Father Frank Celebrates Silver Jubilee

30 July 2009
 
Former Minehead Parish Priest Father Frank Norbury has celebrated his silver jubilee of ordination to the priesthood.

Father Frank offered a Mass of thanksgiving for his first 25 years as priest at the Sacred Heart Church in the Somerset coastal town of Minehead.

Bishop Declan, 12 priests, two deacons and Reverend Simon Lloyd, Vicar of Minehead, were present in the full church for the celebration.

Father Frank presided at the Mass and Father Michael McAndrew who was ordained in the  Cathedral with him in 1984, preached the homily.

At the end of the Mass Bishop Declan said a few words of congratulations and thanks and presented Father Frank with a papal blessing. 

Father Michael Thomas, Father Frank’s successor as Parish Priest of Minehead, said:  “One of our parishioners, David Doyle, presented Father Frank with a spiritual bouquet of 25 Masses.  These Masses will be said by priests who had been ordained with him or who had studied at the Beda College in Rome; where Father Frank began his journey to priesthood.

“He was also given a digital camera with printer and supplies, by the parish community.

“After the Mass we all enjoyed the opportunity to chat and recall old times.  When Father Frank cut his jubilee cake we all sang ‘In My Liverpool Home’ in honour of Father Frank’s home city.

“When Father Frank thanked everybody for their prayers and good wishes, he said that when he was ordained at the age of 60 he had never expected to see his silver jubilee and that the memories of the celebration would stay him until his next jubilee!”

Prior to ordination, Father Frank had worked for many years as a teacher.  After ordination he served for a short while at St Bonaventure’s in Bishopston, Bristol and then moved to Minehead where he served six years as assistant priest and a further 15 years as Parish Priest.  Since retiring from Minehead he is now Chaplain to the Poor Clare Sisters at Lynton.