Three priests of the Diocese of Meath are marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of their ordinations.  They are Fr John O’Brien (Oristown), Fr Declan Kelly (Stamullen) and Fr Martin McErlean (Castletown-Kilpatrick).

Fr Declan Kelly, who studied for the priesthood in Rome, returned to the Eternal City to celebrate the silver jubilee with his classmates.  The programme included the opportunity to concelebrate Mass with Pope Francis last month and to greet the Holy Father afterwards.   Fr Declan’s silver jubilee Mass will take place in Stamullen on Friday 10 July, followed by refreshments in the St Patrick’s Parish Centre.

An open-air Mass on the beautiful evening of 20 June in Castletown-Kilpatrick marked Fr Martin McErlean’s priestly anniversary.  The large attendance of parishioners welcomed Fr Martin’s mother Peggy and many relatives from his native Bellaghy, Co. Derry.

Fr John O’Brien, Parish Priest of Oristown, who was ordained on 17 June 1990 in his native parish of Slane, celebrated his silver jubilee privately with family and friends.