Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of Very Rev. T. W. Price

New Zealand Tablet, 6 October 1921, Page 18

Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee of Very Rev. T. W. Price

Tuesday, September 20, will be long remembered as a red-letter day in the history of the Methven-Rakaia parish. On that day was celebrated the sacerdotal silver jubilee of the Very Rev. T. W. Price, who for the past five years has been-in charge of the parish. Early in the afternoon the festiveceremonies commenced in the Catholic school at'Rakaia, which was"filled to overflowing with friends who assembled from all parts of the district. The Bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. M; J. Brodie, D.D., came down from Christchurch to grace the proceedings with his presence. The diocesan clergy were represented by Very Rev. Dean Hyland (Rangiora), Very Rev. P. Cooney (Lyttelton), Revs. T. Hanrahan (Adm. Cathedral), Alex. O'Hare (Mount Magdala), and J. C. Murphy, B.A. (Hawarden). The Fathers of the Society of Mary were represented by Rev. F. W. Bartley, S.M., M.A., of

St. Bede's College. The Hon.— C. A. C. Hardy, M.L.C., was also present. Mr. B. McNam- - ara, J.P., who presided at the function, unloosed a sheaf of letters and telegrams from wellwishers ' of the jubilarian throughout the diocese and the Dominion, all regretting their inability to be present and offer-. ing their sincerest congratula- j tions and ad multos antws. Amongst those who replied or sent messages were the Rev. J. A. Kennedy, D.D. (Hokitika), Rev. J. Kelly, Ph.D. (Editor Tablet), Very Rev. C. Morkane, M.A. (Rector of Holy Cross • College, Mosgiel), Revs. M. J. Fogarty (Ahaura), F. B. Seward (Akaroa), Jas. Hanrahan (Darfield), J. Riordan (Ross), J. O'Connor (Addington), :D. Leen (Lincoln), H. Seymour, S.M.. (St. Mary's, Christchurch) J E. D.. Kimbell, S.M. -> (Farlie), J Jas. Lo&g, "Adm. (Greymouth), ? P. Shore and T. O'Regan (Grey- ' mouth), 0. Gallagher (Cathedral), D. Halvey (Rangiora), 0. Collins, M.A. and E. Ander-

sen, M.A. (Mosgiel), Marist Brothers ' (Christchurch), Little Company of Mary (Sydney and Christchurch),- Sisters of the Good Shepherd (Christchurch),.. Sisters" of Nazareth (Christchurch), Sisters of 'Mercy ( c <Villa Maria" and Lyttelton). Sir George Clifford, Bart., Dr. C. F. Morkane, Messrs. C. T. White, Denis McKendry, B. Darby, J. O'Carroll, ex-Superintendent Dwyer, and many others.

The proceedings opened with a jubilee chorus by. the children of the convent school. This was followed by recitations, songs, and miisieial selections contributed by past and-present pupils of Sisters of Mercy, each item being rendered in faultless manner and reflecting the greatest credit oft tfheir teachers. Masters J. Connolly then read an address from the school children and Miss Monica McNamara presented a case of silver fruit knives and forks. The following address, which was most appropriately and .artistically illuminated, and handsomely bound in vellum was read by Mr. Jas Morland:

Very Rev. and Dear Father,

PASTOR OF METHVEN-RAKAIA HONORED

On this joyful occasion, when the voices of many friends are .expressing, their congratulations -and good wishes,, it is surely right that we, your own parishioners, should unite with -them in honoring our pastor. - ,| - We v thank God that you are able, ' while - still" in the prime .your life, to look back on such a record of faithful service : as the twenty-five years'; of your priesthood

have been. We know how zealously you labored In Rangiora, and how the Hawarden parish profited by your earnestness will not be forgotten as long as its churches and presbytery remain as monuments to your pastoral devotion.,

The wise and good Bishop, the late Dr. Grimes, was not slow to. recognise your great gifts. Hawarden's loss was Christchurch's gain when he invited you ; to go to him as Administrator at the Cathedral in Barbadoes Street. Your success in that ardous office, your fidelity to your Bishop, your unfailing tact, your truly apostolic spirit of hospitality and kindness, and your zeal in every good cause during your ten years administratorship, shall ever be remembered as long as the clergy-and the faithful associated with you live.

To us you came with a record of a great past. What more can we say than ..that what you have been to the people of Rangiora, Ha warden, and Christchurch, all that and more you have been to us? We may be permitted to say something more they had you and they lost you. We have you. We have you now and we do not intend to let you go from us for many a year; and we assure you that by our 'loyalty and co-operation with you in your labors, we will in the future give eloquent testimony of our appreciation of our worthy pastor. We pray that. Almighty God may spare you to celebrate your golden jubilee amongst us, and that in full measure jind flowing over He may crown all your years with His graces and blessings. We bog to subscribe ourselves, ' Very* Rev. and Dear Father, on behalf of your devoted parishioners, — Methven : Daniel McKendry, Denis McKendry, Jos. McGirr, Jerome McAnulty ;

Rakaia: J. J. Duncan, Jas. Morland, James Travers, Jas. Brown.

