REV. FATHER TUBMAN’S SILVER JUBILEE

New Zealand Tablet, 31 August 1911, Page 1687

REV. FATHER TUBMAN’S SILVER JUBILEE

(From our Timaru correspondent.) On Tuesday evening last the Catholics of St. Andrews, an outlying part of the Timaru parish, about twelve miles south of Timaru, assembled in the public hall to celebrate. the silver jubilee of their popular and esteemed pastor, the Rev. Father Tubman. The proceedings took the nature of a social, progressive euchre and a musical programme occupying part of the time. Among the audience were many of the early pioneers, who had received the Rev. Father on his first and pioneer visit to the district twenty years ago. Some of those early settlers whose hearty hand shake greeted the Rev. Father last night were Messrs. P. Kennedy, J. O'Connor, W. O'Donoghue, and Sullivan. Mr. D. Callaghan ably presided, and read the following address: 'Reverend . and dear Father, we the Catholics of St. Andrews district have assembled here this evening to tender you our warmest felicitations, on this, the occasion of your silver jubilee. We should indeed be thoughtless, aye ungrateful, were we not to embrace, this opportunity of manifesting to you our appreciation for your untiring care and attention to us during the twenty years that you are ministering iri this parish.. The interest you have taken in each of us and the solici-

tude you have displayed for. all have endeared you to every member of your flock. By your suavity of manner and tenderness of heart you have not only obtained the affection of your own congregation, but you have also won the regard and the esteem of all classes and creeds. We admire you not only for your zeal in our spiritual interests, but we also recognise : your eminent administrative ability. During your pastorate you have not only built and furnished our beautiful church in St. Andrews, but you have now achieved the crowning act of your life by erecting in Timaru that grand magnificent temple that is an ornament to the town and which always will be the pride and glory of Catholics not only in South Canterbury, Mxt, throughout the whole Dominion. As a small token of gratitude for your great work in our behalf we beg you to accept this purse, of sovereigns accompanied with the wish that God will spare you to us for many years to come. Signed on behalf of the parishioners: D. Callaghan, J. . o‘Loughlin, P. Kennedy, C. Lysaght, Martin Sullivan, P. Ryan.’

He then handed to Rev. Father Tubman the address, beautifully illuminated and framed, and with it a substantial purse of sovereigns. Rev. Father Tubman, who was received with enthusiasm, and whose remarks were frequently applauded, sincerely thanked them for their beautiful address, and the substantial token of their goodwill which had accompanied it. He did not possess the qualities they gave him credit for, but he would wish to be the man they thought he was. He had now been twenty years laboring in that parish, and he was just twenty-five years a priest. He had been five years a professor before coming to the Timaru-St. Andrews parish, which was his first one. When he came to St. Andrews Messrs. M. Kennedy and W. O'Donoghue and a _ few others were about the only married folks belonging to the new congregation. Many excellent parish priests had guided them during his time as curate, Fathers Aubry, Foley, Hurlin, and Lewis—and a great number of assistants had helped in the work, but none of the latter did more useful work than Fathers Murphy and Smyth, who were present with them that evening. The St. Andrews congregation was a loyal one to their Church. Indeed, the St. Andrews people did great service for the Timaru church; for instance the bazaar lately held by them realised for the Timaru church just about £7OO, a record for such an effort. The Timaru church had many notable benefactors, some notable recent ones being Messrs. Terence McPhee and J'. Fahey. Some of the success that had attended the erection of the building was undoubtedly due to the energy, tact, and capabilities of Mr. Moriarty, and to him a great saving was due in all directions. He desired to particularly mention the members of the church committee, especially Mr. O'Connor, the first chairman for the great work done. Mr. O'Connor was now succeeded in that office by Mr. D. Callaghan, a capable and trustworthy successor. He concluded by thanking them most sincerely for Che handsome presents, and sat down amidst applause. , The Rev. Father Smyth said that the celebration of Father Tubman's silver jubilee was a popular event in St. Andrews. Never was a cause more heartily taken up, and in fact the people had looked upon it as a great family event. _ Mr. O'Connor said that everything done in the parish was due to the good guidance of the Rev. Father Tubman, assisted by the generosity of the people. Father Tubman was now known as a church builder. He had guided the present rising generation, and the prosperity of the Church in the district was due to the zeal, self-sacrifice, and foresight of the Rev. Father Tubman. He concluded a telling speech by wishing Father Tubman a long and useful life," and "hoped he would be present at his diamond. jubilee. The refreshments provided by the ladies of the parish were on a generous scale, and were much appreciated. Among those present during the evening were Rev. Fathers Fay (Temuka), Smyth and Murphy (Timaru)/