74 Years Serving the Altar

Not many altar servers who started at the age of six are still doing so 80 years later. Parishioners of St Gregory’s in Cheltenham attended a special mass of thanksgiving to celebrate this landmark. The mass was to honour Pat O’Hanlon who has completed 80 years as an altar server for the church, having been MC since 1957.

Former parish priests and curates of St Gregory’s joined the current parish priest, Monsignor Jeremy Rigden, who concelebrated mass with them. Also present were Benedictines from Douai Abbey who had staffed St Gregory’s for many years until falling numbers forced them to hand the parish back to the Clifton Diocese.

At the end of Mass, Monsignor Rigden presented Pat with a Papal Blessing to mark the occasion and Eileen, his wife, was presented with a bouquet of flowers. Parishioners joined Pat and Eileen for refreshments after the mass.

86 year old Pat has four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He retired 20 years ago and remains a keen skittles player. Pat regularly plays for the Victory club in Cheltenham. He and Eileen are due another celebration in October this year upon the occasion of their Diamond Wedding.

David Burke
Useful URL : http://www.stgregorys.org.uk/