A Howick priest has marked 60 years since his ordination. Fr Terry Montgomery reached the milestone on 2 July.
Parish priest Fr Rob O’Brien paid tribute to him in the parish newsletter.
“Fr Terry celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on July 2nd,” O’Brien said.
“On behalf of you all, I extend congratulations to Fr Terry and thank him for his years of faithful service to the Diocese and wider Church.”
“Thanks be to God for the grace given to so many through Fr Terry’s ministry.”
The parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea arranged to gather in its parish centre after the 9am Mass on Sunday 5 July to mark the anniversary, with parishioners asked to bring a plate to share.
Montgomery came to Howick as parish priest in 2008.
He noticed that the church had never been formally dedicated, and a dedication ceremony was held in 2009 by Bishop Patrick Dunn, marking 50 years since the church was built.
After a two-year appointment to the Orakei parish he returned to Howick, where he has remained as senior priest in residence.
He has led the parish’s OCIA programme, which prepares adults to join the Catholic Church, and its Alpha course.
Our Lady Star of the Sea School principal Louise Campbell also celebrated the anniversary in the School’s newsletter.
“We celebrate with the wonderful Fr Terry next week as he commemorates 60 years in the priesthood,” Campbell said.
“Fr Terry has devoted his life in service to our Lord through his priestly mission and we are so grateful for his unending positivity and dedication to our parish, leading with Jesus at the heart of all he does.”
Montgomery marked his birthday the following Saturday, on 11 July.
He is running the parish’s next Alpha course, which begins on Sunday 2 August at 6pm.
