Doctoral defence: Fr Antun Japundžić
Posted on 27. Feb, 2015 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Fr Antun Japundžić with his parents on the occasion of the defence of his doctoral thesis.
Congratulations to former Irish College postgraduate student, Fr Antun Japundžić, of the Diocese of Dakovačko-Osječka, Croatia, on the successful defence of his doctoral thesis, ‘La visione ecclesiologica del teologo serbo-ortodosso Padre Justin Popović (1894-1979)’ [The ecclesiological vision of the Serbian Orthodox theologian, Fr Justin Popović (1894-1979)] at the Pontifical Oriental Institute on Friday, 27th February 2015. The moderator for the thesis was Rev. Prof. Germano Marani SJ.
The Gift of the Priestly Vocation
Posted on 31. Jan, 2015 by John Coughlan in Carousel
For information about vocations to the Priesthood in Ireland, including contact details for the vocations directors of the Irish dioceses, see the Diocesan Vocations Ireland website by clicking here.
‘This I ask you: be shepherds, with the “odour of the sheep”, make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men. True enough, the so-called crisis of priestly identity threatens us all and adds to the broader cultural crisis; but if we can resist its onslaught, we will be able to put out in the name of the Lord and cast our nets. It is not a bad thing that reality itself forces us to “put out into the deep”, where what we are by grace is clearly seen as pure grace, out into the deep of the contemporary world, where the only thing that counts is “unction” – not function – and the nets which overflow with fish are those cast solely in the name of the One in whom we have put our trust: Jesus.’ – Pope Francis, Homily at the Chrism Mass, St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Holy Thursday, 28th March 2013.
Video of four Irish College Rome seminarians telling their vocation stories to Fr Ruairí Ó Dómhnaill, produced by iCatholic:
For a video clip of Bishop Donal McKeown reflecting on the importance of prayer for vocations, click here.
For vocations pastoral letter of Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin with video, click here.
Vocations video clip by the Diocese of Limerick – click here.
Vocations website of the Archdiocese of Armagh – click here.
Vocations website of the Diocese of Down and Connor – click here.
For a video interview about Priesthood with Fr Michael Shields by Worldpriest supported by Aid to the Church in Need, click here.
Ministry of Acolyte 2015
Posted on 14. Jan, 2015 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Bill O’Shaughnessy, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Dublin, was conferred with the Ministry of Acolyte in the Chapel of the Pontifical Irish College Rome, by Cardinal James Harvey, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on Wednesday, 14th January 2014.
Pictured above after the Mass are: Rev. Aidan McCann (Deacon for the Mass), Fr Thomas Norris (Spiritual Director), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation), Mr Bill O’Shaughnessy (new Acolyte), Cardinal James Harvey (Celebrant), Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll (Rector), Fr George Hayes (Vice Rector).
To view more photographs from the ceremony, click here.
The role of an Acolyte is set out in Pope Paul VI’s Motu proprio, ‘Ministeria quaedam’ of 1972:
‘The acolyte is appointed in order to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest. It is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass; he is also to distribute communion as a special minister when the ministers spoken of in the Codex Iuris Canonici can. 845 are not available or are prevented by ill health, age, or another pastoral ministry from performing this function, or when the number of communicants is so great that the celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. In the same extraordinary circumstances an acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful and afterward replacing it, but not with blessing the people. He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who on a temporary basis are appointed to assist the priest or deacon in liturgical celebrations by carrying the missal, cross, candles, etc., or by performing other such duties. He will perform these functions more worthily if he participates in the holy Eucharist with increasingly fervent devotion, receives nourishment from it, and deepens his knowledge about it.
As one set aside in a special way for the service of the altar, the acolyte should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way he will be able each day to offer himself entirely to God, be an example to all by his gravity and reverence in Church, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially for the weak and the sick.’
Doctoral defence: Fr Pedro Luis Schiavinato
Posted on 08. Jan, 2015 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Congratulations to former Irish College postgraduate student, Fr Pedro Luis Schiavinato, of the Diocese of Ribeirâo Preto, Brazil, who successfully defended his doctoral thesis, ‘Análise exegética e linhas teológicas do confronto antitético entre Adão e Cristo em Rm 5, 12-21’ at the Pontifical University Antonianum on 15th December 2014.
Carol Service 2014
Posted on 29. Nov, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
The Irish College Advent Carol Service this year was held on Sunday, 14th December 2014. Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll was the presider and seminarians and postgraduates priests of the Irish College formed the choir, under the direction of Rev. Conor McCarthy. A large crowd attended.
For photographs and videos of the occasion, click here.
