Archbishop Diarmuid Martin St Kevin’s Church in Dublin celebrated the beginning of its life as an Oratory at the weekend, more than 160 years after St John Henry Newman wanted to found one in the capital.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has given his approval on a trial basis which is expected to last for three years and celebrations marked the event in the parish in Dublin city centre at the weekend.
The founding members of the Dublin Oratory – in the tradition of St Philip Neri – are Dublin-based priests Fr Michael G. Nevin and Fr Gerard Deighan. They are joined by two men who were in formation for the Irish Dominicans but have now transferred to the Oratory.
Both Fr Nevin and Fr Deighan currently serve the Latin Mass community where the extraordinary form of the Mass is celebrated in St Kevin’s on Harrington Street.
A spokeswoman for the Dublin Archdiocese told The Irish Catholic that “there are plans to investigate the possibility of an Oratory in St Kevin’s. However, the situation of the parish and church remain the same”.
Speaking to this newspaper this week Fr Deighan said: “When the canonisation of Cardinal Newman was announced last year, the idea of beginning an Oratorian community in Dublin, which had been in the air for many years, received new impetus. On February 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, an Oratory-in-formation began its life at Saint Kevin’s church in Dublin 8.”
He also stated that “until the community gets up and running there will be no real change in the parish. The only new feature, right from the start, is sung Vespers and Benediction every Sunday, at 3.30 pm, which all are welcome to attend.”