On May 25th the Chertsey community gathered with the parish and friends and family of Fr John to celebrate a jubilee mass led by Fr Gerry Briody, the Salesian provincial.

After the Gospel John spoke with great warmth and gratitude for the gift of his priestly ministry exercised in formation, in leadership, university life and in the detailed business of building in many parts of the province.

The event was marked by a strong ecumenical and interfaith dimension with many colleagues attending from Royal Holloway University, where John is RC Chaplain. The final prayer was sung by the Muslim Chaplain of the college from the first sutra of the Holy Koran, which he said reflected some of the key ideas in the Lord's Prayer.

Afterwards there was a great buffet which was blessed with beautiful weather.

Ad multos annos John!

Fr David O'Malley SDB