Fr Tony marks golden jubilee

A reception was held in honour of Fr Tony Mulderry at St Finian's College, Mullingar to mark the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

A native of Mullingar, Fr Tony Mulderry was ordained on June 18, 1967 and he departed for Miami that summer.

In July 1982 he was appointed founding pastor of All Saints Parish in Sunrise, Broward County.

He arrived with nothing in his pocket and the only resource the diocese gave him was an empty plot of land.

As Fr Paul Connell recalls: “I remember vividly to this day the first church – a large rented room with a sacristy that was the size of a broom cupboard.”

Soon, he had a dedicated group of parishioners around him and in summary when he left the parish in January 2004, 22 years later, All Saints had a church, a preschool, a grade school, a parish hall and several classrooms for religious education.

Not to mention parishioners in their thousands and a substantial sum of money in the parish coffers.

In January 2004 Fr Mulderry moved to St Gabriel's in Pompano Beach, his present parish.

Fr Paul Connell explained that Fr Mulderry's contribution has been with people. “Thirty five years ago, Fr Mulderry he told me that 90% of the job is simply being nice to people and being there for people.

“And he has made this the absolute cornerstone of his ministry.

“The parishioners he has had over the years are incredibly loyal to him.

“He reaches people by communicating the Gospel to them in a delivery that's easy to understand but powerful in its impact.”

Honouring the golden jubilee, Fr Padraig McMahon has invited Fr Mulderry to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar on Sunday July 16 at 11am.