Two new Deacons ordained

Posted on 25. May, 2014 in Carousel

Picture shows: Left to right: Fr Tom Norris (Spiritual Director), Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll, Rector, Rev. Conor McCarthy (new Deacon, Diocese of Down and Connor), Bishop John Buckley (ordaining Bishop), Rev. Marius O’Reilly (new Deacon, Diocese of Cork and Ross), Fr George Hayes (Vice Rector), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation).

Two new Deacons ordained

A former marketing consultant, and a music graduate, both students of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome were ordained deacons today by Bishop John Buckley, Bishop of Cork & Ross.  The liturgy was celebrated in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, Rome, a fourth century church which contains relics of the Cross of Christ, brought to Rome by Emperor Constantine’s mother Helena in AD 325.

Reverend Marius O’Reilly (37) from Ballincollig in Cork, and Reverend Conor McCarthy (26) from Finaghy in Belfast, were ordained by Bishop Buckley who travelled to Rome for the occasion.

In a moving ceremony, in which the two new deacons were joined by over one hundred family members and friends who travelled from Ireland, Bishop Buckley reminded the two deacons that, “the purpose of the deacon and priest is to serve God’s people and to bring Good News of the gospel”.  Bishop Buckley continued, “Your ministry needs to reach out to people with that Good News, as Pope Francis has urged us all ‘to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus Christ’; as only in Him will you find the truth and happiness for which they are searching.”

Reverend O’Reilly is a graduate of University College Cork and of the Smurfit Business School of University College Dublin, while Reverend McCarthy is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast.  The two deacons will be ordained to the priesthood in the next year for service in their respective dioceses of Cork & Ross and Down & Connor.

Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll, Rector of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, congratulated the two new deacons and commented that their ordination was a sign of the “continuing courage and generosity of people as they commit themselves to serving the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Pope Francis constantly reminds us that the world needs Good News.  As deacons and future diocesan priests, you are called to be messengers of hope and mercy and proclaimers of the joy of the Gospel.  May God bless you in your ministry.”

To see more photographs from the day, click here.