This year Father Kevin Dring, a much loved and familiar face in our parish amongst the Spanish and International communities, ce-lebrated his Silver Jubilee for his services to the priesthood. In honour of his 25th anniversary, a special Mass took place on the 24th of July at the Sacred Heart Parish of Hove in Brighton where formerly he had held the position of parish priest and Dean of the diocese of Brighton and Hove.
At present he situated at Saint Johñs seminary at Wo-nersh in Surrey, where he has worked as the Director of Human Formation since September 2017.
Father Kevin is a close friend and associate of Father Ra-fael’s who helped him im-prove his Spanish for several months before he began his pastoral duties as a missio-nary in the northern province of Chulucanas in Peru.
Father Rafael along with nu-merous other priests attended this special celebratory. Mass in Hove and on the Popes request he personally gave the blessing to Father Kevin. As the only priest from a foreign country Fa-ther Rafael was amazed by the warmth and hospitality with which he was received in Hove. Also attending the Mass were two well- known, members of our parish Pau-line and Stephen Haywood ,who have been dear friends of Father Kevin and his parents Mike and Sue Dring for many years.
It was a hot, balmy summer evening the li-ght of the candles flickered throughout the Church which was packed with people and the gentle melodic music of the choir set the scene for the celebration.
During the Mass Father Kevin gave a beau-tiful homily of thanks to God and all tho-se who had supported him, throughout his ministry.
For the Gospel reading Father Kevin pur-posely chose the event of the Last Supper describing the Eucharist” the real presence of Jesus in the bread and the wine “, as the greatest gift ever to mankind. Finally he thanked all those who helped him with sincerity and joy in his priestly vocation stating that they had provided him with” heartfelt refreshment”.
He ends his homily of grati-tude with what he calls “his big prayer,” may we all live fully in the present moment, more alert, more alive to the presence of one another and to the presence of God who is consistent and untiringly likes us and loves us in to eternity . To God be glory and praise today and fore-ver, Amen.
The Mass was followed by celebrations and refresh-ments provided by the congregation of the Sacred Heart. Here at the Parish of Calvario we pray that God may grant Father Kevin many more years in his beautiful vocation.
The Mass of his ordination can be viewed on the website of the Sacred Heart parish in Hove www.sacredhearthove.org.uk
Sasha Marsh
