Fr Peter celebrates with family, friends and brother priests
By Catherine Sheehan
The day of his 60th anniversary Mass started well for Fr Peter O’Loughlin, with news that his beloved Bombers had finally won a match.
“There’s another celebration, and that is that the Bombers won last night,” Fr Peter said with a beaming smile as he welcomed those gathered on 20 July at Corpus Christi Church in Bellerive for a special Mass to mark his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination.
The Mass was presided over by Fr Peter and concelebrated by many priests of the Archdiocese, including Emeritus Archbishop Adrian Doyle, Chancellor Fr Ben Brooks and Vicar General Fr Shammi Perera.
Archbishop Tony Ireland was in attendance, as well as Archdiocesan Executive Director, Chris Ryan. Members of Fr Peter’s family were present and numerous friends and parishioners.
“I’ve had 60 years to prepare these thoughts,” Fr Peter said at the beginning of his homily.
“There’s so much I could say, I won’t say it all. I’ll save some for my hundredth.”
Fr Peter said the liturgy, including the hymns, reflected his life’s journey. Referring to the Gospel reading about the disciples on the Road to Emmaus he said:
“How many times can we say during our life that we don’t recognise him beside us, journeying with us in the poor and the lonely, in the sick and the disadvantaged, and even those who might sit near us at church that we don’t interact with them all the time as we could and should.”
He spoke of the many ministries he had been involved with over 60 years including YCS, YCW, the Christian Family Movement, Marriage Encounter, and leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
“There have been many, many people, many events, many challenges, but they’ve all been rich and wonderful,” Fr Peter said.
“60 years has been a time of growth, a time of enrichment, and above all, a time with all of you and many others, as companions on the journey.”
Following the homily, the priests of the Archdiocese sang together ‘Tu es Sacerdos’ (‘You are a Priest’) in Latin. At the conclusion of Mass the choir and the whole congregation sang a special blessing for Fr Peter.
Fr Ben Brooks thanked Fr Peter for his ministry over 60 years.
“Every church or parish you’ve been to, you’ve certainly left your mark. Building a church, or rebuilding a church, making lots of renovations,” Fr Ben said.
Fr Peter’s involvement in many forms of outreach was a lesson to younger priests, Fr Ben said, and demonstrated that priesthood was “about walking with one another, walking with people in the kingdom of God”.
