Coleshill & Walsall - Diamond Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood of
Father J. B. Harrington.

By Józef Łopuszyński

On Friday morning, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham David McGough was at Sacred Heart and St Teresa of the Child Jesus R.C. Church, Coleshill, Warwickshire to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Father John Harrington's Ordination to the priesthood.

Ordained on February 28th, 1954, Welshman Father Harrington said his first Mass on St David's day (March 1st) and was first of all appointed to serve at Wolstanton in the Potteries, and then served at St Chad's in Birmingham, before  being  chosen by the late Archbishop Dwyer to establish the church at the new Castle Vale estate.

In 1974 he was appointed Parish Priest of St Patrick's R.C. Church, Walsall, as a successor to the late Father Garvey, where he remained until recently, when he relocated to Coleshill.

After Holy Mass, Father Harrington was presented with various gifts at a reception in St. Joseph's Home, Coleshill, where he now ministers.

Due to the anniversary Mass being held on a weekday morning, many of Father Harrington's flock were unable to join him for the celebrations, and so a further Holy Mass of celebration was held at St Patrick's R.C. Church, Walsall, on Sunday 9th March.

To view photos of the Coleshill Event, please click here.
To view photos of the Walsall Event, please click here.