This weekend marks the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination to priesthood of my uncle, and grand-Godfather (ie my Godmother’s Godfather), Fr Jack O’Connor. Earlier in the year family and friends gathered with parishioners to mark the day with Mass and food and drink with good company together.

For fifty years as a priest, Jack has been (in the words of the Collect for the anniversary of priestly ordination) an “ardent yet gentle preacher of the Gospel and the faithful steward of the mysteries of Christ”

You might like to pray with me this (adapted since written prayed by the priest for himself at his anniversary Mass) prayer of thanksgiving for Jack:

Holy Father, who, by no merit of [his] own, chose Fr. Jack O’Connor
for communion with the eternal priesthood of your Christ
and for the ministry of your Church,
grant that he may be an ardent yet gentle preacher of the Gospel
and a faithful steward of your mysteries.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

Below: Jack & John circa 1966.