Melbourne News

Priestly Jubilarians celebrate

Monday 23 July 2012

By Fiona Basile, Kairos Catholic Journal

MORE THAN 100 priests gathered at St Monica’s Church in Moonee Ponds today to celebrate the Annual Reunion of the Corpus Christi Priests’ Association and the Jubilarians from Corpus Christi College, other seminaries and religious orders. The principal celebrant at the Mass was Monsignor Anthony Ireland, with the Jubilarians concelebrating.

View gallery

Recently retired, Fr Peter Foley from Geelong, who celebrates his 50-year jubilee this year, provided the homily. He shared many personal anecdotes about his time as a priest and spoke of God’s grace in administering and receiving the sacraments.
 
“We should always remember the great deal of joyful moments in our lives where we were the conduit of the grace of God in the lives of so many,” he said.
 
“I often think of Fr Dick Rafter, who at 98 years still hears confessions—He is the conduit of forgiveness in the lives of people.”
 
Fr Foley acknowledged the difficult conditions within which priests work today, but encouraged those present to “think of the seed lying dormant through the winter, which bursts forth during the spring.”
 
“We acknowledge and recognise the things that have happened in the Church, but we should always remember the joyful things that have happened in our lives, and the lives of others. And today is one of those joyful celebrations as we celebrate the contribution and work of so many here today.”
 
Fr Foley concluded his homily with a blessing over the priests. The Mass was followed by an Appreciation Luncheon for the Jubilarians held at the Moonee Valley Function Centre where the George Maher Bursary was presented to Corpus Christi Seminary Rector, Fr Brendan Lane, for use in assisting needy students at the seminary. Fr Bren Donohue proposed a toast to all the Jubilarians and Fr Kevin Arundell replied to this toast on behalf of those celebrating their anniversaries of ordination.

Photos by Fiona Basile, Kairos Catholic Journal

Photos from top: (i) Jubilarians outside St Monica's Church in Moonee Ponds (ii) Fr Peter Foley during the homily (iii) Fr James Kierce who celebrates his 60-year jubillee this year.

The 2012 Corpus Christi Jubilarians included:
 
70 Years
Gerald Sullivan                
 
60 Years
Robin Sutherland            
Robert Aitken                   
Des Byrne                         
James Kierce                    
Paul Kane                           
Joseph Conway                               
 
50 Years
Francis Jones                    
Graeme Howard             
Patrick McAnany             
Terrence Southerwood Hobart                 
John Williams                    
John Aldag                         
Kevin Arundell                 
Kevin Eaton                       
Peter Foley                        
Desmond Panton            
Thomas Doyle                  
Brian Cosgriff                    
Joseph McMahon           
Peter Carrucan                 
Robert Burtonclay          
John White                        
John Finlayson                 
Peter Kenny                      
 
25 Years
Andrew Wise                    
Stuart Hall                          
Anthony Ireland              
Thien Vo Duc                    
  
Other Seminaries Jubilarians 2012
 
60 Years
John Daly            
Leo Long             
 
50 Years
Patrick O’Sullivan SJ                       
Bernard O’Brien OMI                    
Kevin Casey OMI
Joseph Pulis SDB                   
Alistair MacLellan 
Frank Marriott  
Pat Baker SSC                        
Gerald Quinn CP                   
Joseph Dargan 
Mario De Rosa  
 
25 Years
Don Lourensz  
Gary Jones  
David Ryan SJ