Former Gosnells Parish Priest Fr Joss Breen has last month celebrated 50 years of priesthood with parishioners and friends, honouring his many years of service at a Mass and community celebration.
Fr Breen was ordained in Dublin, Ireland, in 1966 as a member of the Dominican Order. He furthered his studies at the Angelicum University in Rome and at Trinity College in Dublin, before accepting the position of Resident Guidance Counsellor at the Dominican College in Newbridge, Ireland.
While he first came to Australia on sabbatical leave in 1985, intending to stay only a short period of time, Fr Breen remained so impressed with the country that he sought permission to work in the Archdiocese of Perth.
Permission was granted in 1987, and Fr Breen began serving as Assistant Parish Priest in the Gosnells Parish, a role which he fulfilled until 1991.
After spending four years at Mundaring Parish, Fr Breen was again welcomed back at Gosnells in March 1995 – this time to serve as Parish Priest until his retirement in May 2009.
Current Gosnells Parish Priest, Fr Philip Perreau, welcomed to the celebrations many long-standing parishioners, together with a large number of former parishioners who had known Fr Breen over the years. In a rather poignant moment, the entire congregation stood and prayed over Fr Breen while the choir sang ‘The Irish Blessing’.
In an address to the congregation, Parish Council Chairman Dan Hewitt remembered the warm and caring attitude that so characterised Fr Breen.
“He was patient and sensitive with all his parishioners, especially the elderly,” Mr Hewitt said.
“Fr Joss (Breen) was always concerned for his parishioners during ‘behind the scenes’ activities such as parish council meetings, where he was most sensitive to ‘not burdening people beyond the necessary’.”
Fr Breen delighted many in attendance when he mentioned that he had celebrated his 25th Anniversary as well as his 40th Anniversary with the people of Gosnells.
With only limited time to speak about his own life-experiences as a priest, he reflected on the great fondness he had for the people of Gosnells, and said that the great support he had experienced in the parish significantly contributed to him staying so long. Reminiscences later over morning tea made it clear that that fondness was indeed reciprocated.