A dozen students from the national seminary at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, will be ordained to the priesthood this year. Last year 22 students at the college were ordained. In 2000 the figure was 14, in 1999 it was 23, and in 1998 it was 15.
Commenting on this year's ordinations, Mgr Dermot Farrell, president of St Patrick's College, said they were "a source of joy and thanksgiving for the staff and students of the college. At a time when there has been much media focus on Maynooth, the ordination of 12 new priests, formed with the needs of the 21st century church in mind, reminds us of the primary purpose of the seminary."
This year's new priests include Father Martin Henry, from Swinford, Co Mayo, ordained for Achonry diocese on June 9th, and Father Loughlain Carolan, Cootehill, Co Cavan, ordained for Kilmore diocese on the same date.
Three priests were ordained for Limerick diocese on June 16th last. They were Father David Bracken, Father Paul Finnerty and Father Richard Keane, all from Limerick. Father Owen Gorman, from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was ordained for Clogher diocese last Sunday, as was Father Darragh Connolly, from Killeshandra, Co Cavan, ordained for Kilmore.
Next Sunday, the Rev John McDevitt, from Pennyburn, Derry, will be ordained for Derry diocese, as will the Rev John Joseph Duffy, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, for Raphoe. On July 7th, the Rev Christopher Ferguson, from Derry city, will be ordained for Derry diocese.
Two men will be ordained for Meath diocese in September. The Rev Anthony Gavin, from Cabra, Dublin, who will be ordained on September 8th, and and the Rev Brendan Ludlow, from Bellewstown, Co Meath, who will be ordained on September 29th.
Also next Sunday, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Walton Empey, will ordain three women and one man at Christ Church cathedral. Canon Thomas Haskins, currently rector at Clontarf, Dublin, will be instituted tomorrow as rector of St Ann's on Dawson Street.