The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-07-26
GLAD WELCOME
TO THEIR PASTOR
Rev. P. NJ. McKenna Surprised When
Called to Hale's Pavilion Last
Evening, by Large Gathering
Of People.


Fully two hundred and fifty people
Of st. Monica's church gathered in the
Pavilion hall last evening to tender an
informal reception to Rev. P. N. Me
Kenna and to express in measure
their JOY at the return Of their beloved
priest from his five months journey
abroad,
As quietly and unexpectedly as Father
MeKenna went away last spring, did
be return last Saturday evening, and
so his people here who were planning
for this occasion we're left in uncer-
tainty when to begin preparations.
Nevertheless they made the most Of
the time that they had and extended
a most hearty and cordial welcome to
Father McKenna.
1T was d complete surprise to him as
it had been planned. After all the
people had arrived at the hall Joseph
Brault and Arthur G. Moore went to
the parish house and informed Father
NeKenna that he was wanted at the
hall.
Gilbertson's full orchestra which had
rendered it's serves rendered most en-
ioyable concert selections during the
evening, and very pleasing entertain
ment was given by the young people
consisting of a welcome song by eight
young girls, vocal solos by John Nelson
Grace Deyers and James Benaett and
4 violin solo by James Riley. AT the
close 81 the welcome song Miss Mary
Carroll III very fitting words extended q
welcome to Father McKenna in behalf
of the children Of the church. The ad-
dress, as read, was as follows:
Reverend and Dear Father: With
hearts beating high with love and affec-
ton, we welcome you here today and
rejoice to have you once again in oui
midst after your long absence. Truly
in our case can it be said Absence
makes the heart grow fonder.s Though
far away from us, you have not been for,
gotten and fervently have we prayed
that God would watch over your jour
neyings and grant YOU that greatest o.
blessings, the health you went to seei
in bright and sunny lands.
sWith all our hearts we thank Coo
for your safe return and wish we coult
find words to express to you our graft
tude for all you have done for Us il
the past, guiding us on in the patti
Of virtue, ever our friend in Joys COLDER
hour, and standing by us with words o
comfort and sympathy when adversit,
takes the place Of prosperity, whel
trials sudden and heavy fall npon us
When friends who rejoieed with us i
| our sunshine desert us when trouble
/ thieken around us still have you clun
4 to us and endeayofed by your kin
| preeepts and counsels to dissipate tn
lclouds of darkness and cause peace I
return to our hearts, Your kind voie
has often been the means Of sreelain
ing an erring one from the path G
wickedness to a life Of happiness an
/ the peace Of q good conscience. Lon
and faithfully have you toiied for OH
salvation and today with JOY and haI
piness the children Of your fold gree
| You with reYerent affection and be
your blessing and continuance (
your labors for our welfare. May ou
/ Heavenly Father shower upon 70
many, many blessings and grant 70
health and strength to fulfill the ardt
Gus labor Of your parish
An address of welcome was to hay
been given by DR. j. e. AlcSweene,
but he could not be present and Fathe
Cray spoke in his stead, saying: "W
all welcome Father McKenna back froi
| his trip, but no one Of yon more tina
i / do. In the few months that | hay
had charge Of the parsh ! have learne
something of what the life of prizes
really is and ! do not wonder tha
Father MciNenna needed a rest from b
work.
In response Father MeKenna spob
most feelingly Of the good will towaI
him manifested BIZ his church people 3
this time and "for your love and 10y
atty to me- He spoke only briefly {
his trip. He said that it had alway
been his wish and dream since he e.
tered tile priesthood to sometime jon
! ney to the Holy Land, but he had nc
thought that it would ever be. "Dl
/. Friends he said, "you can imagine wit
what feeling Of awe and reverence
stood and said mass at the affairs erect
ed in those sacred places were the dea
Lord himself had stood, and as ! locke
upon the hill which the bovhood eye
! of the Lord had gazed on. Z In closin
his remarks he said that there were tw
: things that he wanted to mention, whic
had been impressed upon him more fol
! cibly than ever before by his trip, an
they are religion and our own Amei
! lea
Joseph Brault then presented Fatht
McKenna with purse Of money col
! tributed BY the members Of the pa
ish.