Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Thomas Gallagher Fr Kieran McAteer raises the chalice. Photos: Thomas Gallagher Stranorlar parish priest Fr Kieran McAteer, a former athlete, passed another significant marker on the road in his priestly marathon on Sunday. The Church of Mary Immaculate in Stranorlar was packed-to-overflowing as the popular cleric celebrated the diamond jubilee of his ordination with a special Mass. Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, Philip Boyce, the Diocesan Administrator Monsignor Kevin Gillespie and Fr Francis McLoone - ordained in Glenties 50 years ago on the same weekend - concelebrated Mass at the Church of Mary Immaculate in Stranorlar. Fr McAteer recalled his late grandfather, who lived with his family, “praying endlessly with the Rosary beads in his hands: I knew that he was in earnest and that he was sincere and it sparked something within me.” When ordained in June 1975 at the Church of St Mary’s in Fanavolty, he became the ninth man from Fanad to enter the priesthood. He can still see the bonfires blazing at the respective homecomings - “wonderful parish events” which sewed seeds - he attended for Fr Michael Sweeney in Ballynabrocky, the late Fr Paddy Kerr in Portsalon and Fr Dan Car in Ballyherrin. Fr Sweeney and Monsignor Carr - whose diamond jubilee will be toasted in St Johnston on Thursday night - were among a large amount of Raphoe Diocese priests in attendance on Sunday. In his younger years, he worked in a local shop in Fanad which helped him prepare for his ministry in dealing with the public. When he was in second year at St Eunan’s College, a teacher asked the boys to write down two things they’d like to be. The teenage Kieran McAteer wrote ‘priest’ and ‘professional footballer’. He said: “I have followed the dream of one of those choices and I have lived the dream of the other for the last 50 years.” A formidable sportsman in his own right, he competed as an athlete and also lined out for his native Fanad United. Indeed, the
In pictures: A night of 'thanksgiving' as Fr Kieran McAteer celebrates golden jubilee
Since 1993, Fr Kieran McAteer has been based in Stranorlar, first as a curate and laterally as the parish priest and there have been 'many ups and downs, but certainly no regrets', he told a huge congregation at a golden jubilee Mass on Sunday evening
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