Fr. Pat O’Keeffe, O.Carm., of the Carmelite friar community in York, celebrated his Golden Jubilee of religious profession on 8th September. Pat is one of five Carmelite friars in Britain celebrating their jubilees this year; between them they have given 260 years of service to the Church in the Carmelite Order.

Fr. Pat entered the Carmelite Order at Aylesford Priory in Kent, and following studies in Ireland was assigned to the school at Whitefriars, Cheltenham. A gifted sportsman in his own right, Pat threw his energies into developing the sports teams (especially rugby) into a force to be reckoned with locally, nationally and internationally. Alongside his work at Whitefriars Pat was very committed in working with CMAC (now Marriage Care).

The Carmelites eventually withdrew from the day-to-day running of the school, but Pat continues to serve as a Trustee of its successor in Cheltenham, St. Edward’s School. After leaving teaching Pat spent some years working with the Carmelites in Australia. On his return he served for over twelve years as Parish Priest in the busy south London borough of Walworth, and for six of these years he was First Councillor of the British Province.

Today Pat is Catholic Chaplain at York District Hospital, working as part of an ecumenical team, and he celebrates Mass each Sunday for the Carmelite nuns at Thicket Priory. Pat is part of the Carmelite friar community resident in More House, Middlesbrough Diocese’s Catholic Chaplaincy to the University of York, where his skills as a keen gardener are evident.

Reflecting on the contribution of Fr. Pat and his fellow jubilarians, the Prior Provincial of the British Province of Carmelites, Fr. Wilfrid McGreal, O.Carm., said: “It is right that we thank God – and these brothers – for their amazing contribution to Carmel and to the Church. In very real and practical ways they have each helped to build up the Kingdom of God on earth, not only by what they have done – which has been considerable – but also by the type of men they have been: dedicated, generous and compassionate.”

Ad multos annos!

Johan Bergström-Allen