FIRST ORDINATION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20990, 18 December 1939, Page 6

FIRST ORDINATION

CATHOLIC CEREMONY ECCLESIASTICAL EVENT LARGE CONGREGATION ATTEND A congregation of more than 1000 was present in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary yesterday morning when the Rev. Father Peter Battersby, son of Mrs E. Battersby, of Hamilton, and the late Mr W. Battersby, was ordained a priest, the ordination being the first ceremony of its kind yet held in the Waikato. The ordaining prelate was the Right Rev. Dr J. M. Liston, and assisting the bishop were the Right Rev. H. F. Holbrook and Rev. Father M. J. Bleakley. Assisting the ordinand was Rev. Father W. E. Ryan. Present in the sanctuary were the Rev. Fathers E. O’Connor, V. Courtney, J. Dunn, J. Leahy, L. Cahill, D. McGivern, J. Martinvich, B. Totman, J. McCarthy, D. Hayes, and Lieuten-ant-Chaplain W. Sheely. Joyful Event At the conclusion of the ceremony, Bishop Liston, in a brief address, said that the ordination had been an unique and joyful event for the Hamilton parish. The newly ordained priest was the celebrant at Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament last night, when Monsignor Holbrook, who delivered the sermon, spoke on the priesthood. There was another large congregation at the Church this morning when Rev. Father Battersby celebrated his first Mass.