Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M.

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 17, 25 April 1907, Page 30

Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M.

(From out Chrlstcliuroh correspondent.) The Very, Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, SM. has > been appointed 'to the pastoral charge of the important parish of Leeston. He left on. last Tuesday to enter upon his new sphere 'of duties, with the , best wishes of -his late congregation, numerous friends, a-nd the community generally, among whom he has labored so long and zealously. . - The Very Rev. Father Le Menant .des Chesnais, SM., was born on November 6, 1836, in. Brittany, France. He " was educated at St. Vincent's College, Rennes (Ille et Vilaine), and at the little Seminary of St. Meen. He was ordained by his Eminence Godfrey St. Marc, Archbishop of Rennes, in 1860, and made his religious profession in the Society of Mary on April 29, 1866. He "ministered for over nine years at St.< Anne's, Spitalfields,.' London (the Mariet. mission in the Metropolis), " a<nd was engaged for one year. in mis--sionary work in the French diooese of Agen at Notre Dame de Boa Rencontre. -He was instructed by his Superior to 'proceed to Sydney, N.S.W.. where, forgive years, he ministered in the parish of St. Patrick. He also did' missionary work in the dioceses- of Ba'thurst, Goulburn, Arm-idale, and MaLtland. In 1882 he came to ' the Archdiocese of Wellington, where~he was appointed to missionary work. The Archdiocese' then included the present diooese of Christchurch, and he conducted mission services in every parish throughout' the wide area, f He succeeded the Very Ilev. Dean Ginaty as parish t priest of Christchurch, and received the Right Rev. D,r. j, Grimes on his arrival as first Bishop of the newly | ■constituted See. His next appointment was the, charge of the j>aris.h'" cf Hastings, which he held for' 'two years— a period marked by great progress, including'the' introduction of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth. Returning, to the Christchurch diocese he established the parish of St. Mary's, Manchester street, where he built the present church, fine brick schools, and introiduoed the Sisters of Mercy. He spent five years in St. Mary's as parish priest, and afterwards a period of much usefulness at Temulva. When the health of t>fie late Very Rev. Father Cummings broke down Father Le Menant des Chesnais, at the .invitation of his Lordship the Bishop, returned to ' Christchurch, ami was installed as Vicar-General and Administrator of the Cathedral— positions he has filled with- conspicuous aJbility during the past ten years. .He has twice been sent as a delegate to Europe,, once- on*- behalf of St. Patrick's College, and again on behalf of his Order, the. Society of Mary. The Very Rev. Father Le Menan)fc des Chesnais is a man of fine scholarly attainments, and is the author of numerous works, notably the ' Church and the. World,' recently published. "Possessed of special talent for organisation he has carried out the arduous duties of his office with remarkable thoroughness. As s. citizen he is respected by all classes. Among his 1 own people lie has earned their deepest affection by a devotion to duty, often deemed marvellous in one who 'has attained his years. That- he will be greatly missed is a foregone conclusion, but -by none will his departure be more ■>< keenly felt than by the schools, and by the members of the various societies and confraternities, in all of which his interest has been unceasing and most beneficent. A large and representative meeting of the friends of the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais 1 took place in the presbytery, Barfoadoes street, on Thursday evening, to devise means of presenting Mm 1 with some tangible proof of their appreciation of his ministration during his stay in Ohristchuroh. His Lordship Bishop Grimes was present at the opening of the meeting. He said it was a^ very unusiial thing" for him to interest himself in presenting a testimonial to a priest, •but in this case he deemed it a duty and a pleasure to assist}, and would - give five guineas to what he cansidered a most deserving and laudable undertaking. His Lordship then retired, and Mr. Peter- Pender was elected chairman, and Mr. E. O'Connor hon. treasurer and: secretary.. Letters of apology were read from Sir George Clifford, Messrs. W. Hofran and P. Devane, enclosing cheques, and from other gentlemen, promising to assist. It was unanimously decided that a testimonial and illuminated address tie presented to Very Rev. Father" Le Menant des Chesnais.. '