Parish honours sacristan Dora’s 38 years of dedicated service
GLOWING tributes by the people of Dromina village, led by parish priest Father Gerard Coleman, were paid to Mrs. Dora O’Sullivan at a function in the community hall to mark her retirement from the position as sacristan of the local Saints Peter & Paul Church after 38 years of dedicated service.
Dora was the guest of honour at the function which was organised by the community council and was attended by representatives of all sections of the local community, an indication of the esteem in which they held Mrs. O’Sullivan, who assumed the post of sacristan in 1980. In the intervening years she attended to four parish priests in Fr. Jim Barry, Fr. Brendan Wrixon, Fr, Patrick Lawton and the current incumbent Fr. Gerard Coleman. The curates in the parish included Fr. Eugene O’VCallaghan, Fr. Liam Kelleher, Fr. P. O’Callaghan, Fr. Danny Murphy, Fr. Pat Linehan, Fr. David Buckley and Fr. Gerard Coleman.
“I saw many changes both in the parish and in the church during those years, such as the complete renovation of its interior and it also got a new roof and other facilities,” said Dora, who was the recipient of many presentations on the night to mark her retirement. There to see her so honoured were her husband, Donie, and family of Patrick, Valerie, John Joe and Brighid, and their families, who all live in the local area.
She received presentations from Ms Betty Coughlan on behalf of the local national school, from Jamie Jordan and Jim Brennan on behalf of Dromina GAA Club, from Jim Quane on behalf of Dromina Coursing Club, and from Ted Curtin and Fr. Coleman on behalf of the Pastoral Council and the church, and from Donal O’Connell, who presented her with a cheque on behalf of the community council in recognition of her work.
In his closing remarks, Rev. Fr. Coleman paid tribute to Dora for her diligence and dedication to her duties at the church, and to her wonderful generosity with her time and empathy for the people of the parish, no matter what the occasion. On her behalf, Fr. Coleman thanked all who had contributed to the organisation of the function appreciating the contribution Dora had made to their parish over the past 38 years.