FAREWELL TO DEAN GROGAN, WANGANUI

New Zealand Tablet, 8 June 1911, Page 1051

FAREWELL TO DEAN GROGAN, WANGANUI

. ■— 4 (From our own correspondent.) St.“ Mary’s Hallwas crowded to its utmost capacity on Thursday, r evening, June 1, on the occasion of the parishioners’ farewell and the presentation of an illuminated address to the Very Rev.' Dean Grogan, S.M. The Dean has just returned from a holiday trip to the Islands, and the parishioners were pleased to sec that he had apparently benefited by the change of scene. ' Mr. A. Bretherton occupied the chair, on his right being the guest of the evening, and on his left Rev. Father Holley. The : first portion of the evening was devoted to a short but pleasing programme of vocal items. ' At the conclusion of the musical items, the chairman, in the course of his speech, expressed his extreme pleasure in being called upon to preside at the gathering, held in honor of their late parish priest. Fie said he had known Dean Grogan for over thirty years, in the days when he (the Dean) had charge of the Hawera parish. - He referred to Dean Grogan’s many good qualities, and dwelt on. the many hardships suffered by the pioneer clergy. . Mr. Bretherton . concluded a happy ; speech by expressing his keen regret at the approaching departure of the Dean, and wished him

many years in which to continue his sacred ministry. He then called upon‘Mr. F. D. Gaffaney to read the address of farewell from the parishioners, which was as follows; ‘ Very Rev, and Dear Dean,— We are assembled here to-night to < take part in a function in which music, song,, and speech are but the stepping stones to the real, object in view, which is to bid you farewell on your departure from among us, to express our gratitude for the many favors you have conferred upon us, and to wish that health and strength may long be yours to labor in the future, as in the past, in the Master’s Vineyard. When growing years and declining energy made you realise that the multifarious duties and increasing responsibilities of the parish were growing beyond your strength in out-pacing your activity, and suggested the advisability of resigning your trust into the hands of those who conferred it, your' motives for doing so were neither self-ease nor personal comfort, but rather the temporal advancement and spiritual welfare of St. Mary’s. And though this district is small compared with that which was committed to your missionary care, some forty years ago, when you had a province for a parish, when roads were tracks, and difficulties of travel great. Still, for one who has reached the patriarchal period of which the Psalmist speaks, it is only just, that you should be relieved of, and younger men shouldered, with, the present growing burden of parochial duties. This thought mixes consolation with the regret that your numerous friends experience in losing you. S' They feel that yours is the idyllic lot pictured by, the poet when he described ‘ As bi-blest those who crown in shades like, these, A youth of labor with an age of ease..’ ‘ But we feel, however, that your strenuous nature will resent any ideals of life whose attainment in mature age as in vigorous youth is not associated with toil, and effort, and well-doing in the sacred ministry’ which the archdiocese has benefited so largely by your eloquence, in preaching the Sacred Word, your zeal in building and beautifying churches for Divine worship, and your labors in erecting and supporting schools, in which the children of your charge could obtain the knowledge that fits them ■ not only for the life that passes, but above all, for the eternal one that is to come. ‘ Trusting the future has in reserve for you peach, happiness, and length of days. We remain, on behalf of the parishioners, —Arthur Bretherton (chairman), F. Neylon, D. P. Cullinane, E. Wilson, J. O’Leary, W. M. Luxford, J. Dempsey, C. O’Leary, W. McTubbs, F. D. Gaffaney, A. H. Benefield, J. Donovan, P. Keogh, P. Benefield, J. W. E. Miles, T. P. Souter, E. J. McLachlan, Aherne. ‘St. Mary’s Wanganui, June 1, 1911.’ ; Mr. P. Keogh, on behalf of the various societies of young men in the parish, expressed his sincere thanks to the Dean for his many courtesies and generosities where the young men were concerned, and wished him every happiness in the future. Rev. Brother Basil, on behalf of the Marist Brothers and the local community of Sisters, said that he, desired to place on record the Dean’s generosity where the cause of Catholic education was concerned. He said that the Dean had the welfare of the Marist and parish schools deeply at heart, and had often stepped into the breach when occasion required financial assistance. He wished the Dean Godspeed and prosperity. Rev. Father Holley said that he thought he could understand the feelings of the Dean ,as he faced this last audience of Wanganui parishioners. He said that a good priest leaned on his people for sympathy, support, and encouragement, and that when a transfer took place, there was a painful blank in a priest’s life until he got to know his new parishioners. He referred feelingly to his long friendship with Dean Grogan, and concluded by stating that he was sure the people of Wanganui would not forget their late pastor in their prayers. ... : Very Rev. Dean Grogan on rising to reply was greeted with hearty and prolonged applause. He sincerely thanked all those present for the honor they had given him j in being there that evening! Fie briefly outlined the;progress of the parish during his eight years’ ministrations in Wanganui, mentioning the building of the Catholic school and church a Aramohq, and the large increase in; the attendance at the, local Marist Brothers’ School. He sincerely thanked the various speakers for their kind words, and the parishioners for the kindly sentiments , expressed in the address. He wished to correct, an erroneous impression that had gained considerable, currency, to the effect that he was leaving Wanganui to retire. This was quite untrue, and ,he wished to state that he would retire only when totally incapable of further work. Fie wished his late parishioners every blessing, and bade them an affectionate farewell. ■ ~ ' , ; ' After the proceedings had concluded light refreshments were handed round by the* ladies of the parish. A word of special praise is due to Mr. Gaffaney for the energetic way in which he carried out his duties, as organiser of the gathering._ , t ‘ The following contributed to the musical programme: Miss Claire Gellatley Home love ! Misses K. Dunn and E. Maguire (‘ In the dusk of twlight ’), Miss Dorothy Rbacho The swallow ’), Misses D. Roache and; K. Dunne'(duet, ‘ Ave Maria’), Miss K. Wood (‘Kathleen Mavourneen ’ and ‘ Avourneen’), and Rev, Father Holley (‘ Out on the deep * and ‘ Tho bell buoy ’),