Priestly Ordination 2015

As short impression of the Priestly Ordination 2015:

Redemptorist ordination is a sign of hope

The ordination to the priesthood of Derek Ryan CSsR at the weekend in Dundalk, Co. Louth is a sign of hope for the religious orders of men in Ireland. The fact that there are so few ordinations to the priesthood in our country means that such events are now big news in religious circles and in the media.

Ordinations and religious professions are signs of hope for the church and the world, but they ought not allow us to rest on our laurels as vocations ministers/directors. I am reminded of the words of Pope Benedict when he visited Bavaria in 2006. Speaking to priests and deacons he said, "We cannot simply recruit people by using the right kind of publicity or the correct type of strategy. The call which comes from the heart of God must always find its way into the heart of humanity. And yet, precisely so that it may reach into hearts, our cooperation is needed."

Vocational discernment begins in the heart of the individual. For it to begin and flourish, the primary task of a vocations director involves enabling young and not so young people to develop their relationship with God.

Vocations discernment then, has two core elements. Firstly, at some point the individual begins to feel a specific calling or simply a desire to serve God and others more generously. That personal discernment can lead to fear sometimes and even feeling uncomfortable. Secondly, the Church has a role to play in order to confirm signs of a genuine vocation. Usually, this begins formally with the vocations director and is carried through and brought to completion by the admission process ans the subsequent years of formation. However, a vocations director also has a crucial role in accompanying individuals - helping them to clarify their call, strengthening their commitment and allaying potential fears.

The hope and prayer of all of us is that the newly ordained priest will have received all the necessary support from vocation directors and formation personnel to bring him to this important step of his journey. Irish Dominican Vocations congratulates Fr Derek and the Redemptorist congregation in Ireland on this happy event.

Two New Priests

The Dominicans in Ireland celebrated in Dublin today, Sunday 18th September, with the ordination of two of our brothers as priests.

The archbishop of Dublin, Most Revd Diarmuid Martin, ordained the two Dominican friars in the celebration which was attended by many Dominican friars, family and friends of the two brothers and parishioners of Dominick Street parish.

This solemn celebration brought the number of priestly ordinations for the Irish Dominicans this month to three, following that of Brian Doyle, o.p., in Murrintown, County Wexford on 3rd September by the bishop of Ferns, Most Rev Denis Brennan.

Fr Denis Murphy is originally from Graine, near Urlingford, County Kilkenny and is a graduate of Carlow College.

Fr Maurice Colgan is from Edenmore parish, north Dublin, and worked for many years in social services before joining the Order.

Below are some images of the ordination ceremony.

Brothers Denis and Maurice lying prostrate before the altar as the Litany of the Saints is chanted.

 The archbishop lays hands on Brother Denis.

The archbishop lays hands on Brother Maurice.

 

The prayer of consecration: the brothers kneel before the archbishop while all the priests stretch out their hands towards those being ordained.

 Father Denis' hands are anointed with the oil of chrism.

 Father Maurice is presented with the bread and wine for the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

Fathers Denis and Maurice concelebrate Mass with the archbishop - their first time celebrating Mass. 

To read the archbishop's homily, see the Dublin Diocesan website: http://dublindiocese.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2575&Itemid=1261

Media are welcome to use these images once they are credited to Irish Dominican Vocations blog. 

Media reaction to recent Dominican ordination

The recent ordination of Father David Barrins OP has generated some media interest on a national level in Ireland. Yesterday, Fr David gave a very good interview to one of Ireland's most listened to morning radio programmes (the John Murray show) on the national broadcaster RTE. You can listen to the interview by clicking the play button below (and just be a liitle patient to allow it to start):


Also yesterday, one of Ireland's national newspapers ran a front page story on the ordination. The article appeared in the Irish Examiner and you can read it here.

David Barrins OP is ordained to the priesthood

The priestly ordination of our brother David Barrins OP took place today in the priory church of Saint Mary's, Pope's Quay, Cork on the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ Universal King. The bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckey DD was the principal celebrant and ordaining prelate. The homily was preached by Fr Ciaran Dougherty OP. Father David was joined by his family, friends and his Domincan brethren at the ordination ceremony. Below are some images of the day.

The entrance procession

David Barrins OP

The Gospel is proclaimed by the deacon

The homily is preached

Promising obedience

Prostration

The laying on of hands

Anointing of hands

Vestition

The offertory procession

Receiving the chalice and paten

Reading part of eucharistic prayer

The Salve Regina is sung at the end of Mass

Father David with members of his family along with Bishop Buckley

A blessing for Bishop Buckley

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes Father David every blessing in his priestly ministry. He will celebrate a Mass of thanksgiving tomorrow evening in his home parish of Colloney, County Sligo.

