Bishop congratulates priests on milestone anniversaries
THE Bishop of Ferns Denis Brennan hosted a reception at his home in Summerhill, Wexford for priests who are celebrating milestone anniversaries of their ordinations this year.
Celebrating 60 years in the priesthood and his diamond jubilee is Fr. Paddy O’ Brien who was ordained at Maynooth in June, 1958 and was based at St. Peter’s College from 1959 to 1985. He undertook postgraduate studies at Maynooth from 1968 to 1969, later serving as Parish Pirest of Kilanerian from 1985 to 2013.
Fr. O’Brien was Vicar for Education for the Diocese from 1990 and was appointed Canon in December 2011.
Fr. Ray Gahan, a priest of the Diocese of Ferns currently serving as parish priest in Kilavenay, County Wicklow, is celebrating his golden jubilee after being ordained at St. Peter’s College in 1968.
He ministered in St. Aidan’s Cathedral; Keswick in Lancashire; Our Lady of Grace, Los Angeles; Askamore; St. Leonards; Mphansa in Zambia; Nenagh, County Tipperary; Ballymurn and Marshalstown.
They were joined by retired priest and golden jubilarian Fr. Anthony O’Connell who was ordained in Maynooth 50 years ago.
Fr. O’Connell served in London, Ballymurn, Ballymitty, St. Aidan’s Cathedral and as parish priest of Rathnure and was formerly Bishop’s Secretary and Spiritual Director of St. Peter’s College.
Fr. Sean O’Gorman is marking his 40th or ruby jubilee this year. He was ordained in St. Peter’s College in May 1978, serving in the House of Missions, Enniscorthy; Gusserane; Barntown and has been Parish Priest of Taghmon from 2006.
Fr. Danny McDonald is also a ruby jubilarian who was ordained in St. Peter’s College in May, 1978 and first served in Ballyfin, County Laois. He was chaplain at Wexford Vocational College from 1981 to 1997 before ministering in Mulrankin until 2005 and has been Parish Priest of Marshalstown since 2005.
Fellow ruby jubilarian Fr. James Butler was also ordained in St. Peter’s in May 1978 and ministered there until 1981, moving to Terrarath until 1989; serving again in St. Peter’s College before moving to Murrintown in 1997 and becoming Parish Priest of Ballygarrett from 2009, where he is still based.
Fr. Matt Boggan was congratulated on his silver jubilee having been ordained at St. Peter’s College in June 1993, serving in Killaloe; New Ross; Cleariestown and chaplain to Wexford Vocational College from 2004 to 2006, and Galbally.
He was Director of Family Life Services in 2007 and is currently Director of the Lourdes Pilgrimage. He is based in Gorey.
Fr. Michael Byrne is also a silver jubilarian and served in Clologue following his ordination at St. Peter’s College in June 1993 before moving to Boolavogue in 2005 where he served up to his retirement in 2015.
Fr. Byrne was a member of the Diocesan Catechetical Team and also served as Chaplain to the Pioneer Association from 1997 to 2015.