DEATH OF A VENERABLE PRIEST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 46, 16 November 1899, Page 19

DEATH OF A VENERABLE PRIEST.

~4 VBSY EEV. FATHER O'HARA, OF OTAHTTHTJ. (By telegraph, from our Auckland correspondent.) Genbbal and profound regret was felt last Saturday morning amongst the Catholics of this city on receipt of the news of the death of the Very Rev. Father O'Hara, which occurred on Friday evening at Otahnhu. Father O'Hara was born at Collowney, Sligo, Ireland, in the year 1814, and read his theological course at All Hallows College, being contemporary there with the late lamented Dr. MoDonald. He ■ was ordained in 1863 for the Auckland diocese, but he remained for a short period in the Lancashire district He arrived in Auckland in 1865, being sent immediately to the mission at Rangiaohia, Waikato, then a most troublesome district owing to the Maori war, during which he acted as chaplain to the forces. He was transferred thence to the curacy of St. Patrick's, Auckland, under Dr. McDonald, Vicar-General. Whilst there he built St. John'a Church, Parnell. He was subsequently appointed parish priest of Otahuhu in succession to Father Garavel, who died in Sydney. When the Most Rev. Dr. Gould, Archbishop of Melbourne, was appointed Administrator of the Auckland diocese, he selected Father O'Hara as Administrator of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and also Chairman of the Board to administer the affairs of the diocese. Shortly after the illustrious Dr. Croke's arrival in Auckland Father O'Hara returned to Otahuhu, where he remained ever since. In 1886 he was appointed irremovable rector. For years he was one of the diocesan consultors, a position which he resigned quite recently in consequence of physical infirmity. He made periodical viaits to Kaipara, and erected a church at Mangawhare and another at Papakura in his own parish. Since his arrival in the diocese he never left it. He gave the Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly his first Latin lessons, and assisted, at the Dean's ordination and at his first Mass at Otahuhu on February 25, 1866 Father O'Hara was comforted in his last moments by his sister (in religion Sister Mary Teresa, of the Convent, Ponsonby) and a, nephew (Father O'Hara) who has been his curate during the last eleven months. Needless to say his last moments were holy and happy. On Monday morninar at the Otahuhu Church the Office for the Dead was recited at 10 o'clock, after which a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by Dean O'Reilly, Father Golden being deacon, Father Buckley sub-deacon, and Father Purton master of ceremonies. The Very Rev. Dr. Egan presided at the organ, and the ohoir, composed of the Very Rev. Father Lightheart, and Rev. - Fathers Kehoe and Darby, sang appropriate music. There were also present the Very Rev. Monsignor McDonald, and Rev. Fathers Ahem and Eamp. Owing to indisposition the Very Rev. Monsignor Paul, diocesan administrator, and Rev. Father Gillan could not attend. At the request of Dean O'Reilly Father Golden preaohed the funeral sermon, and eulogised the life and labours of the deceased in language that was marked with eloquence and deep feeling, and exhorted all present to ever remember in their prayers and at Holy Mass the boul of him around whose mortal remains they were gathered. The interment took place after Mass in the Catholic cemetery of Otahuhu, where the remains of the venerable and exemplary old iogarth aroon were laid to rest. — 8.1.P.