Popular Kildare priest retires after a long career serving the community
Fr John Fitzpatrick at his retirement function with his brothers and sister, nieces and nephews Photos Jimmy Fullam
CARBURY Parish Priest, Fr John Fitzpatrick, was recently celebrated by the community at his retirement party held at Carbury GAA.
Fr Fitzpatrick, who has worked as a parish priest for over 40 years, leaves behind him a long, community-centred career.
In his early days before priesthood, Fr Fitzpatrick lived in the Curragh, Newbridge and was educated at Athgarvan NS and Newbridge College, even working for a time as a mechanic at the Fitzpatrick family garage in Kildare Town.
“It was during that time he got a calling to the priesthood,” said secretary of Carbury parish office, Catherine McNamara, who said a few words at the party.
A huge lover of sports and fitness, Fr Fitzpatrick played football for Moorestown and Ellistown and represented the Diocesan teams in many places. Also a big rugby fan, he played with Cill Dara Rugby Club. He is also known for his love of cycling and gardening as he has a huge passion for nature and the outdoors.
He attended Maynooth University to study and spent seven years training to be a priest, and since then he has held several positions in Kildare, Laois and Carlow.
During his long career he has made an indelible mark in the community, as he is renowned for appearances at local events such as the field day, for saying mass at the annual Trinity Well, starting the church choir and setting up the parish office. He will always be remembered for his work doing up the Derrinturn and Kilshanroe churches. Parishioners also fondly remember the many trips to Knock, Medjugorje and Lourdes with Fr Fitzpatrick.
“He will be sorely missed by the people of Carbury and will live long in our memory and in our hearts for years to come,” said Ms McNamara The party, which took place on Sunday, September 28 after a mass held by Fr Fitzpatrick, was held in the Carbury GAA hall, where a large crowd people gathered to honour Fr John, enjoy good company and delicious cake.
Presentations were made on behalf of local organisations and schools,and attendees showered Fr Fitzpatrick with gifts, including a beautiful painting from the parishioners of Carbury Parish.
The now retired priest looked back on his 21 years serving Carbury very fondly as well as his time as parish priest in Carlow, Portlaoise and Newbridge.
When thinking back on his career and into the future of Christianity in Ireland, Fr Fitzpatrick said:
"It's important to have faith in the world we live in. I would think a lot of good things will come from that."
“Maybe faith is not as strong as it used to be, but I think faith is kind of a critical ingredient for life,” he concluded.
He told Kildare Nationalist what he would miss most about being parish priest in Carbury:
“I suppose just being with people and being available to people when they help,” he said. “You're kind of a vital cog in the community. You’re the centre of people's lives and a lot of events, like when babies are born, when people get married, when people die, and all the events throughout school and stuff like that.
Now retired, he looks forward to his upcoming trip to Medjugorje in Bosnia and said that as he lives in Carlow he hopes to say a few masses there from time to time.
