Golden Jubilee celebrations for Fr John O’Brien

Almost 100 people gathered in the Franciscan Abbey in Multyfarnham last Friday to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of popular friar and prolific author Fr John O’Brien, OFM.

Fr O’Brien was touched by the turnout: “I thought there would be about 30 and there were 92,” he told the Westmeath Examiner after the celebrations.

Fr John celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Friary for all those who had helped him down through the years. Fr Sean Murphy from Cork, who is also celebrating his Golden Jubilee this year, preached about “the ups and downs” of their years together and how faith kept them going.

After Mass, a meal was served in the multi-award winning Multyfarnham Cookery School run by Dayantha and Kamalika Ranasinghe at The Friary.

A native of Galway, Fr John O’Brien spent many years ministering in the Franciscan Friary in Athlone before coming to Multyfarnham, and made many friends along the way.

He has written 19 books dealing with themes of faith, spirituality and struggle. His most recent publication 'Broken but Holy' is a companion piece to his previous book 'Winter Past: The Spirit of Hope'.

In his dedication at the beginning of 'Broken but Holy', Fr John says the book was written “for all the moments of kindness I received since I had cancer”.

Fr John was born into the world of books. His aunt and uncle owned the famous Kenny’s book shop in Galway. His aunt Peggy was married to the famous novelist Walter Macken, and his grandfather was editor of the Connacht Tribune.

Fr John intends to mark his Golden Jubilee by going on a diocesan pilgrimage to Italy and visiting Assisi, the home of St Francis, the mystic, poet and friar who founded the Franciscan Order.