By Dan Walsh
The parish priest of Bree, Fr. Michael Byrne celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination at a special Thanksgiving Mass in Bree Church where the chief celebrant was the Bishop of Ferns Ger Nash.
It was an occasion of celebration in the parish and after Mass large numbers gathered in Bree Community Centre to congratulate Fr. Byrne and appreciate his contribution to the betterment of health and happiness shown to the parishioners and to partake in refreshments.
Fr Michael expressed a desire for donations to St Patrick’s Missionaries, Kiltegan mission work in the Amazon Basin in lieu of any personal gifts.
BIOGRAPHY; Michael Byrne was born in 1951 in Foulksmills, attended Clongeen National School, educated at St. Peter’s College, Wexford, St. Peter’s Seminary and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, San Anselmo, Rome, and was ordained at St. Peter’s College on June 7th, 1974.
Fr. Byrne was appointed to the staff of St. Peter’s Seminary in 1976 and was transferred to Gorey in September 1977. He joined the Ferns Mission to Brazil in 1980 and on his return, he was curate at Clonard from 1987 until his return to San Paulo, Brazil, in 1994. He took sabbatical leave in the United States, 1999-2000, and was appointed parish priest of Davidstown in September 2000. He took leave of absence in 2005 and was replaced by Fr. Jim Nolan PP. He returned and was appointed parish priest of Cushinstown in 2006.
Fr. Byrne succeeded Fr. Frank Murphy as parish priest of Bree in August 2014 and in 2022, assumed the pastoral duties of Ballyhogue and Galbally.
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