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Celebration!
On Sunday 6th July His Grace Archbishop Keith Patrick O'Brien celebrated Mass here in St. Mary Magdalene's with us and presented Pat McInally with the Archdiocesan Medal and Scroll in recognition of Pat's long and faithful service to the parish. This was a partcularly special week-end for the McInally family as Pat and his wife Mary celebratted their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Friday 4th July. In introducing the presentation ceremony at the end of Mass Father Tom Hennessey, our Parish Priest, after welcoming the Archbishop and the guests, made the following address:- On 4th July 1953 Pat and Mary were married in Our Lady and St. Mary's Church, Bathgate. A young Fr. Tom Hanlon, Mary's cousin, officiated at their nuptial Mass, and he was there last Friday to celebrate Mass with Pat and Mary on their 50th. Wedding Anniversary. It is a marriage truly blessed with four sons and four daughhter, and I think Pat has lost count of the number of grandchildren. Pat and Mary arrived in Bingham in 1965 just when the building of the church had begun. From that time on Pat was a "living stone" of God's House - actively involved in Parish Council, working closely with the late Canon Lawrence Glancey and the late Tom Urquhart, attending numerous meetings, offering support to the priests, in addition to caring for his growing family. He was eventually commissioned as a Minister of Eucharist, bringing Holy Communion to the sick and the housebound as well as giving the sacrament at Mass He has served Sunday and weekday Masses for many years and instructed boys and girls in serving on the Altar. Mary and his family are Pat's pride and joy and they are proud of him as is his parish church. Of this church he has been a faithful servant for almost 40 years. His witness to Christ and this community of Faith has been strong and unwavering, in living out the Sacrament of Confirmation to the full. He has been an exemplary Catholic layman - guinely devout and conscientious in fulfilling duties which have been the product of an ardent faith. The seed sown on good ground has indeed yielded the fruits. Pat - we, the parishioners, thank you for all your services. We are very pleased that you are to receive this medal from the Archbishop, it is so well deserved
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