News

CONGRATULATIONS FR. VINCE ON YOUR 65^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

On Saturday, 29^th June, the parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Labrador, gathered to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Fr. Vince Hobbs’ Ordination with a Mass presided over by Fr. Vince. Fr. Vince was in fine form delivering a great homily on the value of the priesthood and the places he has served as a priest including 30 years at Bardon. The content of his homily included some very amusing experiences dating back to his childhood. The overwhelming sense that one received from Fr. Vince was his holiness and humility. This is what shone through during the Mass as it does in his life and it was a pleasure and privilege to acknowledge this milestone in Fr. Vince’s life.

Fr. Vince is the father of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese when he opened himself to the influence of the Holy Spirit in 1970 along with a small number of Bardon parishioners. CCR Bardon still operates every Friday night having just completed 54 years of weekly prayer and is a great legacy to Fr. Vince who attend the weekly prayer meeting right up until his retirement. Even then, Fr. Vince continued his interest in Bardon and on special occasions, would attend to celebrate Mass until his health and age prevented him from doing so.

Fr. Vince is very much loved by everyone who knows him and the people at Labrador express that love in abundance. They gather around him with such appreciation for who he is and the impact he has on their lives. So many spoke highly of him and of his humility. Father still celebrates two Masses each week in the adjoining nursing home and one Mass per month in the parish. He will be 90 years of age in September when there will be cause for another celebration!!

There was beautiful guitar music for the Mass played and led by one man and the people were in full voice in singing the songs. It was a beautiful Mass followed by morning tea with an enough food to feed an army!

CONGRATULATIONS!