Golden Jubilee of Ordination of
Fr Evangelist 'George' McKiernan, C.P.

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Fr George celebrated a joyful and intimate jubilee of his ordination with family, friends and colleagues on Saturday 20th March 04 at Tobar Mhuire. This celebration had been postponed from October 03 due to George's ill health with a gangrenous foot. Fortunately he has made a full recovery and though restricted he is mobile again thanks to the good care of his medical staff, and community. This was George's first public celebration of the Eucharist in fifteen months.

The occasion was kept low key out of consideration for George but what was omitted in formality was amply made up in warmth, good cheer and intimacy. The setting was most colourful with the Armagh colours of White and Orange reflected everywhere in the lights, banners, floral arrangements, missalettes and table décor. George who was the main celebrant, welcomed with good humour and appreciation his two sisters, niece, friends from Enniskillen and Dundrum, his nurse and her mother, organist and soloist. Fifteen fellow Passionists attended and six from Mount Argus availed of the legendary hospitality of the rector Fr Dermot Gallagher and community by staying overnight.

1953 was a memorable year for George and his four companions who were ordained then. Only one other of the group Dermot Carroll, C.P. is still with us and three have gone relatively young to receive their eternal rewards - Frs Raphael Shortt, Germanus McGrinder and Gabriel Mary O'Prey. Recalling 1953, George reminded us it was also the year Gordon Richards won the Derby, Stanley Matthews got a cup medal and Armagh were beaten in the All Ireland by Kerry. George made a promise then he wouldn't die until Armagh won an All Ireland. Apart from the joy of his priesthood, sport of all categories has been a great interest to George down the years. One of his contemporaries recalled cycling from Dublin to Fairyhouse for the races in their young years.

Fr Dermot, who preached the homily continued the sporting theme and mentioned how the past fifty years were years of great change for both the country and the church, some of it good and admirable, others not so good. Down those years George gave consistent and faithful service. He fought the good fight and is running the race to the finish. He thanked God for the gift of George and assured us that the same God who has given so fully never ceases to give or reneges on his promises. On his team we always win and in his race we are always favourites.

After the Eucharistic thanksgiving, family, friends and colleagues were warmly thanked. But the Oscar went to Dermot for his generosity and commitment to George while he was in hospital. Every day of the five months George was there Dermot visited and cared for his needs. The celebrations continued with a sumptuous meal and post prandial get together. All agreed the celebration was a fitting acknowledgement of all the generosity and hospitality George has always shown us over half a century. Ad multos annos.