Bishop William Crean (centre) Staff reporter
Bishop William Crean of Cloyne ordained nine seminarians as deacons in the college chapel of the national seminary in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, at the weekend.
Addressing the ordinands, Bishop Crean said “you will have the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel and break open the word of life for those in your care”.
“This is a privileged calling; to help people open their hearts and minds to accept the Lord Jesus, as the way and the path to living with purpose and meaning, through all the events of life,” he said.
“May the Lord who began the good work in you bring it to completion,” he added.
Maynooth President Msgr Hugh Connolly said “it is with great joy that we celebrate the ordination of nine men to the diaconate today”.
“May each of them experience God’s grace anew in their lives so that they will courageously proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, and go out to serve the people of God in their various dioceses and religious congregations with care and compassion,” he said.