Isabella McCafferty
The Diocese of Palmerston North held its annual Mass to celebrate the Jubilees of priestly ordination, at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on 11 October. Cardinal John Dew was presider of the Mass, supported by bishops and several priests from across the diocese as well as hundreds of parishioners, friends and whānau.
This year’s jubilarians are Fr Joe O’Sullivan (65 years); Fr Dominic Heslin (60 years); Fr Paul Kerridge (60 years); Fr Joe Grayland (30 years); Fr Anthony Zaw Htun (20 years); Fr Simon Story (20 years). All, apart from Fr Dominic Heslin, were present to celebrate the occasion.
In his homily Fr Paul Kerridge of Central Hawke’s Bay recalled the story of the cracked pot to illustrate how even our flaws can be used for good. ‘Sixty years of being a priest has taught me to embrace my flaws. And even more, to rejoice in them.’
Fr Paul told those gathered that God lets nothing go to waste and encouraged all to not be afraid of their own flaws. Sharing his own realisation of this, he said, ‘If I couldn’t see any flaws, I had no need for God. I did it all on my own.’ Rather, he reiterated the need to let Christ into our lives and ‘let him do the work that we are not capable of and that we were never meant to do.’
Fr Paul finished by acknowledging that the love of the diocese has held him together as a priest over the last 60 years. ‘We’re all cracked and we rely on love…to stop us falling apart.’
