Yesterday, the Solemnity of the Assumption, I attended the Jubilee Celebration in St Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland (above) of Columban priests ordained 60, 50 and 25 years. There were seven Diamond Jubilarians present, 12 Golden and two Silver. There are three other Diamond Jubilarians still living, one American, one Australian and one New Zealander. There are also four other Golden and three Silver jubilarians.
The Irish Columbans were ordained on 21 December 1950 and 1960, which was then the feast of St Thomas the Apostle. As that is in the middle of the Irish winter it was decided some eyars ago to ahve the celebration on the Feast of the Assumption, a happy and practical thought, as it is still summer in Ireland and the feast still a holyday of obligation. It is known in Irish Gaelic as Lá Fhéile Mhuire Mhóir, the Great Feast of Mary.
One perhaps unique aspect of the celebration was that two brothers were celebrating different jubilees together, Father Terence Bennett his Diamond Jubilee and is younger brother, Father Donal, his Golden. Both spent most of their lives as priests in the Philippines. Father Terry retired to Ireland last year while Father Donal is now chaplain to Filipinos in Northern Ireland.
Please pray for our jubilarians and for the souls of the 18 from the class of 1950 and the four of the class of 1960 who have died.
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