Mr. P. Tully then presented a substantial wallet of notes the gift of the parishioners of that part of the district.

In an eloquent speech the Right Rev. M. J. Brodie, D.D., offered his sincerest congratulations to Father Price on the attainment of his silver jubilee. He was pleased to- witness such a splendid proof of the popularity and deservedly high esteem in which the jubilarian. was held. After eulogising the labors of Father. Price in the parish his Lordship concluded by expressing . the earnest*, wish that the bond of union and good-will so practically manifested on this happy occasion would always continue to be the characteristic of the priests and people over whom it was his good fortune to rule.

In a happy speech the Very Rev. Dean Hyland succinctly referred to the ardous labors of Father Price in the large and scattered parish of Hawarden. Here the wilderness was made to bloom and flourish and bear much fruit. Extensive Church properties, a beautiful presbytery and four artistic churches remain as witnesses to his inedfatigablo zeal, all of which he hoped would be the auguries of the greater works which would mark his progress to the attainment of his golden jubilee. The Very Rev. Father Cooney, Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., M.A., Hon. C. A.-C.

Hardy, M.L.C., and Mr. J. Connolly also spoke in laudatory terms and offered their congratulations to the. pastor.

; - Father Price on rising to reply was received with very hearty applause. .Ho said .that that was the most . trying "~ moment of the 25 years of his priesthood-. His chief difficulty was that he could- not sufficiently thank them for that very singular expression of their good-will towards him. '. As for testimonials, there . was no need of any such thing to manifest their feelings towards him. His intercourse 'with them since he came to the parish was a daily testimonial-to him of their kindness, their forbearance towards him on account of his many faults, and their generous loyalty to him as their priest. When he said, he thanked them, he asked them to take those words and to understand them in their best and fullest sense, charged with all possible sincerity and gratitude. As to what had been said in the addresses, and had been said in many letters he had received, concerning his merits and the value of his past services, and concerning the esteem and affection that were felt for him, he could truly say that to him it was a kind of mystery;, for knowing that he was in reality nothing more than what he was in the sight of. God, he could not think of himself as favorably as others thought of him. Nevertheless he was grateful for all that had been so kindly said of him; and, however undeserving he might be of such great praise, v it was certainly a noble evidence of the goodness of those whose judgment of him was so generous and so affectionately kind. He had always prayed that wherever he might be summoned to work no needless strife, no friction or misunderstanding with men of good will would ever blight the parish or grieve the Holy Spirit. ■■■ God had granted that. The people of that parish might be struggling and scattered but they were united and earnest, and with such

elements to work with how was it possible not to achieve some success? He hoped to be with them to the end, and when his day's work was finished and God Himself had put him to bed, he hoped to live long in their remembrance.

At Methven the jubilee celebrations commenced at eight o'clock. The hall, which was densely crowded 'the parishioners and the many. non-Catholic friends of Father Price, was festooned "and gaily decorated for. the occasion by the ladies of the parish. The. chair was taken by Mr. Jerome McAnnlty. The proceedings opened with a jubilee chorus by the "Convent School children and the presentation, on their behalf, of an address and case of 'plate by Master Charles Robins and Miss Sadie Compton. During the.evening the Christchurch Quartette (Messrs. H. Matheson, J. Joll, R. Beveridge, and A. L. Cropp) sang several glees, all of which were highly appreciated and encored by the audience. Songs and instrumental items were given by "Miss Duff and the pupils of the local convent. The piano responded to the masterly touch of Mr. R. A. Home, of .the Bristol Piano Company. At the conclusion of the musical programme, an address, similar to that presented at Rakaia, was read by Mr. P. Quinn, and a heavy wallet of notes, the gift of the parishioners of Methven and outside friends, both clerical and lay, was presented to the jubilarian by Mr. Thos. Morland.

The chairman referred to the many sterling and priestly qualifications of Father Price, and mentioned that the wallet represented the spontaneous offerings of a generous and responsive people. He expressed the hope that Father Price would enjoy his well-earned holiday, and that he would return renewed in vigor and strength to continue his good work on behalf of the people and the parish for many a year. Several of the parishioners also spoke conveying their good wishes to their pastor. Then followed speeches by his Lordship the Bishop, „ Dean Hyland, and Fathers Cooney and Murphy.

Father Price, who received a tremendous ovation, re plied as follows: —» .

My Lord, Very Rev. and Rev. Fathers, Ladies, and Gentlemen, —In the first place I thank you very sincerely for the cordial reception you have given me this evening. Although I cannot expect you to enter into my personal feelings to-night, or realise the ordeal a priest must pass through in listening to such flattering addresses as we have just heard, still, ordinary gratitude demands that I should have some appreciation of what you have all done for i> me. ~; Although no" priest < can reach his silvet jubilee

