Greg DalySix Dominican friars have been ordained deacons by Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, in a ceremony that has bucked the trend of recent decades.
The Irish Dominicans’ Prior Provincial, Fr Gregory Carroll confirmed that this was the largest ordination of deacons since 1972 and that the new deacons all entered the order after a specially designated year of prayer for vocations.
“We see the high numbers joining us in 2009 as an answer to prayer during that special year,” he told The Irish Catholic.
“There is also the fact that, for many years, we have worked diligently at promoting vocations to the order.”
Looking forward to next year, when the order will celebrate its 800th year, Fr Carroll said, “For the future, as in the past, we believe in the value of continuing to pray for vocations and we are committed to keeping programmes in place to foster interest in vocations.”vocations.”