Monrovia, June 6 2005 (Don Bosco Media) – Thousands of Liberian Catholics Saturday thronged the grounds of the Don Bosco Youth Center in Monrovia to honor Fr Harry O’Brien at programmes marking the Golden Jubilee of his Religious Profession as a Salesian.

A carnival procession, backed two marching bands, set the June 4th event in motion from the Salesians’ house on 8th Street. Speaking at the commencement of the procession, Don Bosco Youth Center Programme Supervisor, Aloysius Klon, said: “It is customary for us in Liberia that whenever we honor our leaders, we gown them. So Fr O’Brien, we are today gowning you as our African Chief in recognition of your priestly services to the Church and the people of Liberia. Congratulations, Father”.  The crowd then roared with a thunderous applause and songs of praise for the Priest.

He was then enrobed with African attire, and a hat bearing the inscription “50”. A decorated vehicle was waiting by to carry Chief Fr O’Brien and his attendants. He was helped onto the vehicle, the drums boomed, and the parade began, with traditional dancers flanking the well-guarded carriage. Liberian hymns old and new were serenaded along the snaking route.  More than 20 institutions, parishes, groups, organizations, Diocesan and Religious Congregations were represented. Onlookers took over the sidewalks as the procession went through the main streets up to the grounds of the DBYC.

In his Homily during the Mass in honour of Fr O’Brien, Fr Jose Valiplackel SDB, said Fr O’Brien possessed four main qualities which Liberians, especially the young, should emulate: commitment, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and hard work.  He said there was no way for a person to spend 50 years in a vocation if that person was not faithful to it. He then paid tribute to Fr O’Brien for being a worthy shepherd among God’s children.

At an indoor Programme, the honoree, now adorned in his African chieftaincy garment, was visibly seated, flanked by other priests and Religious, the young and old. Gifts, in all sizes and types, poured upon him from all directions and institutions. His smiles as usual were endless. Dramas, depicting the life of an Irish Priest Liberians are now calling “Africa’s Don Bosco” – for his care for the young in Liberia – punctuated the Programme. Made-for-the occasion hymns and songs also enlivened our spirits.

In a special statement of appreciation to Fr Harry O’Brien SDB: a priest, religious, man of God, and friend of Liberians, Liberian Catholics congratulated him and said: “Papay [elder], this is our own way of expressing our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the millions of good work you have been doing for the people of Liberia…We have come to say thank you although we have no silver nor gold to give you…On many occasions when we were not happy, your words of advice gave us hope…”

At the podium, Father responded in these words: “I must say I am a bit confused today. Some occasions can be too big for us. And I feel the way you have honoured me today is just too big for an ordinary human being. The things people depicted on the stage there [about me], we’ve all done them at different times, nothing extraordinary. So I don’t see myself really deserving of all the gifts, and the kind words you have said. But I say thank you. They just show the goodness of your hearts…I have an appointment at the Church at St Joseph’s and I must keep that appointment…”

Father’s last word that he “must keep that appointment” just reinforces the notion of many Liberians that he is never tired of serving them. That’s why, according to them, although his anniversary is a year overdue, they decided celebrating it.

Born in the county of Limerick, Republic of Ireland, Fr O’Brien became a Salesian in 1954 and was ordained priest in 1964. He moved over to the UK where he worked with delinquent children in Scotland before coming to Liberia in 1983. His first place of assignment was St Joseph’s Parish. He later taught at Arthur Barclay Technical Institute, became resident pastor at Holy Innocents Parish, Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral and two-times Rector of the Salesian community in Liberia. In year 2000, he became Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, a post he held until February this year. In 2003, the Salesian UK Provincial appointed him as Chairman of the Don Bosco Homes management Board.