The Lord set his heart on you and chose you
Deuteronomy 7:6-11
On the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 12 June, Bishop Marcus led the annual Celebration of Priesthood at Leeds Cathedral. Clergy from across the diocese took part in the concelebrated Mass, during which the homily was preached by the Provost of the York Oratory, Fr Richard Duffield C.O.
Also taking part in the liturgy were choristers from Holy Rosary & St Anne’s Primary School, part of the Cathedral parish.
At the centre of the celebration were the Jubilarians of 2026:
Fr Eugene Pathe (70 years – ordained 1956)
Canon Sean Durcan and Canon Sean Gilligan (60 years – ordained 1966)
Fr Anthony Fenton and Fr Anthony Wilson (50 years – ordained 1976)
Canon Ian Smith, Mgr Paul Owens and Mgr Andrew Summersgill (40 years – ordained 1986)
Canon Martin Kelly and Fr Sean Parsons (25 years – ordained 2001)
As is tradition, Bishop Marcus hosted a celebratory lunch after Mass in Cathedral Hall for the Jubilarians, and the other priests present at the Mass.
The Celebration of Priesthood came four days after the death of Fr Paul Reid on Monday 8 June, the day before the 53rd anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. May he rest in peace.
We give thanks to God for all our priests, past and present, for the service they have given to the Bishops and Lay Faithful of the Diocese of Leeds.
An album of photographs from the Mass at the Cathedral can found at https://www.patricksicephotography.co.uk/blog/celebration-of-priesthood-2026
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