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<\/p>\nA special homecoming Mass was held on Saturday evening to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, Philip Boyce.<\/p>\n
Bishop Boyce was back in the Mevagh parish to toast 60 years of priestly ministry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some weeks ago, a celebratory Mass was held in St Eunan\u2019s Cathedral in Letterkenny, but he was back among his own parishioners at the weekend to mark the moment.<\/p>\n
Carrigart Parish Priest Fr Paddy Dunne and Fr M\u00edch\u00e9al McClafferty OCD, a native of Murlog, Downings, and a Carmelite priest in the Carmelite Retreat Centre at Termonbacca in Derry concelebrated Saturday evening\u2019s Mass at St John the Baptist Church in Carrigart.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a milestone, 60 years as a priest,\u201d Bishop Boyce reflected. \u201cThe Lord has worked wonders. I never thought that I would live to see this day, but Jesus has his deep designs for each one of us. All I can do is to give him sincere thanks and to live the remainder of my life as generously as I can for his honour and glory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bishop Boyce, now aged 86, recalled how he was ordained at the Teresianum – the International College of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers in Rome – in 1966 alongside 14 others from different countries.<\/p>\n
His mother and father, Joseph and Brigid, travelled to Rome to be present. It was his mother\u2019s first, and only, time on a plane, and he remembered how they had collected money over a period of months to aid with paying for the journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cDifferent times,\u201d Bishop Boyce said. \u201cThe Holy Spirit came down and we were transformed into priests for all eternity. It was a solemn moment: the laying of the Bishop\u2019s hands; the solemn preface; and the anointing with the sacred chrism.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the congratulations of one and all and I gave my first blessing to my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe, Philip Boyce. (North West Newspix)<\/p>\n
He remembered vividly going to St Peter\u2019s Square at the Vatican where Pope Paul VI gave a blessing from a window of St Peter\u2019s Basilica.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe weather was glorious and all of nature seemed to rejoice,\u201d he said. “On that Sunday evening, we visited some of the Roman basilicas and I still remember the devotion that I saw in the eyes of my good parents as they gazed with awe and reverently touched the relics of the Sacred Passion and of the True Cross and the tombs of saints and martyrs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bishop Boyce said if he had to live life over again \u201cI would not choose any other way than that of the priesthood\u201d.<\/p>\n
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