It isn’t often that a priest celebrates his 50th. anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in song and poetry, composed by himself. Then again, Fr. Bernie McDermott is no ordinary priest.
During his half-century of Columban priesthood, Bernie (born, brought up and ordained in Sale, Greater Manchester) faithfully served the Church in our overseas missions of the Philippines, Taiwan and Australia, as well here in Britain, including several periods as our Regional Director.
The occasion of his Golden Jubilee was marked by three wonderful Masses on and immediately prior to the ‘Big Day’ itself – 21st. April – held at the Columban main house in Solihull, Bernie’s native parish of St. Joseph’s in Sale and All Saints Church in Ashton-on-Mersey in Manchester, where Bernie undertakes his weekend ministry.
In his accustomed fashion, Bernie regaled us with his jokes and stories. Best of all, however, was when he performed solo his autobiographical masterpiece, sung to the tune of the old Irish folk ballad “The Wild Colonial Boy”, transformed in this case to, “The Wild COLUMBAN Boy”.
