Four priests celebrate birthdays at priests’ gathering

Msgr Vincent Hunt, right, cuts his cake with the help of Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland to celebrate his 90th birthday.

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
WAIRAKEI — At the Auckland Priest’s Gathering at Wairakei in July, four priests celebrated birthdays.
The gathering took place from July 14 to 18, and the first day was also the 90th birthday of Msgr Vincent Hunt.

Msgr Vincent Hunt, right, cuts his cake with the help of Bishop Patrick Dunn of Auckland to celebrate his 90th birthday.


Msgr Hunt was born in Roscommon, Ireland. From about the age of 18 he was an aspirant for the Society of St Columban.
However, ill health interfered. He was ordained at Thurles in Ireland in 1952 for Auckland diocese.
His ministry in Auckland included two parishes, Takapuna and Hamilton (twice), and chaplaincy work at the University of Waikato. However, between 1957 and 1980 he also completed
three degrees and taught at Holy Name Seminary, Holy Cross Seminary and was rector at the latter from 1991-1995.
Msgr Hunt retired from teaching in 1998.
Three priests celebrate their birthdays falling around the same time — from left, Fr Carlo Cruz (35), Bishop Bob Leamy, SM (80) and Fr Peter Gray (81).
Other priests who celebrated birthdays during the gathering were Bishop Robin Leamy, SM, Emeritus Bishop of Rarotonga and former assistant bishop of Auckland, 80 years (in retirement), Fr Carlo Cruz, 35 (St Mark’s, Pakuranga) and Fr Peter Gray, 81 (Our Lady of
Fatima, Meadowbank).

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