A professor of moral theology who has just been appointed President of St Patrick’s College Maynooth, has called on young people to consider a vocation to religious life.Professor Hugh Connolly, a priest of the Diocese of Dromore and currently Vice-President of the college, made his appeal as he reacted to the news of his new appointment.
“I would like to avail of this opportunity to ask the faithful to continue to pray for vocations,” he said.
“Specifically, I wish to ask young people, whether leaving school, college or at whatever stage of life, to consider a training in the service of the Gospel.
“A vocation is a calling from God that needs to be discerned and carefully nurtured during the time of formation. At Maynooth we offer a high quality combination of human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation to seminarians and lay students alike,” he said.
Fr Connolly said he felt humbled by the appointment. “While it is an honour it is most definitely also a challenging job. In carrying out my responsibilities, I look forward to the support of the students and staff of the College, and indeed from all those with a love for the Church and her mission in the formation of future lay and ordained leaders.”
The professor of moral theology replaces Monsignor Dermot Farrell who has completed two terms as President, and now becomes parish priest of Dunboyne, Co Meath.
St Patrick’s College Maynooth is a Pontifical University, as well as being the National Seminary where young men have received formation for the priesthood since 1795.
At present there are 400 students studying in the Pontifical University and the Seminary, including 330 lay students and 70 seminarians.
Born in September 1961, Fr Connolly is a native of Burren near Warrenpoint, Co Down.
He studied at the Abbey Christian Brothers School in Newry and was ordained in Maynooth in June, 1987.
He completed his doctoral studies in moral theology in Rome in 1991. He has a number of publications.
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