(Photo: Cook family)
July 2, 2015
For a Catholic priest who has never been placed formally in any parish in the South Burnett, Fr Dan Grundy seems to know lots and lots of local residents.
And most of them turned up on Monday at the Yarraman Catholic Church – and later at the Yarraman Hotel Motel – to help him celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.
Dan, 74, studied at the Banyo Seminary in Brisbane before his ordination in 1965. He then studied in Rome before serving in several Brisbane parishes.
He retired to the South Burnett about nine years ago where he developed an interest in alpacas (he can be spotted quite often at local shows with the woolly beasts in tow).
Dan has also become the “fill-in” priest for the region when the regular Parish Priest is on leave.
More than 60 people turned out on Monday to help him celebrate his special day.
Kingaroy parishioner Brenda Cook has known Dan for more than 40 years, meeting him while she attended St Joseph’s Parish in Corinda. She surprised him by producing a photo taken more than 40 years ago at her brother’s Confirmation.
A former Kingaroy parishioner, Judy Plant, who now lives on Bribie Island, has known Dan even longer … they went to school together at Wavell Heights in the 1950s. She made the trip back to Yarraman especially for the celebration.
Also in attendance were people linked to St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace, where Dan did his secondary education.
The celebration – which also marked the fourth anniversary of the ordination of Kingaroy / Nanango Parish Priest Fr Nigel Sequeira – was organised by parishioners from the Blackbutt and Yarraman Catholic congregations. A string of parishioners from Kumbia, Kingaroy and Nanango also attended.
After Mass in the Yarraman Church, the crowd adjourned to a local hotel for lunch, packing out the main dining room.
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It was an honour to be part of the celebration for Fr Dan Grundy. 50 years of giving to others has been a wonderful gift for those on the receiving end and I know 50 years as a Priest has been a true gift for him. Anyone who has an encounter with Dan goes away better for the experience.