In Pictures: Westminster’s loss is Limerick’s gain as popular priest celebrates golden jubilee

FATHER Tim O'Connor decided to “retire” to Manister in 2017 after 44 years working in England but he is busier than ever.

The Archdiocese of Westminster's loss has been Castletown, Ballyagran, Colmanswell, Rockhill and Bruree’s gain.

There was standing room only in Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bruree for his golden jubilee Mass exactly 50 years and nine days after his ordination on June 9, 1973.

The large crowd reflected his standing and popularity in the locality.

“It was a full house, it was lovely,”said Fr O'Connor, who was joined on the altar by parish priest Fr David Gibson and fellow former priest in Westminster, Fr Eamon O'Brien.

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Born in Glin, the O’Connor family moved to Manister when Tim was 11. It was at that tender age he first felt God's call.

“It came to a head when I was 18 and I had to make up my mind what I was going to do. It was a feeling in the gut that this was the life for me,” said Fr O'Connor, who attended St Patrick's College in Thurles which specialised in sending priests on English speaking missions.

And he has no regrets. “Every day was a bonus,” said Fr O'Connor, whose first parish was Our Lady Help of Christians, Kentish Town in the Westminster Archdiocese.

He jokes that there were so many Irish there that he didn't meet an English person for weeks! It may help explain why he didn't come home with a Cockney accent.

One of his proudest days was the official opening of the beautiful Our Lady and Saint Vincent Catholic Church, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, which was constructed under Fr O'Connor's supervision.

He has built bonds back in Limerick too through celebrating weddings, baptism, funerals and weekly Masses. His quiet kindness has touched many. A mark of the man was that he asked for gifts at his golden jubilee Mass to go to charity.

In pictures: Golden jubilee celebrations for Limerick priest

Fr O'Connor chose Trocaire and St Vincent de Paul as the beneficiaries of over €1,200 generously raised by Mass-goers.

A booklet handed out at the special Mass features a photo of Fr O'Connor on his ordination day with sisters Mai, Eileen and Delia. Fifty years on they are pictured together above on his golden jubilee.

Fr O'Connor wishes to thank his family, Diocese of Limerick, Fr Gibson and everybody who organised and attended his golden jubilee Mass, and God.