Updated: Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 4:45pm

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Priest celebrates diamond jubilee in Kilmainhamwood

Fr James Duffy concelebrating his diamond jubilee Mass in Kilmainhamwood.

A very special occasion was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Kilmainhamwood, recently when a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated, marking the diamond jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of Fr James Duffy, who is from Kilmainhamwood.

Many friends and family, nieces and nephews from Kilmainhamwood and surrounding areas, including Nobber and Kells, Castletown and Rathkenny, attended the unique and special Mass on a gloriously sunny day in the picturesque village.

Fr Duffy was born on 17th April 1925 to Thomas Duffy and Brigid Cassidy, Tullaweel, Kilmainhamwood. He was ordained in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, on 18th June 1950 and celebrated his first Mass on 19th June in the Sacred Heart Church, Kilmainhamwood.

His first parish was Mountmellick, Co. Laois, in the Kildare diocese, from 1950 till 1953, where he served as a curate. He was then appointed to Drumkeerin, Co Leitrim, where he remained as curate until 1961. His next parish was Ballyjamesduff from March 1961 where he was curate for 19 years till 1980.

In 1980, he was appointed PP of Ballinaglera, Leitrim, where he served for 10 years. From 1990 till the present time, he has been in Ballinamore. Fr Duffy was PP of Ballinamore from 1990 till 2000 and has been an assistant there since then.

At his diamond jubilee Mass, Fr Duffy thanked his sister, Brigid Shields, and Fr John Cooney, parish priest of Kilmainhamwood, for all the great work done in preparing for the Mass.

Concelebrating the Mass with Fr Duffy on Sunday were Fr Cooney; Fr Seamus Cassidy, PP, Navan Road, Dublin, who was born in Tavis, Kilmaimhamwood, and is a first cousin of Fr Duffy; Fr Charlie Heary, PP, Ballinamore; Fr Patsy Young, who is retired and sadly is the only surviving priest who attended Fr Duffy's golden jubilee celebration Mass 10 years ago; Fr Tom Mannion, who is curate in Cavan and who worked with Fr Duffy in Ballinamore; Fr Eugene Dowd and Fr Con Cronin.

Fr Duffy said it was a great day to celebrate 60 years since ordination. He recalled that, when he was ordained, he was amongst a class of 84 newly ordained priests, 60 of whom have since passed on. "When I realised that 60 priests out of my class of 84 are now dead, I've a lot to be thankful for," he said.

He said that over the last 60 years "we've seen extraordinary changes". He quipped that when he was ordained "there were so many priests that there was no place for me!" He recalled that his own parish of Kilmainhamwood had an extraordinary tradition of vocations.

He also remarked that the numbers of ordinations has decreased significantly over the years and that it is now a very serious situation. He appealed to parents to think about and encourage vocation as a priest or a nun for their children.

Fr John Cooney paid tribute to Fr Jimmy for his 60 years' service to the priesthood and his work in the various parishes.

Organist at the Mass was Rosemarie Shields, who is a relative of Fr Duffy's. Sacred music was sung by Rosemarie Shields, along with Chloe Smith and Brenda Shields.