Today we offer thanksgiving for the lives of Fr. Jerome Langtry  who is celebrating the  60th anniversary of his ordination and Sr. Carmen Shields who is celebrating 60 years as a member of the La Sainte Union des Sacre Coeur. After the basket collection at 10 o'clock Mass,  John Martin acted as master of ceremonies during a short celebration which he conducted as follows...

For what it is worth, Birr were County hurling champions and Tullamore were County football champions. Kerry defeated Roscommon in all Ireland football championship final and Cork defeated Kilkenny in the all Ireland hurling championship. Cloghan won the County Intermediate hurling championship.

In that year a young man from the parish of Lusmagh was ordained to the priesthood. His name is a household name in this and in many other parishes throughout the world. Jerome Langtry.

In the same year his neighbour, Sr. Carmen Shields entered La Sainte Union des Sacre Coeur order. Since then they have devoted their lives in God's name to the service of people.

This year they celebrate the 60th anniversary of their ordination and profession. They cannot be with us here today but let us in the parish of their birth pray for them, celebrate with them and thank God for their ministry.

Actually there are five priests from this parish serving in different missions  at the moment. Let us remember each of  them. As a symbol of our gratitude for their service, I will ask a member of each priests family to approach the altar and light a candle in acknowledgement of our appreciation of their word and vocation

Fr. Jerome Langtry's grand nephew Declan Langtry

Fr. Kieran Birmingham's nephew, Eoin Birmingham

Fr. Joe Birmingham's nephew Mark Birmingham

Fr. Cronan Gllynn's nephew Alan Glynn

Fr. Tommy Kenny's brother, Peter Kenny

As Sr. Carmen Shields celebrates the 60th anniversary of her profession, there are five other sisters serving around the world who are natives of this parish. Let us acknowledge their service and vocation in our celebration today. I will ask a member of each sisters family to place a flower in the vase on the altar rails. The vase will then be placed on Our Lady's altar.

Sister Carmen Shield's sister in law, Mrs. Chris Shields,

Sr. Mary Moran's sister Mrs. Bernie Ryan,

Sister Sarah McDonald's cousin Mrs. Margaret Barton

Sister Teresa McGarry's nephew Brendan McGarry,

Sr. Joan Byrne and Sister Frances Byrne's cousin Brendan Byrne.

Two parishioners who devoted their lives to the service of God and His people passed away, Sister Maire Glynn and Fr. Mark Horan. Sr. Maire Glynn's nephew Fintan Glynn and Fr. Mark Horan's niece Mrs. Mary Harahan will light candles on the altar in memory of their aunt and uncle.

Try and imagine the number of people, 1000s, possibly 10s of 1000s whose lives these 13 people touched during their long ministries, how they improved or attempted to improve and are continuing to improve the living conditions, spiritual and social of so many who much worse off than we are.

Imagine that during all their efforts on the mission fields over the past seventy or seventy five years all the rosaries or at least all the trimmings of rosaries that were recited for their intentions in the kitchens of this parish.  You know it was these peoples ministries which motivated our parents to prolong the trimmings, (which many of us reluctantly endured at

the time) praying for them which now empowers us to enjoy  some share in the lives of the 1000s whom they touched on their ministry even though most of us never met them

That they, who ever they are or where ever they are, may be represented at this Mass this morning, I ask Tim and Kathy Kelly to light a candle to enable us to remember them and to help us to realise the enormity of the work which the ambassadors of our parish are performing through out the world

Mass continued...