Dear friends in Christ
The month of June comes to a highpoint with the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul on Thursday. We have already celebrated some of the most beautiful feasts of the calendar this month and now with the celebration of the heavenly twins we rejoice that Jesus has built His Church on the foundation of these two Saints. Peter brought the Faith to Rome and was executed there around the year 64AD; Paul, after his conversion, brought the Faith to every corner of the known-world. The Preface of the Mass on 29th reminds us of this: For by your providence the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy: Peter, foremost in confessing the faith, Paul, its outstanding preacher, Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel, Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call. Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation and in the morning we will have the participation of our Primary School at the Mass.
Next Friday, 30th June--feast of the First Martyrs of Rome—Father Cornelius Joyce will celebrate his sixtieth anniversary of Priestly Ordination! This is a great and wonderful milestone in his life and the life of our Diocese. Father Con was Ordained on 30 June 1963 and entered the service of Diocese of Brentwood in 1966 he was Assistant Priest in Collier Row (1966-1967), Saffron Walden (1967-1968), Brentwood (1968-1973), Walthamstow (1973-1975), Brentwood (1976-1977), Aveley (1977-1979); then Parish Priest of Custom House (1975-1976), Hutton (1979-1989), Dagenham (1989-1995), Southend-on-Sea (1995-2001) before retiring to Leigh. When I arrived in the Parish in October 2003 Fr Con was already resident and from then until the present time has been an invaluable help: celebrating a weekly Sunday Mass, helping on the occasions when I am away from the Parish and being a quiet presence whilst visiting the sick and the needy. I know how much his ministry has been, and is, so valued. Father Con will celebrate the midday Mass on Friday after which there will be a celebration in the Parish Centre to which all are invited. May God grant him many more years of Priestly life and in the traditional way we wish him: Ad multos annos!
May God bless him and all of you!
Msgr Kevin Hale