Fr Patrick Cope celebrated his Silver Jubilee as a priest in rather unusual circumstances – a prison chapel.
As he works full-time in the prison service, it seemed fitting that this is where his Mass of Thanksgiving should take place. With the permission of the prison authorities (on their own admittance a rather unusual request!) this took place on 24th July 2007.
The young offenders with whom Fr Patrick works helped with all of the preparations and took a full part in the day’s celebration. The visitors included Fr Patrick’s mother, Teresa, other family members and friends, and a good number of diocesan and other priests, together with prison staff from Deerbolt and other prisons. The prisoners even prepared and served a delicious buffet afterwards, though, of course, with no alcohol being served!
Everyone commented how moving the Mass was and how impressed they were with the involvement and behaviour of the young offenders.