Golden Jubilee Celebration for Fr. Tom O’Halloran, 30th of May 2025 – Borrisokane Church
Group photo – kind courtesy of Bridget Delaney
What a delight and joy it is for us all this evening to mark the Goden Jubilee of Fr. Tom O’Halloran.
Reflection on Jubilee
There is something very appealing, very rich in the word Jubilee. This year, 2025 we are celebrating a whole year of Jubilee, the great jubilee of Hope.
In the bible Jubilee is associated with celebration, marking occasions of thanksgiving to the Lord. In the Old Testament it’s associated with a time of rest for the land, taking a break and during that time giving thanks to the Lord for his kindness, his provision, his care, his goodness.
This evening, we do all of that. We take a few hours of rest “from the land” so to speak to honour and mark the priestly work of Fr. Tom over a most impressive 50 years in the diocese of Killaloe and further afield in England, Africa and America.
We celebrate and thank God for our golden jubilarian, Fr. Tom this evening.
Biographical Details
Being a native of Bodyke, a man of the forementioned land, Fr. Tom, as you know is a proud Clare man and despite living in Tipp for so many years, his ‘Clareness’ has never been diluted even one iota! Ordained on the 8th of June, 1975 he served in Clarecastle, then to Truagh and Clonlara before going on the diocesan mission to Zimbabwe 1991. In line with his reflective nature, Tom then studied spirituality in Chicago for a year in 1997 before serving there on the emigrant chaplaincy and some more study then after that in 2002. Since 2003 for the past 22 years as you know Tom has given amazing service here in Borrisokane and since 2018 has been Vicar Forane for the Pastoral Area of Cois Deirge extending across Lorrha, Terryglass and here also. Following on from his missionary experience he served for many years as the diocesan rep promoting Mission Awareness in the diocese in the lead up to Mission Sunday every year until recent years.
Characteristics of Fr. Tom
Coming from a beautiful area in East Clare, it is perhaps no surprise that Tom is a man that is close to the land. He has had a lifelong interest and serious expertise in gardening. His award-winning garden and the grounds here around the Church are a credit to him. He is a man of many interests and talents, photography, art, cinema, film, technology, local history and a wide range of reading. He is always up to date on the latest religious, spiritual and theological publications.
Fr. Tom is always a man who through thick and thin is hugely faithful to Church, to the diocese, to pastoral development and the way forward for the Church of the 21st century. He is one of the most loyal and enthusiastic of attenders at any meetings, always interested in new ways of doing things and progressing ways of sharing the good news.
In some ways I feel Tom and I can relate on a particular wavelength as we are both hard of hearing. Both deaf as beetles! We occasionally share, empathise and swop amusing stories on that level. There are at least some advantages of being deaf from time to time, especially when selective hearing can be an advantage, you know! It may be the case that I hear nothing coming from the left and Tom from the right. Whether that transfers in ideological terms is debatable. As the Gospel parable says ‘he who has ears to hear let him listen’!
Society and the World we live in
The changes which have taken place over the past 50 years in our society could not have been anticipated. The momentum of change threatens to sweep us off our feet. We find foundations crumbling around us and wonder where we can get a steady foothold. In many ways society would seem to be floating helplessly like an astronaut in space, grasping hold of anything solid that can be found. For many there is a great emptiness, loneliness and sense of rejection. People become overwhelmed with problems; how can we possibly address them. It is not uncommon to see people waver between over-confidence and discouragement. We have witnessed this in our country in recent times. For many there is very serious crisis of hope. The question is how in times like these we can remain hopeful? A culture without hope is never tempted to make a commitment, to choose, to decide something. Indecision dominates our society and indeed the Church. We witness it with respect to marriage and life-long commitment. We experience it in priesthood and religious life today.
Reflection on Priesthood
The priest finds himself at the coal face of all changes taking place in our society, in marriage, in family, in morality, in lifestyle, in technology and in almost every area of modern life. Priesthood has inevitably been affected by these changes. The priest tries to respond to this rapid change and tries to beam in the light of Christ’s gospel hope into the dark recesses of our contemporary culture. It is a difficult and demanding time for priests. There is disillusionment expressed by those who walk away from priesthood and find it too difficult or fail to find meaning. Yet, it is a great time to be a priest and there is wonderful support among the people we are privileged to serve.
Conclusion and Final Blessing
Today we give thanks for the 50 years of faithful, hope filled service of Fr. Tom, one who remained steadfast through such change and challenge. Fr. Tom has endeavoured to be this minister of hope to you for so many years, every Sunday, in parish events at times of rites of passage, celebrating the Sacraments of the Church.
We celebrate his life of witness to the hope of the Cross, Resurrection and Ascension on this jubilee day.
We celebrate his many years of reflection on, praying with, living out and sharing the hope of our faith.
With great joy we thank and congratulate you Fr. Tom and rejoice with you on the momentous occasion. May you have many more years of good health, happiness and enjoyment.
Gura fada buan thú! Go méadaí Dia chuile shórt ar fheabhas agat agus go maire tú an céad agus mórán le breis ar sin, más é toil Dé é sin!