On Sunday Feb 9th, confreres from Battersea, Bootle and Bollington joined the Bolton Community to celebrate the 50th ordination anniversary of Fr Bernard Grogan. Bernard was ordained in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin; that year too Feb 9th was a Sunday. A few family and friends joined us, though some were prevented by adverse weather conditions.

In his after dinner speech Fr Martin, our provincial, thanked Bernard for his generous service of our Salesian mission for such a lengthy period. Over the years Bernard has been a member of a range of communities: Burwash, Beckford, Cowley, Chertsey, Farnborough, Bolton, Stockport, and spent 16 years as translator in Rome. He has been novices' assistant, teacher, Head of Sixth Form, Rector, Vice-Provincial, editor of the Salesian Bulletin, provincial secretary...Martin highlighted Bernard's deep knowledge of the history of the province and enthusiasm for details of that history. He also enthuses about cricket, though not with Australian Salesians these days! Amongst the items of information which Bernard shared with us was the fact that 3 of the young men ordained with him became bishops.

We offer Bernard our congratulations, thanks, and prayerful good wishes for the future. In a couple of weeks he will be returning to the Generalate in Rome as translator for the General Chapter...