SS John and Martin Church in Balsall Heath celebrated the retirement of Fr Dominic Innamorati with Mass, a party and cake.

The choir sang Rachmaninov Bogoroditse Devo (Hail Mary), a favourite of Fr. Dominic’s. The schools and parishioners presented him with gifts and a ‘thank you’ cake.

Fr Dominic is a priest of the Sacred Heart Fathers Betharram (SCJ) and had been parish priest of SS John and Martin for 22 years and will be missed, though we all pray for a happy and restful retirement. His approach as parish priest could be summed up as someone who was always trying, and largely succeeding, to get people involved in the life of the parish.