Ordination of Father David Rocks OP

Father David Rocks OP, a Dominican of the Irish Province, was ordained priest by Bishop George Stack, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Westminster at the priory church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Dominic, Southampton Road in London - today July 3rd, the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. David was joined by the Provincials of the Irish and English provinces, his community, many brothers of the Irish and English provinces along with his family and friends. Irish Dominican Vocations wishes our brother David every blessing in his priestly ministry. Father David will celebrate Mass in the Dominican church of Saint Catherine of Siena, Newry, Co. Down on Monday next. Below are some images of the presbyteral ordination today:

The entrance procession

The Gospel about to be proclaimed

Prostration

Bishop George lays hands on the ordinand

Anointing with chrism

Receiving the Chalice and Paten

Father David is vested in his priestly vestements by fr Declan Corish OP

Fr David with Bishop Stack

Fr David blesses his parents

A family portrait

Fr David in full flight at the post ordination reception

Priestly Ordination of David Rocks OP

David Rocks OP

The friars of the Irish Dominican province are joyfully anticipating the priestly ordination of our brother, David Rocks OP. The ordination will take place on this coming Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 (the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle) in  Saint Dominic's Priory Church, London. The ordaining prelate is Bishop George Stack, auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Westminster.

Brother David, a native of Newry, Co. Down joined the novitiate of the Irish Dominicans in September 2002, and made profession the following year. He completed initial studies at the NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare and also at Blackfriars, Oxford and was assigned to the Dominican communities of Dublin and Oxford. In recent times, Brother David has been assigned to the Dominican community in London to minister as a deacon in the parish under the care of the friars there.

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes David every blessing as he prepares for ordination and I look forward to attending the ordination ceremony this weekend. Images of the ordiantion will be posted on this blog as soon as they are to hand.

Ordination to Priesthood and Diaconate

The friars of the Irish Dominican province will rejoice this weekend as Brother Fergus Ryan OP is ordained priest and as Brother David Barrins OP is ordained deacon.

Fergus Ryan OP will be ordained to the priesthood in the church of Mary the Mother of God in Ballygarvan, County Cork on Saturday, April 10th at 12 noon. The bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley will be the ordaining prelate. Brother Fergus is a native of Ballyagarvan. He is a science graduate from University College Cork. Before joining the Order in 2001 he worked for a telecommunications company. Having completed his novitiate in Limerick, Fergus has studied theology in Saint Saviour's, Dublin, philosophy in NUI Maynooth and completed his theological studies in Lille, France. For the past academic year, he has been chaplain to the Dominican College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

David Barrins OP will be ordained deacon in Saint Saviour's Dominican church, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 1 on Sunday April 11th at 11.30 am. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin will be the ordaining prelate. Brother David is a native of Collooney, County Sligo. Before joining the Order in 2005, David worked in the financial services industry and in the teaching profession. He is currently completing his theological studies at Blackfriars, Oxford.

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes our brothers Fergus and David every blessing as they begin these new phases of their Dominican lives.

Priestly Ordination

While here in Fatima, many of the pilgrims with me will be offering prayers and good wishes for our brother, Declan Corish OP, who will be ordained a priest tomorrow (Sunday 22nd June 2008) in his native parish (Tagoat) in Co. Wexford by the bishop of Ferns Dr. Denis Brennan.

Since joining the Order in 2002, Declan has lived and studied in our communities in Limerick, Rome and Dublin. A horticulturist by profession, Declan worked for the Parks Department for South Dublin County Council prior to joining the Order. He now awaits his first assignation as a priest this coming September.

The Irish Province rejoices in our brother's ordination to the priesthood. But the province is also very fortunate this year in that later in the summer (September) we will have new novices, brothers making first profession in the Order and brothers making solemn profession in the Order. News of these events will be posted later as details are announced.

Let us thank God for his goodness.

An Anniversary..........

Today, June 3oth, 2007 I celebrate the eleventh anniversary of my priestly ordination. It only seems like last week! I have so much to be thankful for as I remember that day. I was ordained by the auxiliary bishop of Dublin, Dr. Eamonn Walsh and remember him vividly reminding us of the joy that priesthood can bring. I certainly did not fully understand his words then, but I do now. The joy of priesthood, for me, is in the service of the Lord - bringing Christ to others. I do not underestimate the many challenges that it also presents - but these are graced moments too.

Today, I think of a particularly holy Irish Dominican friar that I had the pleasure to know and who died some years ago: Fr. Anselm Moynihan OP. Fr Anselm wrote a beautiful book entitled The Lord is Within You and I'd like to quote from a section of the book on the understanding of the Blessed Sacrament. It has helped me hugely:


'At Communion, we meet the Son of God in a way that breaks down all bodily barriers. It is the closest of personal presences this side of heaven.


Jesus is not merely present in the Eucharist. He is there to be eaten. He gives us his Body and Blood as the spiritual food of our souls. Food is necessary for life. Our life of grace, in which we share the divine life of God, is a very real kind of life.

- the life of grace,

- the trinitarian life of our souls,

- the indwelling presence.


This supernatural life needs supernatural food. And the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is that supernatural food for our grace-life. It is the Body and Blood of the Incarnate Word of God. Quite simply, faith teaches us that Jesus is the source of all our grace-life'.

Thanks be to God, and thanks to the goodness and kindness of family, friends and my Dominican brothers for deepening the appreciation of the Eucharist in my priestly life.