PRESENTATION TO FATHER PATTERSON, PARNELL.

New Zealand Tablet, 27 May 1915, Page 35

PRESENTATION TO FATHER PATTERSON, PARNELL.

(By telegraph, from our Auckland correspondent.) May 24. The Rev. Father Patterson, who has been compelled by ill-health to relinquish his parochial duties in connection with St. John's Church, Parnell, was entertained by his parishioners at Bona Ventura Hall, Parnell, on Wednesday night. Mr. M. C. Tully presided, and during an interval in an enjoyable musical programme, Father Patterson was presented with ;-~ an address and a purse of sovereigns. The address,-which' was presented by Mr. J. L. Sullivan on behalf of the parishioners, was as follows: 'Dear Father Patterson,We, the parishioners .of St. John's Church, wish to avail ourselves of this opportunity of expressing our appreciation of the good work done by you during the term of your administration of this parish, and to convey to you our sympathy with you in your ill-health, which has made it necessary for you to relinquish your parochial duties in this district.We are deeply grateful to you for your whole-hearted-

energy and zeal in your wotk of the past five years. Your prompt attention to sick-calls, your careful teaching and training of the altar-boys, your readiness to hear confessions at any time, thus facilitating and encouraging the beautiful -practice of frequent Communion, your indefatigable efforts- on behalf of the Catholic Federation, —all these duties so faithfully discharged will help us to gratefully remember the years of your administration of the parish of Parnell. We ask you to accept the accompanying gift as a souvenir of your association with the people of Parnell, and a mark of their esteem and respect. " .' On behalf of the congregation, we sincerely express the hope that, the rest you are enjoying will soon restore you to health and strength, and that God may spare you for many years to labor with continued success in the exercise of your priestly duties. 'We beg to remain, yours in grateful appreciation — (Signed on behalf of the parishioners) T. M. Taylor, M. C. Tully, J. O'Sullivan.' The Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., who has succeeded Father Patterson at Parnell, said he had already seen evidence of the priestly zeal that Father Patterson had displayed during the five years he had spent in the parish. His Lordship the Bishop had reluctantly accepted Father Patterson's resignation on the understanding that he would, after a rest, resume some duty in the diocese. Father Patterson, he added, was first associated with the diocese thirty years ago, and ho deserved their gratitude for having been, in a great measure, instrumental in introducing the noble band of missionaries—the Fathers of St. Joseph. Father Patterson spent some years in Wellington, and returned sixteen years ago to Auckland, where he hoped he would be spared to labor for many years more. Rev. Father Patterson heartily thanked his parishioners for the many kindnesses that they had shown him.