Institution of Acolytes 04 December 2011

Posted on 04. Dec, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Two Irish College seminarians, Andrew Black, Diocese of Down and Connor and Micheal McGavigan, Diocese of Derry were instituted as acolytes during Sunday Mass in the College chapel on the second Sunday of Advent, 4 December 2011.

Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor presided at the liturgy.

The ministry of acolyte is a step towards ordination to the diaconate and priesthood. It is closely linked to the Eucharist and involves assisting the priest and deacon during the celebration of Mass. The new acolytes were presented with a paten containing the bread to be used in the celebration of Mass while the Bishop said “Take this vessel with bread for the celebration of the eucharist. Make your life worthy of your service at the table of the Lord and his Church.”

Cardinal Cullen & his World

Posted on 02. Dec, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

A new book on the life, times, and influence of Cardinal Paul Cullen was launched by Professor Roy Foster of Oxford University on Thursday 23 June 2011 in the Graduate Memorial Building, Trinity College Dublin.  Cardinal Paul Cullen and his world, edited by Dáire Keogh & Albert McDonnell.

From the mid-19th century, the influence of Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803–78) was ubiquitous within Irish society and the English-speaking world. Contemporaries spoke of the ‘Cullenization of Irish society’; a Times obituary celebrated him as ‘an agent of great change’, while a critical James Joyce lampooned the cardinal as the ‘apple of God’s eye’. The book brings together 30 scholars who offer a broad perspective on the Cardinal and his age. This volume is largely based on the papers presented at conferences hosted in 2009 by St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Dublin (founded by Cardinal Cullen) and the Pontifical Irish College, Rome (where Cardinal Cullen was rector).

Contributors include:

Eamon Duffy (U Cambridge), Mary E. Daly (UCD), Virginia Crossman (Oxford Brookes U), Gerard Moran (NUIG), Liam Chambers (Mary I), S.J. Connolly (QUB), Ian Ker (Oxford U), James H. Murphy (DePaul U), Miriam Moffitt (NUIM), Joe Doyle, Anne Marie Close, Andrew Shields, Dáire Keogh (all St Pat’s, DCU), Matthew Kelly (Southampton U), Ambrose Macaulay, John Montague, Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Anne O’Connor (all NUIG), Christopher Korten (U Poznan), Norman Tanner SJ (Gregorian U, Rome), Ciarán O’Carroll (Clonliffe College, Dublin), Eileen Kane (UCD), Fintan Cullen (U Nottingham), Margaret Ó hÓgartaigh (All Hallows College, DCU), Colin Barr (Ave Maria U), Rory Sweetman (U Otago), Oliver Rafferty, SJ (Heythrop College) and Emmet Larkin (U Chicago).

Dáire Keogh lectures in St Patrick’s College, DCU, and is the author of, most recently, Edmund Rice and the first Christian Brothers (2008). Albert McDonnell is Vice Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome.

To purchase the book visit  http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/product.php?intProductID=947

Reviews

Cardinal Paul Cullen and His World

Edited by Dáire Keogh and Albert McDonnell (Four Courts Press,€55 hb)

‘The person more than any other credited with — or blamed for — ‘Romanising’ the Irish Church is Paul Cullen, Archbishop of Armagh (1849-1852), apostolic delegate, Archbishop of Dublin (1852-1878) and Ireland’s first Cardinal (1866).

It has also been asserted that he was Ireland’s most important figure between the death of O’Connell and the rise of Parnell.

”No man in the kingdom has exercised a greater personal influence, or wielded more absolute power,” proclaimed the hostile Times obituary of the Cardinal. He remains, however, an enigma; and historians have long regretted the absence of any satisfactory biography of this giant of the Irish episcopate.

Meanwhile, this new book, with its papers by 27 specialists, examines why Cullen is regarded as the prelate who influenced modern Irish society more than any other bishop. Given that his rivals for that distinction would include such names as MacHale of Tuam, Croke of Cashel, William Walsh of Dublin or John Charles McQuaid, this claim for Cullen emphasises the measure of his historical significance.

At the age of 17, Cullen went to Rome and lived there for the next 30 years as a student and professor at the College of Propaganda and later as rector of the Irish Colleges.

Like a second Patrick, he returned to Ireland with a mission — to end the squabbling among the bishops; bring discipline and uniformity of religious practice to a Catholic community emerging from the disaster and disruption of the Famine; and link the Irish Church ever more closely with the centralising policies of Rome.

