At Holy Family Church, Leeds the ordinary became special on the evening of Saturday 24 January. Parish Priest, Fr Neil Byrne, offered the Vigil Mass for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time for the intentions of parishioners Patrick and Margaret Dooley, who were celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary the following week. Fr Neil was joined at the altar by Canon John Nunan, a long-standing friend of the Dooley family.
In his homily Fr Neil reflected on the day’s readings and how they offered a promise of hope, joy and light to believers in God’s abundant love, made manifest in the Lord Jesus. “Today” he said, “we see a beautiful living example of that light and faithfulness in our own parish as we celebrate Patrick and Margaret, who are marking their 60th wedding anniversary this week. Sixty years of marriage is a remarkable witness of love rooted in faith and love that has endured joys and sorrows, moments of light and times of shadow. Their commitment to one another reflects the light of Christ lived out day by day through patience, forgiveness, and perseverance. Patrick and Margaret remind us that the light Isaiah speaks of does not shine only in extraordinary moments, but also in ordinary, faithful love – in keeping promises, in walking together through life, and in trusting God in all seasons. Their witness is a gift to our parish and an encouragement to us all”.
In giving thanks for the witness of Patrick and Margaret, Fr Neil also had a couple of surprises up his sleeve, which he revealed to them, and the Holy Family congregation, at the end of Mass. First, he presented them with a Papal Blessing from Pope Leo XIV, which had been sent from Rome for the occasion by Cardinal Arthur Roche. This adds to the greetings they had already received from King Charles and Queen Camilla. Then Fr Neil revealed that Bishop Marcus had awarded the couple the Gold Medal of the Diocese of Leeds, ‘for prayerful and devoted service’ to the diocese.
Born in Ireland, Patrick and Margaret came to Leeds in 1966, shortly after their wedding in January of that year. For many years they, and their children Louise and Patrick, lived in the Cathedral parish before the couple moved to West Leeds in the early 2000s. For over forty of those years, they have served the diocese in various ways at parish and diocesan level. In 1988, Patrick and Margret began to work as housekeepers at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, at Myddelton Lodge, near Ilkley, where they remained until the Lodge closed in 2000. In 2004, when Cardinal Roche became the Bishop of Leeds, Patrick and Margret were invited to serve at Bishop’s House, where they remained until the spring of 2015, looking after the day to day running of the house and garden for Bishop Roche and his successor, Bishop Marcus. Throughout all these years, while some of their work was carried out as diocesan employees, a lot of what they did was given freely and generously. Much of it went unnoticed, but it was always done with willingness, discretion, kindness and good humour.
Fr Neil remarked that in retirement Patrick and Margaret “even now, in parish life, continue to be a great support to me in countless ways as their Parish Priest. Their practical help, encouragement, availability, and quiet concern for the life of the parish are deeply appreciated and reflect the same spirit of generosity that has marked their service over the years”.
Many congratulations to Patrick and Margaret on their Diamond Wedding, and on the singular honour they have received from Bishop Marcus. Ad multos annos!
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