Ordinations to Diaconate of nine students in 2007
28. May, 2007	Clergy
This morning a total of nine students from the national seminary, St Patrick's College Maynooth, have been ordained to the Diaconate by the Most Reverend Anthony Farquhar DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Down & Connor. The ceremony took place in the College Chapel at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
Commenting on this year's ordinations Monsignor Dermot Farrell, President of St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, said: "The ordination to the diaconate of nine students from Maynooth College is a source of joy for the staff and students of the College."
During the ceremony of ordination the deacon is handed the book of the Gospels, in a gesture accompanied by the words: "receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach". This is the deacon's mandate and it remains the mandate of the priest, too.
Monsignor Farrell concluded: "The ordinations have taken place on the Feast of Pentecost. My prayer is that the profound exchange of gifts which we have witnessed in the Diaconate Ceremony in Maynooth will bear great fruit under the power of the Holy Spirit."
Photographer John McElroy is available to send images from today's ceremony to picture-desks. Please contact John on 087 2416985 if you require photo images to accompany this story.
The following seminarians, from their respective dioceses, were ordained deacons today by Bishop Farquhar:
* Seán Corkery Cloyne
* John Coughlan Elphin
* Gerard Cremin Cloyne
* Stephen Crossan Dromore
* Vincent Cushnahan Down & Connor
* Tomás Kehoe Ferns
* Michael Kelly Dublin
* Peter McGurnaghan Down & Connor
* Billy O'Sullivan Cork & Ross
Today, on the Feast of Pentecost, the Church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit, given to the disciples gathered in prayer with Mary. The breath of God, the Spirit would begin a new work of creation, forming the new people of God from every corner of the earth, each member called to sing the mighty deeds that God had done, through the death and resurrection of His beloved Son, Jesus. May this Spirit inspire our new deacons.
When a man is ordained deacon, he has entered upon the last stage in his preparation for the priesthood. The office of deacon, however, is far more then just another milestone on the road to priesthood. At the solemn moment during the liturgy when the ordaining bishop imposes hands on the candidates and then prays that the Holy Spirit may descend upon them, they become official ministers of the Church, co-workers with bishops and priests in the service of God and of the people.
The newly-ordained deacon is commissioned to assist at the altar, to administer the sacrament of Baptism, to assist at and bless marriages, and to perform many other functions in the name of the Church.
The word deacon means one who serves. In this morning's ceremony the men being ordained solemnly consecrate themselves to the service of the Lord and his Church for their rest of their lives.
Martin Long Director of Communications (086 172 7678)
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Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference
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