Donegal’s newest priest is a Hiberno-Iranian, Fr Damien Nejad, who is
believed to be the first Irish diocesan priest to have a Persian family
background.
Fr Nejad was ordained on Sunday 11 December by Bishop Philip Boyce of
Raphoe at the Cathedral of Sts Eunan and Columba in Letterkenny, which
was filled with family and friends for the occasion.
More than 50
priests were present to concelebrate the Mass.
The only son of an Iranian Muslim and a Catholic mother from Annagry,
Fr Nejad was born and raised in Glasgow, where his mother’s sister was a
pivotal influence on his life.
As a boy, the young Hiberno-Iranian
became aware that unlike his friends he was unbaptised, said Fr Morty
O’Shea of Lettermacaward, who writes an online blog.
“At the age of six, his auntie asked him one day what was the thing
he wanted most in life. His response was baptism. Auntie brought him up
to the local church and he was baptised inside half an hour. When he was
nine his auntie insisted on bringing him for holy hours to the church.
She promised that Jesus would speak to him while he was praying. This
was the beginning of his spiritual life.”
In his homily, Bishop Boyce said: “In our Eucharistic celebration
here today at Saint Eunan’s Cathedral, we have an added reason for
joyful hope and expectancy. A young man, Damien Nejad, approaches the
steps of the altar and presents himself for ordination to the priesthood
in the Diocese of Raphoe. He is following Christ’s call to be with the
Master for the rest of his life and to serve the people entrusted to his
care. Ordination day is always a day of joy and gratitude: joy at the
precious gift received, gratitude to the Lord for calling a young man to
his exclusive service in the ordained ministry.”
The Bishop also spoke about the joy of the Gospel in the life of a
priest, telling the newly ordained clergyman: “In your daily ministry
let people experience the joy of Christ in your work, and not simply the
burdens of your duties. Pope Francis has spoken many times about the
joy of the gospel and the joy of evangelisation, notably in his
apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium on the proclamation of
the Gospel in today’s world. This is to be your life in the years that
lie ahead. You are to live and work with Christ, the very first and the
greatest evangeliser.”
Fr Nejad celebrated his first holy Mass on Monday 12 December at the
Church of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Annagry, where he was ordained a
deacon in January of this year.