That his mission was, to a considerable extent, successful is the subject matter of this important book.

The flourishing of the Catholic Church in 19th Century Ireland cannot be seen simply as the result of the ending of the persecution under the Penal Laws, or as a spiritual reaction to the horrors of the Famine. Neither can the so-called ‘Devotional Revolution’ be attributed solely to the work of Dr Cullen.

What was happening in Ireland has to be placed in the context of the remarkable revival affecting all Christian denominations in the wake of the defeat of Napoleon and the stemming of the worst features of outright hostility to Christianity by the Enlightenment and French Revolution.

Cullen’s 30 years formation in Rome coincided with this blossoming of religious renewal and the restoration of the power and authority of the pope.

These essays stress the archbishop’s involvement in the religious revival and his unquestioning loyalty to, and even veneration for, the pope’s person and office. The agenda he followed was to make Ireland conform to Rome’s system of government with the Pontiff at the head of the hierarchy, and the Roman liturgy and rituals universally accepted and practiced.

His work in Ireland began with the comprehensive reforming statutes passed at the national Synod of Thurles (1850) over which he presided. His commitment to the supreme authority of the pontiff culminated in the prominent role he played at the First Vatican Council’s proclamation of the dogma of papal infallibility in 1870.

A widely influential article by the American historian of Irish affairs, Emmet Larkin, entitled ‘The Devotional Revolution in Ireland, 1850-75’, first published in 1972, claimed that Cullen’s reforms had turned the Irish people into ‘practising Catholics’.

Bishops like Doyle of Kildare and Leighlin and Murray of Dublin, however, had preceded Cullen in introducing extensive reforms. And devotions to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin were already known in Ireland, if not yet widespread.

Although Larkin’s thesis has had to be modified, it is still generally accepted that the Cardinal spearheaded the consolidation of that ‘revolution’. And several additional devotions, litanies, novenas, confraternities, sodalities, holy pictures, scapulars, statues, retreats and missions became the hallmark of Irish Catholicism.

Under Dr Cullen, the Dublin archdiocese saw the establishment of some 20 new churches, almost 40 religious foundations, schools, hospitals and a big increase in the number of clergy, nuns and brothers. Catholicism as we came to know it had clearly emerged.

Cullen had his critics who considered him suspicious, narrow, intransigent, and intolerant. Newman, whom he had invited to be Rector of the Catholic University, complained that the Archbishop treated him and the laity not as equals but as his subjects.

Gavan Duffy emigrated from what he called ‘the blind and bitter land’, saying that he could not live in a country where Dr Cullen typified the Church. This book does not have to be read consecutively for each essay stands alone.

Not only is the central theme of Cardinal Paul Cullen and His World — the ‘Romanising’ tendency of the Irish Catholic Church — very topical indeed, but the quality of the book itself does high credit to the editors, contributors and publishers.’                                                                                Donal McCartney, The Irish Catholic (11 August 2011).

‘Cardinal Paul Cullen was the towering figure of modern Irish Catholicism and arguably the most important figure in modern Irish history between the death of Daniel O’Connell and the rise of Charles Stewart Parnell … this is a weighty and nuanced book … it contains masterful original research by some of the finest historians and scholars working on Irish religious history in its domestic and international contexts. The contributors rescue Cullen from the stereotypes, common until recently, that presented him as an anti-national “castle-bishop”, more Italian than Irish and preoccupied only with politics and ecclesiastical revival. They demonstrate that his correspondence reveals someone who defies east categorisation … it is surely legitimate to see Cullen as the individual who created many aspects of the governance and style of an Irish Catholicism that was, in the long run, exposed as too rigid, lacking sufficient humanity and too subservient to Rome. For those seeking to put that Catholic evolution into a proper historical context, this richly layered book is a very good place to start’, Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times WeekendReview (Sunday 10 September 2011).

‘Cardinal Paul Cullen was one of the towering figures in 19th-century Ireland and the dominant position of the Catholic Church in independent Ireland owed much to his assertion of the church’s rights under British rule. As these essays show, there was more to him than simply a churchman’, Books Ireland (September 2011).

