Celebration of priesthood in Arundel & Brighton

Arundel Cathedral

A special Mass took place at Arundel Cathedral last Thursday, to celebrate the priestly jubilees of 13 priests. The chief celebrant was Bishop Kieran Conry, who offered his gratitude on behalf of the people of the diocese for their service over the years, especially to those celebrating golden, ruby and silver jubilees of priestly ordination.

The Jubilarians are: Mgr Benny O'Shea, Fr John Downey MCCCJ, Canon Kieron O'Brien, Fr John Pearson, Fr Kenin Gaskin, Fr Colin Wolczak, Fr Michael Perry, Canon Oliver Heaney, Fr Ian McLean O.Praem, and Fr John Troy MCCJ. The two priests who could not attend were Fr John Nuttall and Mgr Bryan Chestle.

Bishop Kieran reminded those present that priests were called to make explicit in their lives God’s individual call to each one of to be ‘Fishers of Men’, and exhorted them, echoing the prayer of the Mass, to be ‘fruitful in action, gentle in ministry and constant in prayer’.

At the end of Mass Bishop Kieran asked those present to pray for the two men to be ordained to the priesthood for the diocese on 21st July at Worth Abbey, Chris Dobson and Alan Sharpe. These will be joined by those to be ordained permanent deacons in their respective parishes, Adrian Burnett and Joseph Cote on 30 June and Robert Wellbelove on 21 July.

After the Jubilarians’ Mass celebrated in the Cathedral at Arundel the jubilarian priests were toasted by their brother priests during a festive lunch in the newly refurbished Cathedral Hall.

A diocesan spokesman said: “The diocese is greatly blessed with an additional five men to be ordained to ministry in the Church and with the faithful service of all those priests who are celebrating anniversaries of ordination, and their unswerving dedication and commitment to that same ministry.”

Source: Diocese of A&B