CELEBRATION OF CANON
MATT'S GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PRIESTHOOD
Matthew Francis McManus was ordained the Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr on 3 April
1965 when the photo below was taken.
The Golden
Jubilee or fiftieth anniversary of Canon Matt's ordination was on Good Friday
in 2015. Celebrations were postponed till 31 May when he concelebrated the Sunday
Mass with Father Stephen Sharkey and Father Charles. The altar servers were
Dylan Cassidy, Aidan Hughes, Eoghan Hughes, Aiden Morton, Ami Paterson, Matthew
Paterson, George Poole, Kyle Rennie, Darren Thorpe and Peter John Walsh.
The music was led by Saint Peter's Choir, conducted by Margaret Swiercz and
accompanied by Martin McLaughlin on the organ. The other choir members were
Evelyne Agostini, Patricia Barry, Cathie Boyd, Jim Donnelly, Andrena Hughes,
Catherine Kerr, Michael McCulloch, Cecilia Morman and Monica Taylor.
During the sermon, Canon Matt reflected on his fifty years of ministry.
Near the end of Mass, George Poole paid tribute to Canon Matt.
George then presented Canon Matt was presented with a Papal Blessing from Pope
Francis and Julia Paterson, our oldest parishioner, presented him with a cheque.
Father Stephen Sharkey paid a humorous tribute to Canon Matt.
Canon Matt replied with equal humour.
Some of our younger parishioners helped Canon Matt to cut the cake.
There are more photographs of Canon Matt's celebration on the Pictures
page.