Great atmosphere at Father Oliver Devine's silver jubilee
Image 1 of 9
The Bishop of Meath, Dr Tom Deenihan, and the Bishop Emeritus, Dr Michael Smith, were among the clergy who concelebrated Mass to celebrate Fr Oliver Devine’s silver jubilee at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, Ballymore on Friday evening. Eilis RyanImage 2 of 9
Fr Oliver Devine surrounded by his siblings, in-laws and nephews. At back from left, Sean Devine, Eamonn Felle, Shane Felle and Fechin Devine, with in front, from left, Mary Felle, Una Devine, Stephen Felle, Fr Oliver himself, Aine Devine and sister-in-law Anne-Marie Devine. Eilis RyanImage 3 of 9
Friends and parishioners helping Fr Devine celebrate his jubilee were, at back from left Rosaleen Hoare, Caroline Nulty, Helen McCormack, Mary McKnight and Mairead Reilly, with in front from left, Eileen Finerty, Netta Murphy, Fr Oliver Devine, Fr Willie Fitzsimons, PP Milltown/Moyvore and Helen Molloy. Eilis RyanImage 4 of 9
Managing the traffic at Ballymore for Fr Devine’s silver jubilee celebrations were, from left, Barney Maxwell, Louis Meares and Ciaran McCormack. Eilis RyanImage 5 of 9
From left, Thomas Parker, Killare, Claire Conlon, Boher, Roisin Killian, Boher, Laura Conlon, Boher and Emer Killian, Boher. Eilis RyanImage 6 of 9
Fr Devine’s cousin, RTE newsreader Eileen Dunne, travelled to Ballymore for the party. Eilis RyanImage 7 of 9
At back, from left, Peter Cunningham, Drumraney, Fr Oliver Devine, PP Drumraney and Ballymore, Fr Joe Deegan, PP Clara; with in front from left, Fr Amer Taqoob, Pakistan, Fr Willie Fitzsimons, PP Milltown/Moyvore and Fr Michael Kelly O.Carm, a native of Ballymore. Eilis RyanImage 8 of 9
From left, Seamus Browne, Drumraney, Mary McKnight, Ballymore, Fr Oliver Devine, Frances Cunningham, Drumraney, Netta Murphy, Killlare and Bríd McKenna, Boher. Eilis RyanImage 9 of 9
Helen and Michiael Molloy, Killare with sons Micheál and Oisín. Eilis RyanBallymore’s Church of The Most Holy Redeemer was the host venue recently for the silver jubilee celebrations of local parish priest, Father Oliver Devine.
Among those present for the concelebrated Mass were both the current bishop of Meath, Most Rev Dr Thomas Deenihan, and his predecessor, the bishop emeritus of Meath, Most Rev Dr Michael Smith, together with a large cohort of Fr Devine’s brother priests from the Meath diocese.
There was also much lay involvement in the ceremony, including from Father Devine’s own family – his brothers Sean and Fechín and his sisters, Mary, Una and Áine. There was also a strong representation from parishes in which Fr Devine previously served.
Following the Mass, there was a party at the community centre in Ballymore, where master of ceremonies Seamus Browne revealed that there were gifts to be presented to Fr Devine on behalf of his parishioners in the five parishes in which he ministers – Ballymore, Boher, Drumraney, Tang and Forgney.
“There was also an awful lot of sponsorship here,” Mr Browne said, explaining that the food had been sponsored and also the music.
Among the gifts Fr Devine received was a promise of 1190 hours of divine adoration, organised by Wexford woman Fiona Colclough, who knows Father Devine through their shared interest in Medjudgordje.
Ms Colclough related how she had prayed for guidance on what to give Fr Devine, and the guidance of the Lord was that she should arrange 365 hours of divine adoration – but in the end, she got commitments of 1190 hours’ adoration.
“The most valuable gift you can give to a priest is time in prayer,” she said, explaining that a prayer for a priest is a prayer for the priesthood.
Expressing thanks for the gifts, and to all those who organised and participated in the event, Fr Devine said that 25 years on from his ordination, he was “very happy” with his decision to become a priest.