Joyous occasion as Tipperary priest marks Golden jubilee with parishioners

Last Sunday August 31 was a very special day for our own parish priest Fr. Peter Cullen when he celebrated Mass in St. Mary’s Church in Cahir.

As it happened to be the exact date 50 years ago that Fr. Peter was ordained. In the special mass which happened to be Fr. Peters Golden Jubilee, several other priests, including Fr. John Nally, Fr. Pat Butler, Fr. Jack Meade, Fr. James Ayuba, Fr. Taddeo Hammerle, Fr. Mathew Knight and Fr. Davy Fitzgerald came along on the day to celebrate with him.

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Music filled the church for this special occasion with the Charles Kickham Brass & Reed Band, ‘Cahir to Sing’ choir, David Butler and Maureen Ahearn’s choir all contributing to a wonderful mass to mark the day.

Fr. Peter Cullen was ordained on August 31, 1975. He is a Cahir native originally from Bengurragh on Abbey Street. He attended college in Hallam in Sheffield, England and ministered in Hallam for most of his ministry and it was lovely to see a large contingent travelling to Cahir specially to celebrate with Fr. Peter.

He always spent his free time at home in Cahir however and celebrated mass many times over the years while he visited here also. Fr. Peter finally returned to his native Parish of Cahir in 2019 where he has been ministering since.

Fr. Peter’s sister Joan was with him last Sunday as well as other family members as well as parish secretary Sharon Fitzgerald and Church assistant Michael O’Brien. Hundreds of other people went to the Day Care Centre next to St. Marys after the mass where food had been specially prepared by volunteers with the ICA Ladies, Davy & Kathleen Fitzgerald and many local bakers contributing to a tasty selection of sandwiches & cakes and plenty of tea and coffee.

Fr. Peter spent the afternoon chatting to all and cutting a special cake made for the milestone celebration and a wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all.

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Congratulations to Fr. Peter, we hope you celebrate many more special occasions and we look forward to many more years of ministry in your beloved native Parish.