‘Regardless of whether his legacy excites admiration or regret, historians of Irish Catholicism, church/state relations, Irish nationalism and the religious world of the Irish diaspora, as well as of wider issues of ultramontanism and the history of the papacy, invariably turn to the ‘Cullen era’ as the most crucial period from which to embark on a consideration of wider historical debates … this is an ambitious collection […and…] an important collection of essays, many of which represent scholarship of the highest calibre, covering a range of aspects of social, economic and political change in the second half of the nineteenth century. There are a series of insightful essays from a range of fine historians, which will command attention … this book can be returned to time and again and read selectively on a diverse range of topics’,                                               Conor McNamara, History Ireland .(November/December 2011).

‘This handsome volume contains 27 essays … the contributors are a wide range of profession historians, ecclesiastical, political and social … The contents of this book cover all the areas where Cullen was most active and influential, most if not all of them controversial … While each topic is considered separately in its own context and there is no unnecessary overlapping of material, there is sufficient common ground in any particular section of the book to leave the reader with a reasonably vivid and consistent impression of Cullen’s life and work … Because this splendid book on Cardinal Cullen is hardly likely to be surpassed for some time, it can be safely recommended for libraries and anyone with a general interest in recent Irish Church history. The standard of publication is on a par with the contents. It is well laid out, well proofed, well illustrated, with clear readable print, interesting notes on the contributors, accessible footnotes at the foot of each page and a useful index’, Seosamh Ó Dufaigh, Seanchas Ard Mhacha (2011).

Ordinations 2011

Posted on 26. Nov, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

 You are asked to remember in your prayers the Irish College students ordained to the diaconate and priesthood during 2011.

On the 1 October, 2011 Matteo Pucci, a deacon resident at the Pontifical Irish College, was ordained to the priesthood  for the diocese of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola. Matteo spent one year in formation in the College as he began a Licentiate in Pastoral theology at the Lateran University. He was ordained by the Bishop of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola, Mons. Armando Trasarti, in the splendid Cathedral of Fano that was packed to capacity for the occasion. In a beautiful liturgy, the Bishop spoke movingly of the vocation of the Good Shepherd leading people to Christ and his selfless dedication to the people entrusted to his care. The ceremony was poignant for it was the Bishop’s first liturgy in his Cathedral after a serious illness. The warmth of which he spoke of the Good Shepherd was evidenced by the welcome the people extended to him as their chief pastor.

Don. Matteo celebrated a first Mass of thanksgiving the following day in his local parish that had nourished his faith commitment. In a joyful celebration surrounded by his family and friends, he paid tribute to all who had helped him become priest and thanked God for the gift of faith.

Milan Tomaga was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday 20 August 2011 in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Nová Baňa in the Diocese of Banska Bystrica (Slovakia). .  This was the first priestly ordination to take place in Milan’s parish church.  Sadly, Most Revd Rudolf Baláž, the bishop of the Diocese had died the previous week. Therefore the Archbishop of Trnava, Mons. Róbert Bezák was the ordaining prelate. Milan was the fourth priest ordained for his diocese this year, the other three were ordained last June.

 Milan celebrated his first Mass of thanksgiving on Sunday 21 August, 2011.  In the course of the homily, Milan expressed his thanks to all who accompanied him along the road to ordination including the staff and the community of the Pontifical Irish College.

 On 2 October, 2011 Daniele de Angelis was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Ascoli Piceno, Mons. Silvano Montevecchi, in Church of San Egidio in Ripaberarda, his local parish Church. It was an occasion of great joy for Daniele who received his seminary training at Fermo prior to the Irish College. Last year he began a Licentiate in moral theology at the Alphonsianum University that he will complete this academic year. One of a family of five, Daniele was joined by his parents, brother, sister and hundreds of friends and parishioners for the occasion. The liturgy was beautifully enhanced by the local choir and the involvement of the local faith community as well as many members of Azione Cattolica.

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly S.M.A. ordained Gerard Jones to the Priesthood on Sunday 21August in St. Flannan’s Church, Killaloe Co. Clare at 3.00pm. Fr Gerard celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Thomas’ Church, Bridgetown, Co. Clare on Monday evening the 22 August at 7.00pm.

Damian McCaughan of the Diocese of Down and Connor was  ordained to the priesthood on 3 July 2011 in St Malachy’s Church, Coleraine, Co. Derry by Most Revd Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down & Connor.

