SILVER JUBILEE OF THE VERY REV. DEAN HACKETT, PAEROA

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 18, 2 May 1907, Page 14

SILVER JUBILEE OF THE VERY REV. DEAN HACKETT, PAEROA

(By telegraph from our own correspondent.) On Sunday last the Veiy Rev. Dean Hackett, of ♦Paeroa, celeteratod the twenty-iifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The proper date was March 4, but owing to that being within the Lenten season, - the celebration was postponed until last Sunday. The Very -Rev. Dean Hackett was born in Moate, County Westmeath. He made his preliminary ecclesiastical studies at St. Josei-h s Academy, Moate, an institution conducted by the Carmelite Fathers. He studied philosophy and theology at the Propaganda College, Rome, and - was ordained by the late Cardinal Parrocchi in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome, on March 4, 1882. On .his arrival in Auckland, Father Hackett was appointed by the late Bishop Luck to the c'narge of the Helensville and Dar^avalle districts. Later on hewas appointed administrator of St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he laiborcfl for over seven years. About thirteen years ago he was transferred to Faeroa by Bishop Luck. The office of Dean was conferred upon him by the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan. The deanery compiises the most important rural districts in the diocese ('Waiihd, Te Aroha, Rotorua, Ngaruawahai, Hamilton, Mercer, Pukekohe, Otahuhu, Kihi.vihi, and the King Country to the boundary of th 3 archdiocese of Wellington). The Very Rev. Dean is also a member of the Bishop's Council, anil also of the Catholic Board of Education. A very large congregation assembled to do honor to the popular Paeroa priest. At the eleven o'clock Mass, St. Mary's Church was full, and, indeed, a large number* who desired admission were obliged to wait outside. At the conclusion of Mass the breakfast, to celebrate the important event, was held in the school, when about 300 guests sat down to an excellent repast. Besides Paeroa people, representati es were present from Auckland, Karangahak'e, Waikino, Komata, and other places. Nor was the gathering confined to members of the Very Rev. Dean's own denomination, for there was a fair sprinkling of members of other denominations. The schoolroom was crowded, and the delicacies provided were done full justice to by those who sat down to a repast that it would be hard to surpass anywhere. The Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly presided, and on his fight was seated the Very Rev. Dean Hacliett, and' on his left Mr. "J. McCarthy (chairmrn of the committee that had made the arrangements for Ihe presentation). Monsignor O'Reilly said il gave him great pleasure to come to Paeroa on this occasion, and to preside and take part in the presentation, and when he had received the invitation he felt that he could not possibly, refuse. He expressed his gratitude to them for thinking of him on that occasion, and asking him to be present. He read a letter from his Lordship Bishop Lenihan wishing Dean Hackett many happy years, and forwarding a personal gift, and also a contribution to the fund that was being raiso'd. The hon. secretary, Mr Hesp, reaa" apologies from a number of those who were unavoidably absent. • Mr. J. McCarthy (chairman of the committee)," on behalf of the subscribers, presented Very Rev. Dean Hackett with a purse of sovereigns, the total amount being £120. He also handed to the Dean a beautifullyilluminated address, the text of which' was as follows :— • Dear and Very Rev. De:n,— On brhalf of the parishioners of Ohinemuri aad'your many friends in New Zealand, we take this opportunity of expressing our united hearty congratulations on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebraiion of your ordination to the priesthood. During the thirteen years spent in our midst, we have not failed to recognise yo'ir incessant labors for our spiritual and temporal welfare, your eloquent am} powerful appeals to us from, the pulpit, and in private your sound and practical admonitions and exemplary conduct, your unceasing efforts to restrain the wayward and to succor the needy, your untiring efforts to cancel

the debt on our churches, school, and convent, and, finally, your ardent love for dearlreland, the home of our fathers, from whom we inherit "bur Catholic faith. All oom'bined to enhance your stiong claim on our gratitude and we will ever pray that (red may grant you health and strength for to labor in that exalted sphere in which you are so bright an ornament. We beg your acceptance of this address and the accompanying gifts.' The Very Rev. Dean Hac<ett met with an enthusiastic reception on rising to reply. He said that they were gathered there that day, under ths presidency oi Paeroa's first pastor, the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Reilly, to congratulate him on the twentyMifth anniversary of his ordination, and he assured them that he would ever retain a most kind and grateful remembrance of the scene on which he gazed, and the kind words spoken. He felt utterly unworthy of the praibcs lavished on him. Not to his personal merits but to the active and magnificent imagination, excited by the warm feeling of the Celtic hearts, did he attribute the portrait th,ey had drawn of him. He failed to recognise himself in such a flattering picture, for he saw in it not what he was, but what he ought to be, and what, with God s grace, their prayers, and bis own co-operalion, he earnestly hoped to be one day. He begged them to accept his most grateful thanks, and 10 believe that his gratitude for the re-

gard and affection in which they held him was far deeper than he could express. To the Right Rev. Monsignor O'Reilly he expressed his indebtedness for his presence that day. In the Monsignor the older residents of the Ohinemuri found- a zealous pastor, and he (the Dean) a brother-priest whose friendship never'wavered, and whose counsel ever proved wise. To the committee of ladies and gentlemen who initiated and carried to such a successful issue the jubilee celebration, as well as to those who provided the ordination breakfast for such a large number of guests, he offered his own f/ersonal thanks, and that of all present. He felt specially grateful to the delegates present from Karangahake, Waikino, and Komata, and thanked, through them, the peoole represented for their greetings. He had been informed that the secretary had, in course of preparation a full list of subscriptions. He (the Dean) would not be surprised to find later on that nonCatholics figured very prominently on the list. He was not surprised, for since he arrived here he enjoyed ' tho goodwill, and could always rely on the generous help, of non-Catholics throughout the Paeroa district, and in Auckland, .whenever he appealed to them on behalf of the erection of churches, convent, and school. That

they horacfred him that day came not as a surprise, but was another proof of the liberality and kindness fcfcyond his power to repay. He was also informed that many of his old friends in Auckland, Waihi, . and Te Aroha, had been in communication with the local committee to be remembered by those among whom he spent the first years of. his ministry. This was- a source of much joy to him, and such kindness he would treasure deeply in his memory. The address spoke of his love for Ireland. He loved her on account of her irrepressible- Catholicity, and the. uncompromising fidelity to the See of Peter, - and endeavored to plant in the hearts of others the same love for Ireland and Rome that he fondly cherished in his own. The reduction of paroohial debts was due to their own, generosity, and the united efforts of the ladies' .social anil 'bazaar committee at Paeroa and Karangahake. The children's address was presented by Misses Moriarity, Crosby, and McCarthy. The Very Rev. Dean was the recipient of a very large number of "presents, including a gold embroidered stole from I'ishop Lenihan, a Benediction veil, worked and presented by the Sisters cf St, Joseph (AucUamjO, a very pretty stole and surplice from the children of St. Joseph's School (Paeroa), and a handsome sovereign case from Mr. J. and Miss M. Ford (AucMand). The beautiful cake, which adorned the table, was the gift of Mrs. and Miss Pratt (Auckland). The proceedings were enlivened by the presence of the Paeroa Town Band, under Bandmaster G. Mettam. The band rendered a number of musical selections both- before and after the breakfast.