Catholic Children's Society hosts Bishop O'Brien's Jubilee celebrations

A family fun day hosted by the Catholic Children's Society to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Bishop James O'Brien's Ordination, ended with the release of over a thousand papal coloured white and yellow balloons at All Saints, London Colney on Sunday. The day started with Mass where Bishop James, Auxiliary in the Diocese of Westminster, spoke of "the wonderful gift of priesthood" and for that gift to be fully realised "there is a need for a priest both to be loved and to love and, therefore it is in the context of loving, that priesthood has to be seen". Following Mass, a picnic was enjoyed by several hundred people in the grounds of All Saints Pastoral Centre. Bishop James co-celebrated his anniversary with Canon Adrian Arrowsmith, who was ordained on the same day in 1954. Bishop James speaking of the rich experiences of his ministry said: "I welcome all those not just from Hertfordshire, where I have been working as Bishop for 27 years, but those from my past, including my primary and secondary schools, my first parish at Feltham, the Catholic Missionary Society and from the time when I was Rector at the Diocesan Seminary".