Ordination to the Priesthood
Posted on 27. Nov, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Pictured after the ordination (left to right): Archbishop Patrick Coveney, former Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross, Fr Marius O’Reilly, Bishop Christopher Jones, Emeritus Bishop of Elphin.
Congratulations and blessings to former Irish College seminarian Fr Marius O’Reilly,, who was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross in the Church of the Real Presence, Curraheen, Bishopstown, Cork, on Sunday, 23rd November 2014.
For more photographs, click here.
For video highlights, click here.
Ministry of Reader 2014
Posted on 17. Nov, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Left to right: Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll (Rector), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation), Mr Brian O’Driscoll (new Reader), Bishop Raymond Field (celebrant), Mr James Daly (new Reader), Mr Stephen Duffy (Master of Ceremonies for the Mass), Fr Thomas Norris (Spiritual Director), Fr George Hayes (Vice Rector), and Rev. Aidan McCann (Deacon for the Mass).
At a Mass celebrated in the College Chapel of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, on Monday, 17th November 2014, two seminarians of the College, Mr James Daly (Archdiocese of Dublin) and Mr Brian O’Driscoll (Diocese of Cork and Ross) were instituted to the Ministry of Reader by Most Rev. Dr Raymond Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.
To view more photographs from the occasion, click here.
The Ministry of Reader is a Church ministry in itself, but it is also one of the steps along the way in formation for the Priesthood.
Here is the description of the Ministry of Reader from the Apostolic Letter, ‘Ministeria quaedam’ of Blessed Pope Paul VI (August 15, 1972):
‘The reader is appointed for a function proper to him, that of reading the word of God in the liturgical assembly. Accordingly, he is to read the lessons from sacred Scripture, except for the Gospel, in the Mass and other celebrations; he is to recite the psalm between the readings when there is no psalmist; he is to present the intentions for the general intercessions in the absence of a deacon or cantor; he is to direct the singing and the participation of the faithful; he is to instruct the faithful for the worthy reception of the sacraments. He may also, insofar as necessary, take care of preparing other faithful who by a temporary appointment are to read the Scriptures in liturgical celebrations. That he may more fittingly and perfectly fulfill these functions, let him meditate assiduously on sacred Scripture.
Let the reader be aware of the office he has undertaken and make every effort and employ suitable means to acquire that increasingly warm and living love and knowledge of Scripture that will make him a more perfect disciple of the Lord.’
Doctoral Defence: Fr Salvatore Bucolo
Posted on 14. Nov, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Congratulations to former Irish College postgraduate student, Fr Salvatore Bucolo, who successfully defended his doctoral thesis, ‘L’attrazione uomo-donna tra creazione, caduta e redenzione. L’antropologia del desiderio sessuale e la sua redenzione in Cristo nella prospettiva di Sant’Agostino’ at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family at the Pontifical Lateran University on 6th November 2014.
Fr Ragheed Ganni Soccer Tournament
Posted on 06. Nov, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Action from this year’s Fr Ragheed Ganni Memorial Soccer Tournament.
The Fr Ragheed Ganni Memorial Soccer Tournament took place at the Irish College, Rome on Saturday, 8th November 2014. The annual tournament is dedicated to Fr Ragheed, who was an Irish College alumnus who was martyred for his faith in Iraq in 2007. Ragheed came here to the Irish College in 1996 as a seminarian and was ordained priest in 2001. He stayed on in this college as a postgraduate priest until 2003 when he returned to Iraq. During his years in the Irish College, he played on the College soccer team, and so this tournament, the Fr Ragheed Ganni Cup was established in his memory.
Six teams took part, representing the Irish College, English College, Marist College, North American College, Beda College, and Scots College. An important feature of the Fr Ragheed Ganni Memorial Soccer Tournament is that it concludes with all the participants celebrating Vespers in the College Chapel. Fr Ragheed Ganni celebrated his first Mass as a Priest in this Chapel, and he is now depicted in the apse mosaic, carrying the martyrs’ palm branch.
For photographs of the day, click here.
Doctoral Defence: Fr Salvatore Bilotta
Posted on 20. Oct, 2014 by John Coughlan in Carousel
Fr Salvatore Bilotta with family, friends, professors and Irish College formation staff members after his doctoral defence.
Congratulations to former Irish College student, Fr Salvatore Bilotta, who successfully defended his doctoral thesis, ‘Fede pensata e fede predicata. Aspetti scientifici e sapienziali nella riflessione di Tommaso d’Aquino e John Henry Newman’ at the Pontifical Lateran University on 15th October 2014.