October 2 | 
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel pays tribute to former parish priest Fr Eddie McGhee
Fr Eddie McGhee returned to the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Kilmarnock as the congregation paid tribute to their much-loved former parish priest who recently retired.
Ordained in 1972 and raised in Cumnock, Fr McGhee served in a number of parishes including St Joseph’s, Kilmarnock, St Mary’s, Saltcoats, and St Mary’s, Irvine. In 2007, he took over Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady and St John in Stewarton and St Michael’s in Kilmarnock.
In his younger years he was primary RE advisor in the diocese and also spent a year studying education in Dundalk and in Boston.
A keen fisherman and former pigeon fancier, Fr McGhee wrote many columns for the SCO, sometimes using his hobbies to discuss his Faith.
Fr McGhee (above right) said the Mass was wonderful, and it was important to draw a line under more than 40 years.
“Although, I have another Mass next week in St Michael’s,” he said. “I’ve had more retirals than Frank Sinatra.”
Fr Martin Chambers, Fr McGhee’s successor at Mount Carmel, concelebrated the Mass and welcomed the former parish priest’s family and friends.
At the end of Mass, Brian Murphy on the behalf of the parish offered a vote of thanks.
Tom and Felicity Wood, the first couple married in the parish, presented their former priest with gifts from the parishioners, including a T-shirt for the keen fisherman with the logo ‘The RodFather.’
Fr McGhee, who retired following sickness at the beginning of the year, said he will continue his work as prison chaplain and will hope to help out in churches.
—This story ran in full in the October 2 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.
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