Damian McCaughan is the eldest of four children and is a native of Coleraine. Following his early studies at St Malachy’s Primary School, Coleraine and Loreto College, Coleraine, he pursued an undergraduate degree in Broadcasting Studies at the University of Leeds.  Following his graduation in 2001, Damian worked for a number of years as a Marketing Consultant in the IT and financial services sector.

 In August 2005, Damian entered St Malachy’s Seminary, Belfast where he began his formation for the priesthood and studied scholastic philosophy at Queens University Belfast. In August 2007, Damian continued his formation programme in the Pontifical Irish College, Rome where he completed a degree in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In April 2010, he was ordained a deacon and is currently completing a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas.

 Six Deacons Ordined at Pontifical Irish College, Rome

Six students from the Pontifical Irish College, Rome were ordained deacons on Easter Monday.  The ceremony, celebrated by  Dr Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, was held in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.  Two of the new deacons, Brendan Collins and Patrick Lagan, come from the diocese of Derry.  The other candidates were Philip John Harris (Diocese of Waterford and Lismore), Ryan McAleer (Archdiocese of Armagh), Conor McGrath (Diocese of Down and Connor) and Milan Tomaga (Diocese of Banska-Bystrica, Slovakia).

This is the largest diaconate ordination class from the Pontifical Irish College in over a decade.  Monsignor Liam Bergin, , rector of the Pontifical Irish College, congratulated the new deacons and noted that the Irish College shared the joy of their families and friends who had come from Ireland and Slovakia for the ordination.

During the ceremony the six candidates took a promise of celibacy, obedience and formally undertook the responsibility of praying for the Church and the world.

The new deacons will be ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses during the coming year.

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE 48th WORLD DAY
OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

15 MAY 2011 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Theme: “Proposing Vocations in the Local Church”

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

The 48^th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be celebrated on 15 May 2011, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, invites us to reflect on the theme: “Proposing Vocations in the Local Church”. Seventy years ago, Venerable Pius XII established the Pontifical Work of Priestly Vocations. Similar bodies, led by priests and members of the lay faithful, were subsequently established by Bishops in many dioceses as a response to the call of the Good Shepherd who, “when he saw the crowds, had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd”, and went on to say: “The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest!” (Mt 9:36-38).

The work of carefully encouraging and supporting vocations finds a radiant source of inspiration in those places in the Gospel where Jesus calls his disciples to follow him and trains them with love and care. We should pay close attention to the way that Jesus called his closest associates to proclaim the Kingdom of God (cf. Lk 10:9). In the first place, it is clear that the first thing he did was to pray for them: before calling them, Jesus spent the night alone in prayer, listening to the will of the Father (cf. Lk 6:12) in a spirit of interior detachment from mundane concerns. It is Jesus’ intimate conversation with the Father which results in the calling of his disciples. Vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life are first and foremost the fruit of constant contact with the living God and insistent prayer lifted up to the “Lord of the harvest”, whether in parish communities, in Christian families or in groups specifically devoted to prayer for vocations.

At the beginning of his public life, the Lord called some fishermen on the shore of the Sea of Galilee: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4:19). He revealed his messianic mission to them by the many “signs” which showed his love for humanity and the gift of the Father’s mercy. Through his words and his way of life he prepared them to carry on his saving work. Finally, knowing “that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father” (Jn 13:1), he entrusted to them the memorial of his death and resurrection, and before ascending into heaven he sent them out to the whole world with the command: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19).

It is a challenging and uplifting invitation that Jesus addresses to those to whom he says: “Follow me!”. He invites them to become his friends, to listen attentively to his word and to live with him. He teaches them complete commitment to God and to the extension of his kingdom in accordance with the law of the Gospel: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit ” (Jn 12:24). He invites them to leave behind their own narrow agenda and their notions of self-fulfilment in order to immerse themselves in another will, the will of God, and to be guided by it. He gives them an experience of fraternity, one born of that total openness to God (cf. Mt 12:49-50) which becomes the hallmark of the community of Jesus: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).

