There was great joy at the country's national seminary recently when
seven seminarians, from all parts of Ireland, were admitted to candidacy
for ordination as deacons and priests at Saint Patrick's College in
Maynooth in County Kildare.
According to the College, Admission to Candidacy for ordination as
deacons and priests is defined as the final preparatory step in the
journey towards ordination.
It is the church's acceptance of the public expression of the intention to receive orders by the candidates.
The Bishop of Ferns Bishop Denis Brennan delivered the homily at the
ordination ceremony, which took place in Saint Mary's Oratory in
Maynooth.
He was assisted by the President of Maynooth Monsignor Hugh
Connolly and the Director of Formation Rev Donal O'Neill.
The seven seminarians ordained by Bishop Brennan were Kevin Heery
(Diocese of Meath), Thomas McHugh (Archdiocese of Armagh), Damien Lynch
(Diocese of Cloyne), Paul Ludden (Archdiocese of Dublin), Sean McGuire
(Diocese of Kilmore), James Cullen (Diocese of Ferns) and Eugene O'Boyle
(Archdiocese of Tuam).