Parishioners, family and friends gathered on Friday night June 9 with Fr Jackie Robinson, Parish Priest of Borris in Ossory, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood.
Joining him on the altar for the Mass were Fr Martin Delaney, Parish Priest of Rathdowney, Fr Bobby Fletcher Parish Priest of New Inn, Co Tipperary and a native of the parish, Fr Silvanius Attoch, native of Nigeria who has been coming to this area for many years to help out during the holiday season and Archdeacon John Murray.
Fr Jackie expressed his happiness at reaching the fiftieth year of his ministry and still to be in such good health. He thanked all the parishioners for their help and support to him and for making him feel so welcome since his arrival in the parish 23 years ago.
He thanked everyone for their gifts and good wishes. Several presentations were made to him on behalf of various clubs and organisations in the parish.
After the meal, several local artists provided the entertainment. The Parish choir performed a few songs specially dedicated to Fr. Jackie including “My Way”, “Lovely Laois” and of course “The Rose of Mooncoin”.
Fr Jackie is a proud Kilkenny man, born in Kilkenny city in 1948. He studied for the priesthood in St Kieran’s College and was first appointed curate to St Patrick’s parish and then to Dunnamaggin. He also served in the parishes of Ferrybank, Durrow and Castlecomer before being appointed Parish Priest of Aghaboe in 1995.
He remained there until his appointment as Parish Priest of Borris in Ossory in 2000. He is very supportive of all activities in the parish and is actively involved in the Social Services, St Vincent de Paul and the Development/Tidy Towns Association.
Borris in Ossory is a very different parish today than it was when Fr. Jackie was appointed in 2000. With the decline in vocations to the priesthood, he is now the only priest in the parish to cover the three churches Borris in Ossory, Killasmeestia and Knockaroo. In addition to this, Borris in Ossory is now part of a cluster of parishes within the Diocese of Ossory which includes Camross and Castletown, along with Borris in Ossory.
This means that from time to time Fr Jackie may be called upon to minister to parishioners of churches in Camross, Killenure, Castletown and Pike of Rushall as well as the three churches in his own parish.
On reaching his 75th birthday earlier this year Fr Jackie announced that he would not be retiring, but that he would continue to minister to his parishioners as long as the Good Lord would allow him to do so.
He is wished many more years of health and happiness by all his friends in the parish and beyond.
That's the last of the pictures from the Fr Jackie Robinson Golden Jubilee celebration. To see more pictures of events around Laois that feature in the Leinster Express / Laois Live tap HERE.
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