It is no less challenging to follow Christ today. It means learning to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, growing close to him, listening to his word and encountering him in the sacraments; it means learning to conform our will to his. This requires a genuine school of formation for all those who would prepare themselves for the ministerial priesthood or the consecrated life under the guidance of the competent ecclesial authorities. The Lord does not fail to call people at every stage of life to share in his mission and to serve the Church in the ordained ministry and in the consecrated life. The Church is “called to safeguard this gift, to esteem it and love it. She is responsible for the birth and development of priestly vocations” (John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, 41).  Particularly in these times, when the voice of the Lord seems to be drowned out by “other voices” and his invitation to follow him by the gift of one’s own life may seem too difficult, every Christian community, every member of the Church, needs consciously to feel responsibility for promoting vocations. It is important to encourage and support those who show clear signs of a call to priestly life and religious consecration, and to enable hem to feel the warmth of the whole community as they respond “yes” to God and the Church. I encourage them, in the same words which I addressed to those who have already chosen to enter the seminary: “You have done a good thing. Because people will always have need of God, even in an age marked by technical mastery of the world and globalization: they will always need the God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, the God who gathers us together in the universal Church in order to learn with him and through him life’s true meaning and in order to uphold and apply the standards of true humanity” (Letter to Seminarians, 18 October 2010).

It is essential that every local Church become more sensitive and attentive to the pastoral care of vocations, helping children and young people in particular at every level of family, parish and associations – as Jesus did with his disciples – to grow into a genuine and affectionate friendship with the Lord, cultivated through personal and liturgical prayer; to grow in familiarity with the sacred Scriptures and thus to listen attentively and fruitfully to the word of God; to understand that entering into God’s will does not crush or destroy a person, but instead leads to the discovery of the deepest truth about ourselves; and finally to be generous and fraternal in relationships with others, since it is only in being open to the love of God that we discover true joy and the fulfilment of our aspirations. “Proposing Vocations in the Local Church” means having the courage, through an attentive and suitable concern for vocations, to point out this challenging way of following Christ which, because it is so rich in meaning, is capable of engaging the whole of one’s life.

I address a particular word to you, my dear brother Bishops. To ensure the continuity and growth of your saving mission in Christ, you should “foster priestly and religious vocations as much as possible, and should take a special interest in missionary vocations” (Christus Dominus, 15). The Lord needs you to cooperate with him in ensuring that his call reaches the hearts of those whom he has chosen. Choose carefully those who work in the Diocesan Vocations Office, that valuable means for the promotion and organization of the pastoral care of vocations and the prayer which sustains it and guarantees its effectiveness.

I would also remind you, dear brother Bishops, of the concern of the universal Church for an equitable distribution of priests in the world. Your openness to the needs of dioceses experiencing a dearth of vocations will become a blessing from God for your communities and a sign to the faithful of a priestly service that generously considers the needs of the entire Church.

The Second Vatican Council explicitly reminded us that “the duty of fostering vocations pertains to the whole Christian community, which should exercise it above all by a fully Christian life” (Optatam Totius, 2). I wish, then, to say a special word of acknowledgment and encouragement to those who work closely in various ways with the priests in their parishes.  In particular, I turn to those who can offer a specific contribution to the pastoral care of vocations: to priests, families, catechists and leaders of parish groups. I ask priests to testify to their communion with their bishop and their fellow priests, and thus to provide a rich soil for the seeds of a priestly vocation. May families be “animated by the spirit of faith and love and by the sense of duty” (Optatam Totius, 2) which is capable of helping children to welcome generously the call to priesthood and to religious life. May catechists and leaders of Catholic groups and ecclesial movements, convinced of their educational mission, seek to “guide the young people entrusted to them so that these will recognize and freely accept a divine vocation” (ibid.).

Dear brothers and sisters, your commitment to the promotion and care of vocations becomes most significant and pastorally effective when carried out in the unity of the Church and in the service of communion. For this reason, every moment in the life of the Church community – catechesis, formation meetings, liturgical prayer, pilgrimages – can be a precious opportunity for awakening in the People of God, and in particular in children and young people, a sense of belonging to the Church and of responsibility for answering the call to priesthood and to religious life by a free and informed decision.

The ability to foster vocations is a hallmark of the vitality of a local Church. With trust and perseverance let us invoke the aid of the Virgin Mary, that by the example of her own acceptance of God’s saving plan and her powerful intercession, every community will be more and more open to saying “yes” to the Lord who is constantly calling new labourers to his harvest. With this hope, I cordially impart to all my Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 15 November 2010 

Advent 2011

Posted on 20. Nov, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

You are cordially invited to join the community of the Pontifical  Irish College for our annual Advent Liturgy followed by Christmas Carols on Sunday 11 December at 17.00.

Refreshments to follow.

