Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-05-30
RATHER o'DoNNELL suRPHIsED.


 Waited Upon by aNumbsr Of Waterbury
 Eriends and Presented With q Purse of
 $500.
 Yesterday afternoon party of Wa terbury people wended their way to Watertown and surprised the Rev J. Fl. O'Donnell at his new home in that pretty little village. When it was an- nounced a few weeks ago that Father O'Donnen was to go from Waterbury to take charge of the parish of St Johns at Watertown, few of his personal friends put their heads together and de- cided to give him small token to show their good wishes. The affair culmi- hated yesterday when purse of $500 was presented to Father O'Donnell. It was about o'clock when the parochial residence was reached and no time was lost in making the object of the visit known. The committee and members of the press took possession of Father O'DonnelPs study and Spokesman Martin Bergin then invited the reverend gentle man in and addressed him as follows:
 "Rev Father O'Donnell-You see around you to-day few of your many Waterbury friends. We have come with a token of our esteem for you. We re- gret deeply your departure from Water bury, but we are pleased to know that the change is in the line of promotion. We bring this gift to you as a slight recognition of your labors for the parish of the Immaculate Conception and your very able work for the school over which yon labored SO successfully. We only wish this small, token were many times larger; but small as it is, it is given with all our hearts, and that it will increase a thousand fold, and that you and your new charge may prosper, is our heartfelt wish,"
 Father O'Donnell replied feelingly and in his usual pleasing manner. He said: {: My dear friends, I certainly feel, and speak from the bottom of my heart, moro than thankful for this substantial token of your regard for what you deem best to call my work in Water bury. Your presence here to-day in such large numbers is touching in the extreme and l take it as harbinger of the future. I always felt and knew that had goods friends in Waterbury and I did not need this remembrance to con- firm it. You are friends who have always had good word and wish for me, and any words of mine in this in- stance would be but poor recompense for such manifestation. I accept it in the name of the people of the Immacu- late Conception church parish and hope that your good wishes may not be nulli-
 
 the gift, but above all for what it implies.''
 The Rev Father Mulcahy, with whom Father O'Donnen had labored so long, expressed himself as follows: elf any one ought to feel sad," said he, ssat Father O'DonnelPs departure, it is I. During the past few years have had many burdens and I always found him an able and willing coadjutor. Some of the most important affairs of the parish have been in his keeping and in his absence will feel for time like a. fish out of water. People often do not appreciate the value of a thing until they lose it and know I will feel his loss keenly. I hope for a short but bright future for him in Watertown and think there are larger places where his talents are needed. In parting from a valued friend and able assistant it is hard for me to further express my feelings."
 After Father Mulcahy finished each one present arose and referred to Father ODOnnells labors in this city and the regret they felt at his leaving, and wished him God-speed in his new field. The party then adjourned to the dining room, and for an hour they regaled themselves on the very savory and pala- table dishes prepared.
 Those present from Waterbury were: Rev J. A. Mulcahy, Martin Bergin, Patrick Holohau, Thomas Conlon, Thomas Kane, Dr B. A. O'Hara, Charles O'Connor, J. J. Geraghty, W. A. Gull foile, P. Bergen, J. Kelly, J. Cullen, J. Curley and 0. Maloney. The party re- turned home about o'clock.
 On Saturday Father O'DonnelI was presented with handsome study chair by the following pupils of St Mary's school, who have recently entered the High school: l.. Scanlon, M. Murphy, M. and K. Kilmartin, K. Duncan, M. Killoughey, J. Sullivan, K. Luddy and J. and K. Callahan.
 The mission in St Johns church be- gan last evening, the opening sermon being delivered by the Rev Father Mulcahy.
 AEGlnEAI.I. A LAInlEa-AL.E