NEWLY ORDAINED PRIEST AS OF SUNDAY DECEMBER 6TH 2009 AT ST JOSEPH'S DUNDALK.
UPDATE TO FOLLOW SHORTLY.
I sat my A-levels in 1997 and then moved into the working world. I spent two years working in the retail sector and a further two years working in the financial services sector.
I have a large extended family, most of whom still live in Belfast. My immediate family consists of my dad, step-mum, brother and sister. I also have one nephew and two nieces. Close friends are important to me and I am blessed with quite a number, from many parts of the country and beyond.
Pastoral ministry, even if I never called it that, has always been a focus and an activity of mine. Over the years I have done this in many ways, particularly in working with young people.
I felt at an early age that I had a vocation, and in 2001 I finally took the plunge and decided to see if this is what God was really asking me to do. I joined the Redemptorists in September 2001. Since then I have lived in community (in Dublin, Dundalk and Cork). In my first two years I completed studies in Philosophy at Milltown Institute, Dublin.
In 2003-2004 I had my Novitiate year, a year of spiritual discernment. After that year of intense prayer and reflection I chose to continue living out my life of faith and work in the Redemptorist Congregation, and thankfully they accepted me! I made my profession in Dundalk on 22nd August, 2004.
It was back to Dublin after that, to follow two years of study in Theology and Anthropology/Cultural Studies at Milltown Institute.
After this I was to have two years of a MICE appointment, living in our community in Scala, Cork. During the first year I worked mainly on parish missions across the South and South-West of Ireland, a little bit on youth ministry and I also travelled to Poland one summer to begin learning Polish! In my second year my main work was in youth ministry as co-ordinator of the Meitheal Programme in Cork, with a few missions too.
In September 2008 I returned to Dublin to complete my course in Theology and Cultural Studies in preparation for Final Profession and Ordination. I do not know what is to come. What I do know is that I continue to discern my vocation and I trust that God will be with me at every step. |
