A Cork born priest this week became one of the longest serving priests working in Britain when he celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination. Fr Maurice Murphy (95) recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination in Manchester. Born in Cork Fr Maurice moved to England with his family when he was five.
He was ordained to the priesthood in Saint Alphonsus Church, Brooks Bar near Manchester in 1940, by the Right Reverend Henry Vincent Marshall, Lord Bishop of Salford.
During his time as a priest in the diocese Fr Murphy has served in a number of parishes first as curate in Saint Chad's, Cheetham Hill, Mount Carmel and Salford and later as parish priest in Our Lady and Saint Paul's Heywood and Saint Alphonsus, Brooks Bar.
According to diocesan sources, Fr Murphy is in good health and since 2008, he has lived at the retirement home of Saint Joseph's Home, Plymouth Grove Longsight, which is run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.
A special mass was celebrated at the retirement home this week to mark the historic milestone.
SIC: CIN/IE