Sunday 9 July marks 40 years since Monsignor Des Seddon was ordained into the priesthood.

The weekend will be a double celebration as St Mary’s Church in Aughton, where Fr Des is parish priest, celebrates its 200-year anniversary.

Msgr Des said: “It will be a weekend of celebrations. On Saturday night we will be celebrating the Church and its parishioners with a Mass followed by fizz and cake in a marquee in the grounds of the Church.

"This will be the start of celebrations throughout the year to mark the bicentenary of the Church.

“On Sunday, to mark my jubilee, we will have a Mass in the afternoon followed by another celebration. I’m looking forward to sharing the day with family, friends, parishioners and fellow priests.”

Msgr Des’ journey into the priesthood started back in the 1970s when he was a teacher at St Marie’s Junior School in Kirkby.

He added: “I spent five years as a teacher but I felt like something was missing.  I was very involved in my home parish of St William of York and in 1975 I went to Rome for the Holy year and met seminarians.

"I had never met any seminarians before and it was great to chat to them and get an insight into their life.

“When I came back from Rome, I made a promise to God that once I finished my Open University Degree in General Arts that I will put myself forward for seminary.”

Msgr Des followed his promised and in 1978 he started at Ushaw College. He studied alongside Msgr John Walsh who celebrates his ruby jubilee on the following day.

On 9 July 1983, Msgr Des was ordained into the priesthood at St William of York in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Derek Worlock.

Msgr Des recalls: “It was the hottest weekend of the year, I remember buying a new suit for the occasion and the jacket never got worn as it was so warm!

“I was excited on the day and I wanted some quiet time so I went to St Helens Church in Crosby in the morning to reflect.

“It was wonderful for family, friends and parishioners from St Bernard’s Kingsley Road where I had been a deacon to come together for the celebration.”

Msgr Des then spent two years as an assistant priest at St Gregory’s in Lydiate before spending four months at St Mary’s,  Highfield Street focussing on Christian Education. Following that he was at St Kentiganin Melling from 1986 until moving to St Mary’s in 2005.

During his time in the priesthood, Msgr Des spent many years using his teaching experience and worked in Christian Education.

He added: “The priesthood hasn’t been what I expected. When I was back at Ushaw I remember somebody saying that I would be involved in Christian Education during my time as priest and I said no, but it turns out that I spent the majority of my time in the priesthood doing just that!

“I’ve had a lot of involvement with schools and developing different RE programmes such as Here I Am and Come and See, I have played an active role in developing the new inspection process and curriculum directory and I was the Chair of Board of Studies for the Catholic Certificate for Religious Studies.

Msgr Des’ favourite thing about being a priest is being part of people’s lives. He said: “I get a lot of energy from celebrating people’s lives through the sacraments.

“Being located in the same area for the majority of my priesthood means that I have been a part of people’s lives through the different sacraments – so I have baptised them, made their Holy Communion with them and celebrated their marriage- that is a wonderful privilege.”

There are many highlights to his 40 years in the priesthood, but one that stands out happened a year after her was ordained.

Msgr Des added: “I went on pilgrimage to Rome and had a private audience with Pope John Paul II. I was presented to him as a newly ordained priest and he shook my hand. To shake the hand of the Pope who has now become a Saint was an incredibly special moment.”

Another particularly special moment is becoming a Monsignor. He said: “I didn’t expect it at all. It was announced in Lourdes to a rapturous applause. I was very shocked when it was announced. It was an honour for it to happen in Lourdes as it is such a special place to me.

“I first went in 1978 carrying guitars for the music group and I have been every year since. Now I am the pilgrimage director and very much looking forward to celebrating the centenary year this summer.”