Presentation to Father Holbrook, Auckland.

New Zealand Tablet, 16 July 1908, Page 15

Presentation to Father Holbrook, Auckland.

(By Telegraph, From Our Own Correspondent.)

July 13

A presentation of an address and purse of sovereigns to Rev. Father Holbrook took place last Thursday night in the Hibernian Hall in the presence of a large and enthusiastic gathering of parishioners and visitors from all parts of the city and suburbs. There were also present priests from all parts of the diocese, amongst whom were Rev. Fathers Kehoe, Meagher, Cahill, Furlong, Tormcy, Zana, Williams, Duffy, Brennan, Murphy, and Rev. Brother George. An apology was received from Rev. Father Mahoney, of Onehunga. Mr. P. J. Nerhcny, who presided, in his opening remarks said that when it became known that Father Holbrook was leaving the Cathedral parish after six years' assiduous labor, during which time he had won their hearts and affections, it was the unanimous \\is>h that some tangible recognition from them should be shown to him. It took little time to put the matter in train, because all entered whole-heartedly into it, the result being that within a fortnight a substantial sum had been collected, and a beautiful address prepared. No better criterion coul?t have been afforded of the appreciation in which Father Holbrook was held. The chairman then called on Mr. M. J. Sheahan, secretary of the Testimonial Committee, who read the address, after which Rev. Father Murphy (treasurer) presented a purse containing 112 sovereigns, and stated that the subscribers included many outside the Cathedral parish. The following was the address :—: —

' Dear Rev. Father, — We, the people of St. Patrick's parish, and your many friends in this city, learn with regret that illhealth has compelled you to sever your connection with us, and we cannot permit you to depart without placing on record our appreciation of your noble priestly labors amongst us. The unflagging zeal you have displayed in promoting the interests of Holy Church through the medium of the various confraternities has been productive of lasting good, not only to the members thereof, but to the whole congregation. Of your various undertakings none stands forth more prominently than the fatherly care you have manifested towards the deserving orphans, in the promotion of whose spiritual and temporal welfare you deemed no labor too great and no sacrifice too dear. In the advancement of the sacred cause of education you have always displayed the keenest interest, the teachers having found in you an unfailing guide, a sympathetic counsellor, and a self-sacrificing friend, and the children a kind and loving father. As chaplain of the Hibernian Society and of the Old Boys' Club you have done much to inculcate into the members a love for faith and fatherland, and to instil into the minds of the rising generation an admiration of the noble and devoted race from which they have sprung. In conclusion, dear Rev. Father, we beg you to accept this address as a mark of our esteem and loving regard ; and it is our most fervent prayer that God may shower down upon you His choicest graces and blessings in that portion o r the Lord's vineyard which is now entrusted to your charge.' Rev. Father Holbrook was visibly affected at the warmth of his reception, and in replying said words failed him to

adequately thank all his kind friends for the handsome appreciation extended to him. He had arrived in their midst sis years ago a mere boy 'fresh from dear Ireland, with the holy oils scarcely dry on his hands after .ordination. With the assistance of his good priestly* colleagues and his dear friends, many of whom were around him that night, he had, they said, accomplished something for the glory of God. Without that aid he should have failed ;so credit was not due to him. Allusion was made to his work for the orphans. In this he was inspired by his own kind mother, and he strove to supply to the orphans the place of a father, and thus emulate the good example shown him. The Hibernian Society, the Old Boys' Club, the parish confraternities, and the altar boys had been always uppermost in his mind, because upon them he depended to assist in the work of holy Church. He should never forget them, and whatever he had done for the advancement of those organisations was but his plain, simple duty. He left the Cathedral and friends in the city because he felt his health would no" longer enable him to efficiently perform ''the onerous duties devolving upon him. The Vicar-General had kindly offered Cambridge to him, and after long consideration he accepted it. In conclusion, Father Holbrook, in feeling terms, thanked the committee who *had so successfully carried out this magnificent tribute to him, and his friends who rallied in support of it. Valuable as this wellfilled purse was, he valued a thousand times more -the good esteem in which all held him. He would always remember the parish where he had commenced his missionary labors, and its priests and people would ever remain dear to him.

During the evening the Cathedral choir sang ' The heavens are telling,' and the 'Gloria' from Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Vocal items were given by Iwisses Loncrgan and Little, and Messrs. Loncrgan and Pritchard. Mr P. F. Hiscocks Was conductor, and Mr. Harry Hiscocks acted as accompanist. The proceedings closed by all standing and singing ' God save Ireland.'