CATHOLIC CHANGES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2128, 23 October 1896, Page 2

CATHOLIC CHANGES.

The ' Palmerston Times ' thus bears testimony to the esteem in which the Rev. Father O'Donnell was held in the district he baa just left:—" The removal to Queenstown of the Rev. Father O'Donnell, who has gained the respect and esteem of the public generally and the affection and love of the Catholics in particular in the large district over which he has been the spiritual "counsellor, guide and friend," is regarded by all sections of tbe community with a feeling of genuine regret, and by the members of his own Church as a severe loss. Father O'Donnell, by his unassuming manners, his warm-heartedness and kindly disposition, his advocacy of those principles which tend to elevate our spiritual and moral natures and makers better men, has during hia pastorate heW proved himself a successful and ideal priest-—enthusiastic in all he undertook and zealous and solicitous to advance the cause and spirit of true Christianity and brotherhood. The good work accomplished by him will remain as a memorial of his energy, industry and piety in discharging the sacred and important duties connected with that of a Catholic priest. At the presentation of the address to him, Bishop Verdon bore testimony to the good work Father O'Donnell had done since he bad pastoral charge of the Palmerston district, and the confidence he telt in the successful discharge of his pastoral duties at Queenstown —the highest compliment that could be paid to the reverend gentleman's zeal and energy. Father O'Donnell's rernual to Queenstown means promotion, it is fne be<t recognition of his many sterling virtues. The rev. gentleman was also presented with a purse of sovereigns as a slight token of love and affection on the eve of severing his pastorate over the Palmerston district. The Rev Father Keenan, for more than nine years in spiritual charge of the Roman Catholic community of the Winton district, was also the recipient of many tokens of love by his congregation previous to his departure for the Arrow district. We learn from the 'N.Z. Tablet' that the children who had been attending catechism decided to show their love for their spiritual adviser in a more substantial form than words, and they therefore presented him with a very neat soutane and biretta, as a small token of respect. He was also presented at the same time, on behalf of the Dominican Nuns, Invercargill with a pair of large oil paintings, beautifully framed, representing the Madonna and Crown of Thorns. A very flattering address (accompanied by a purse of sovereigns) was also presented by parishioners to the Rev Father on the eve of his departures from Winton.