to go on in his work to carry out which he hoped to have the assistance of their prayers. Concluding his remarks the Dean stated that he had now started the race for the golden jubilee, and he hoped to reach the goal, but whether he did or did not reach that end, he hoped when the end did come to say with the Apostle "I have fought the fight, I have kept the faith, and can look forward to the golden/crown," which he earnestly .hoped not only he, but each and every one of them would win. The service concluded with the Benediction ceremony, performed by the Archbishop, and the singing of "Faith of our Fathers." The choir, under the baton of Mr A. R. Bunny, rendered special music at this service and at the mass in the morning.