'Perfect day' Laois priest home from Africa to celebrate Golden Jubilee with family
A Laois priest who has dedicated his whole lifetime to helping the poor in India and in Africa, returned home to his family for a special personal celebration to mark the 50th year since his ordination.
Fr Sean Murphy, 89, from Rath, Ballybrittas has the honour of being the only priest ever to be ordained in the church of the Sacred Heart in Rath, his local church.
It was there that he and his four surviving siblings, Rose, Mary, Mick and Jim, with their families and friends all gathered again for a celebration of Mass by Fr Murphy, on Saturday, October 14, to mark his Golden Jubilee.
The celebration was rounded off with dinner in the Killeshin Hotel.
Fr Murphy who was one of 12 children of Michael and Theresa Murphy was ordained in Rath church by Bishop Dr Lennon in April, 1973.
After his education in Rath NS and CBS in Monasterevin, he had spent a couple of years working in the civil service in Dublin.
Then he joined the Salesian Brothers and headed off on the missions to India for six years. On his return he went to St Patrick's College to study theology and following his ordination, departed for Africa.
For the next 50 years, he served in Swasiland - now Eswatini, in Lesotho and then Johannesburg whaere at 89 he still actively works.
Fr Murphy works in the townships of the city, where many people live in severe poverty in shacks, and the crime rate is very high.
His work is community focused, based in a technical school whilst also visiting people in their homes, and celebrating Mass as often as he can.
Such is the regard he is held there that the community held a little party for him before he left for his trip back to Ireland.
Fr Sean Murphy with his siblings at his Jubilee Mass in Rath church, Rose, Jim, Mick and Mary.
His niece Vanessa described to the Leinster Express just how beloved Fr Murphy is by his family, most of whom still live in Laois, including Ballybrittas and Portarlington.
“He is a very humble man, he is so kind and grateful.
“He said that he left Ireland 60 years ago but when he comes home he still has an amazing family surrounding him. He said he had never been so honoured.
“All of his family, his nieces and nephews, we all feel the same, there is something really special about him. We are so proud of him all our lives.
“Everyone was very honoured to have him there, that he came over all this way for the occasion.
“He is just the closest thing to perfection. He would restore your faith in humanity. He has devoted his life to helping people and educating people,” Vanessa said.
Being able to celebrate his jubilee together is a moment that the family are grateful for.
“The event was just a perfect day. It was the nicest Mass I've ever been to,” his niece Vanessa said.