The Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin ordained a former bookkeeper to the priesthood last Saturday.
Fr Paul Ludden (34) was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday in Saint Sylvester's Church in Malahide. A native of Malahide, Fr Ludden is the youngest of four children.
He was educated a Pobal Scoil Íosa (Malahide Community School) and later obtained a Bachelor of Business Studies qualification at the Institute of Technology at Mountjoy Square in Dublin and the Institute of Technology in Athlone.
Later, he worked for four years at Discount Electrical in Mountjoy Square before deciding to opt for the priesthood.
Speaking before his ordination he said, “My application to priesthood training followed a period of years of a more serious personal commitment to the Catholic faith. My main area of apostolic activity centred around a local and very active branch of the Legion of Mary in Malahide.”
Speaking at the ordination ceremony, Dr Diarmuid Martin said, “One of the most significant moments in the life of a Bishop is when he is called to ordain a priest. A vital responsibility in a Bishop's ministry is that of ensuring from one generation to the next, a succession of ordained priests to continue the celebration of the Eucharist and so to build up the Communion of the Church.”
He added, “The joy of a bishop in ordaining a priest is even greater when it is the case of a priest of his own diocese, who is incorporated into the one presbyterate of the particular Church the Bishop is called to shepherd. I am very pleased to be able to ordain this afternoon a son of this Archdiocese of Dublin, Paul Ludden, who has now completed the long years of preparation. It is also a special joy to ordain Paul here in his own parish of Saint Sylvester in Malahide where his faith was nurtured and I am especially pleased that Paul has chosen to be ordained here in his home parish."
Fr Ludden studied at Saint Patrick's Seminary in Maynooth.