Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Monsignor Dan Carr's diamond jubilee Monsignor Dan Carr, the former parish priest of St Johnston, celebrated his diamond jubilee on Thursday night. Born in Fanad in 1939, he was ordained by the then Archbishop John Charles McQuaid in Maynooth in 1965 and a huge crowd packed into St Baithin’s Church to mark his milestone. Raphoe Diocesan Administrator Monsignor Kevin Gillespie and Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe Philip Boyce were among those present. Monsignor Carr reflected on a lifetime of change - in the world and the Church. He was born at the outset of World War II, a time when Ireland was “in a very poor position” and he touched how, in spite of its standing as a so-called “rich country”, Ireland remains beset in parts by poverty. He said: “Our politicians and particularly those who look after money maters tell us that we are among the rich countries of the world. And yet you only have to open the papers to see the immense poverty that we have and the many people living in situations that are far from what we’d like.” In a wide-ranging and often thought-provoking, Homily, Monsignor Carr reflected on the current conflicts in the world and the sex abuse scandal that brought shame on the Church. It was, though, he said a “happy day” as he marked 60 years since his ordination to the priesthood. He reflected with fondness his time at St Eunan’s College, where he was the president, and recalled three influence priests from the Raphoe Diocese - Fr Charles O’Callaghan, Fr James O’Doherty and Fr Patrick Muldoon - from his time in Maynooth. Monsignor Carr still resides in St Johnston as Pastor Emeritus. His length of service in the border village has been such that he has been there for over 22% of the lifespan of St Baithin’s Church - which was dedicated in 1860. He remembered how he was surprised by “how few children were at school after the summer holidays” when he was first posted to the old Taughboyne parish, but added: “I
In pictures: Monsignor Dan Carr reflects on a world 'change' at diamond jubilee
A huge crowd packed into St Baithin’s Church in St Johnston on Thursday night to mark the diamond jubilee of Monsignor Dan Carr's ordination to the priesthood
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Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Monsignor Dan Carr's diamond jubilee
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Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Monsignor Dan Carr's diamond jubilee
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Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Monsignor Dan Carr's diamond jubilee
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Click on the arrows to go through the photos from Monsignor Dan Carr's diamond jubilee