without -much deep thought and religious feeling, still, I - had little idea some weeks past that there would be such an enthusiastic and formal recognition of this personal event. -1 I am sure you will credit me with sufficient com-■.'.. mon sense to be allowed to say (knowing myself as I hope I do) that I have put down. much of. the warmth of feeling - and generous overlooking of my faults to-night to your large-mindedness and exceptional charity. I believe it is owing to your greater reverence for the priesthood than the priest. No one outside the Catholic Church can possibly gauge what a priest is to his people and the people to their priest. How is it explained? We have not to go far for a solution. A priest's life in the Catholic Church and in a Catholic congregation is in the nature of a parental life. The priest belongs to every family. No man can replace him. I take it that a priest is ordained —and especially when put in charge of a parish— have his sympathies, hopes, and energies in trust for the many and not for the few. This is .the lesson we may all read in the life of the great Master of Souls, and one which it behoves us all to copy even in our humble and halting fashion. This is the reason, that the priest has, figuratively speaking, not only the" key of the homes, but, what is more valuable, if" only rightly understood and applied, the key of the hearts of his parishioners. This explains, I believe, the warm and fervid drafting of such addresses as we hear from time to time read to priests. Every priest, then, ought to know how much is to be discounted in such "presentations, and how, if he wants his real value, he must seek it in the eyes of God and in the balance of the sanctuary. I know that with you, my friends, you have often taken "the will for the deed," and to-night theheart has run away with the head. Without wishing to moralise too much on such a joyous occasion as we are met here to commemorate, still, when I review the past quarter of a century, and see many distinct landmarks standing out before me, I am conscious that I owe all to God and nothing to myself. It has been my happiness to have received much kindly sympathy and much co-operation - and hearty good-will in the different parts of Our Lord's vinevard where I have been summoned to work.

The least • said about oneself the better, but if-I may introduce the personal pronoun; I am pleased to be able to state that during the past four years and seven months we have managed—owing to collections and sales of work— reduce the debt (in the Methven district alone) by £2500, and its complete removal is only a matter of a few months. That is something comforting for reflection. But to whom really is the credit due? To you, my generous and self-sacrificing friends who have responded during the past few years to an altogether exceptional series of calls, steady, heavy, and persistent. My efforts would have entailed much more labor and anxiety had my lot not fallen among a kind, faithful, and generous people, and I cannot help but see that the presentation made me to-night and the kind things said of me reflect far more credit upon yourselves than upon. me. Now- a few words for the monetary offering. No priest, I trust, would look at such a gift purely for its intrinsic value; but it is a matter of some congratulation for the committee that of the large sum collected, I believe the bulk of it has flowed in spontaneously from the- congregation, from the children, the choir, and some outside well-wishers and

friends. It is a satisfaction to a priest to know that he

has the good wishes and the good will of his congregation. I cannot fittingly express my personal obligation to you for such a generous recognition of the years — years— I have spent in your midst, and for the constant source of edification that your lives have afforded me. I accept your gift as a pledge of your kindness and good feeling towards me, and I shall look upon the spirit in which you have offered ft to. me as an incentive to devote myself more completely to your service in the future.. : And now I can imagine* some good people among you saying: "But what does Father Price intend doing with the money?" That is a question .which will naturally occur to many, minds. As to-night I mean to have no secrets from you, allow' me to anticipate some friends in the audience. I trust : and believe that a priest's -happiness does not consist :in the multiplicity of his acquirements so much as in the fewness of >his, wants, but there are times when he : needs complete rest if he is to , continue to give his best .work to the : parish.

Such a need I have felt for the past twelve months, but, among other considerations, the difficulty of securing a supply precluded the possibility of my getting away. This difficulty; however, will soon be removed by the * arrival in the diocese of several newly-ordained priests. I hope therefore, to take a much-needed holiday in the beginning of the year, and your generous gift to-night will enable me to do so with comfort.

I beg %o thank most sincerely his Lordship the Bishop, the kind father and friend of all his priests, for the honor he has conferred on me by coming here to-night. His Lordship has attended at great inconvenience, and no one appreciates that mora than I do. It is a great happiness to see so many clerical friends- gathered round r me this evening;, their presence recalls the events of the past, twenty odd years and is a living proof of the fraternal bond which binds the Catholic clergy so closely together. I. am most grateful to them and the other kind friends who have come from a distance to enchance by their presence and their greatly esteemed assistance the ■ solemnity of this function. I am deeply touched by the thoughtful offering of the children, which, no doubt, represents their pocket money. It is not .only a signal mark of self-denial, but proves a commendable example in those sq young of

a realisation of the duty of generosity to the Church, which is most praiseworthy. I am greatly indebted to the good Sisters of Mercy, the members of the Hibernian Society, the choir, and the church collectors, who have been such true friends to me. My earnest hope and fervent-prayer shall ever be that God may bless them and increase their measure of doing good in our midst. Last, but not least, I have to emphasise my appreciation of the self-sacrificing energy of the executive testimonial committee who have carried out their programme so well and so perfectly; the vocal and instrumental artists who have so generously given their services to-night, and the ladies who have spent much time and labor in decorating the hall and providing refreshments. In a word, you have all given me, my dear friends, a new reason for remembering you to-night, which will ever be one of mark in my calender. And if I am "spared to grow white in God's Ministry, I shall have the unfading pleasure of living over and over again the bright and pleasant hours we have spent, together on. the 25th anniversary of my Ordination.

After the function light refreshments were handed round and a social brought the ceremonies of a perfect day to a happy finish.