Fr O’Connor, ordained on the 28th July 1957 in St Charles Borromeo in Hull, celebrated his Golden Jubilee in the same church on Saturday 28th July 2007.

The Jubilee Mass was generously shared by Fr Michael with two of his friends who were ordained with him – Fr McIver of Middlesbrough Diocese and Fr O’Sullivan of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The Mass was concelebrated by the three jubilarians and a number of Fr Michael’s brother priests, mainly from Hull.

Canon Michael Loughlin gave the Homily on the duties and responsibilities of a priest in a tribute to Fr Michael’s many years of devoted service. Fr Michael’s interest and support for ecumenism was reflected in the reading given by the Reverend Wilson, a Methodist Minister, and the prayers of intercession which were read by the Reverend Leaman, an Anglican.

Not surprisingly the church was full of Fr Michael’s friends and former parishioners, many of whom had travelled from far and wide to join in the celebration. And what a celebration. In the course of the Mass, the hymns were sung by the Hull Male Voice Choir (Fr Michael is their president) accompanied by the organ and by a string quartet, all in all a real musical treat.

After the service, a reception for over 300 ‘friends’ was held in the Endsleigh Centre rounding off a golden jubilee day.

Tom Timpson

Photograph courtesy of Les Clark