Feast of All the Saints of Ireland

Posted on 06. Nov, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

The Irish College celebrated its patronal feast, the Feast of All the Saints of Ireland, with solemn first vespers and dinner on Saturday, November 5th 2011.  Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop in Down and Connor and a past student of the College, presided at Vespers and the homily was preached by the Rector, Fr Ciaran O’Carroll.  Guests at the event included the ambassador of Ireland to the Quirinale, the chargé d’affaires at the Irish Embassy to the Holy See,  representatives of Irish houses in Rome, professors at Universities attended by Irish College students and other friends of the College.  

The Feast of All the Saints of Ireland was established by Pope Benedict XV.  The Irish College chapel is dedicated to the Saints of Ireland.  

Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Posted on 06. Nov, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Ragheed Ganni Cup

Posted on 03. Nov, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

The annual Ragheed Ganni soccer tournament organised and hosted by the Irish College took place on Sunday, 30 October 2011.

In addition to the Irish College, the English, Scots and Beda Colleges also participated. The hosts were the eventual winners and the cup was presented by His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady.

The tournament is named in memory of Fr Ragheed Ganni, who was a student at the Pontifical Irish College from 1996 to 2003.  Ragheed was a priest of the diocese of Mosul and he together with three companions was ambushed and murdered after Mass on 3 June 2007.

Sacramental Preparation

Posted on 19. Sep, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

An information meeting for English speaking families interested in the Irish College programme of preparation for the sacraments of  First Holy Communion and Confirmation took  place after 10 am Mass in the Irish College on Sunday 16 October 2011.

The College is located near Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano and car parking is available in the College grounds.

The programme will continue through the academic year and class will take place each Sunday after 10 am Mass. Classes are conducted by the Irish College seminarians with the collobaration of the parents.

For further information                                        

 Telephone 06 772631 or e mail vr@irishcollege.org

Pontificio Collegio Irlandese                                

Via  dei  Santi  Quattro,  1                                

00184  Roma

Appointment of New Rector

Posted on 08. Sep, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Father Ciarán O’Carroll has been appointed as Rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.  Father O’Carroll was the Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation in the Archdiocese of Dublin and Administrator of the Catholic University Church on Saint Stephen’s Green, Dublin.  Father O’Carroll succeeds Monsignor Liam Bergin from the Diocese of Ossory, who has been Rector of the Irish College since 2001.

Welcoming news of his appointment Father O’Carroll said, “I am very much looking forward to meeting with the staff and students of the Pontifical Irish College – I am honoured to accept this challenging role at this time when renewal of

the Church is at the heart of all we do and the formation of students has such a particular role in that renewal.” Father O’Carroll also expressed his appreciation to his colleagues in the Office of Evangelisation in Dublin, saying they had helped  highlight the importance of Evangelisation throughout the diocese in a relatively short time.

 From Mount Merrion Parish in Dublin, Father O’Carroll is the son of Tadhg (RIP) and Sheila O’Carroll; he has three sisters and two brothers.

Father O’Carroll holds a doctorate in ecclesiastical history and has been the author of several publications on the subject including a study of a previous rector of the Irish College Paul Cardinal Cullen – Portrait of a Practical Nationalist (2008).  He is a graduate of University College Dublin and the Gregorian University, Rome.

Father O’Carroll has lectured in ecclesiastical history at a number of third level institutes including Holy Cross College in Clonliffe, Dublin, and at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in County Kildare.  A priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin, he has ministered in a number of parishes including Naul, Sutton, Rathmines and Saggart prior to his present appointment.

 He is currently secretary to the Council of Priests, Chair of the Diocesan Trócaire Working Group and a member both of the Diocesan Council and the board of the 50^th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland 2012.

Oliver Plunkett Union

Posted on 23. Jun, 2011 by John Coughlan in Carousel

The 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Oliver Plunkett Union took place at the Malton Hotel, Killarney on 6^th September.  In excess of 40 past pupils attended and the following officers were elected. 

President: Revd George Hayes (Kerry)

Secre

tary: Revd Richard Gibbons (Tuam)   

Treasurer: Revd Colin Grant (Down & Connor)

Gearoid Walsh (Kerry) won the Archbishop Brady Cup for golf. 

Fr Billy Swan, the Director of Formation at the Irish College, reported on the current state of the College and expressed the appreciation of the College for the unfailing support of its past students.  

It was agreed that next years AGM will be held in the Belfast area.