December 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Monsignor McIntyre to the priesthood
Mgr McIntyre was ordained on 23rd December 1961, but the organising Parish committee decided it would be best to have the Parish Golden Jubilee celebration on the 20th January.
He concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Conti, emeritus Bishop Peter Moran, Bishop Joseph Toal, many priests of the Diocese and elsewhere, with Cardinal Keith O'Brien presiding. Our own Bishop Joseph Devine was indisposed and could not attend. The Cardinal, Bishop Moran, and Bishop Toal had been colleagues of Mgr McIntyre on the staff of Blairs College, and Bishop Toal, like several of the priests present, had been a pupil of his in that Junior Seminary. Archbishop Conti, who spoke at the end of Mass, had been a fellow-student in Rome, and head of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Commission on which Mgr McIntyre had served for most of thirty years.
The congregation included Rev Andrew Richardson of our neighbour-church of St John the Evangelist, former St Andrew's minister Rev Tom Houston, and Rev Malcolm Cuthbertson of Mure Memorial Church, as well as our MSP John Mason, a large number of parishioners, Mgr's sister Rosaleen Carr and brother Jim, nephew Philip and niece Marie-Pat and their children, and several cousins on both sides of the family.
The liturgy was guided by diocesan MC Fr Stuart Parkes, assisted by Mr Brian Bisland and other members of the parish altar-staff. Mrs Agnes Smith with singers and instrumentalists of the '10.30 Choir' shared the music of the liturgy with the 12 o'clock group under organist Mr John Fairgrieve; Mrs Maureen Fairgrieve led a 'Gloria' composed by herself for the occasion.
Cardinal, Bishops and Priests. Photo: Paul McSherry
Members of the '10.30' choir. Photo: Paul McSherry
Entrance procession, also showing some of the congregation including local MSP and local Ministers. Photo: Paul McSherry
