On Easter Monday, 27-year-old Gerard Jones was ordained to the Diaconate at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.The Irishman is currently studying in Rome where Bishop Willie Walsh, Bishop of Killaloe ordained him Deacon, taking him on his final steps on the journey to being ordained a priest for the diocese.
The young man made his commitment to serve the Church as a deacon, enabling him to preside over certain sacramental ceremonies of the Church including baptism and marriage.
He also committed to pray daily for and on behalf of the people of God and to assist the ministry of the Church in whatever duties he is given by the Bishop.
Gerard will engage in this ministry as his final preparation for the commitment to priesthood which he hopes to make within the coming year.
Gerard is a native of O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Clare and son of Nicholas and Chrissie Jones. He was educated in Killaloe before going to the University of Limerick where he studied science.
His studies for the priesthood were at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth until he transferred to the Pontifical Irish College in Rome in 2007 where he is currently completing his studies in Theology.
He has had placements in the Parish of Ennis, Co. Clare and also in Birr Parish in Co. Offaly.
Gerard is one of four students in preparation for priesthood in the diocese of Killaloe. He will be ordained along with his classmate Damian McCaughan from the Diocese of Down and Conor.
Vocations to the priesthood in Ireland have seen an increase in recent times.
38 new seminarians started in Maynooth in Autumn 2009 up by 12 on the previous year and the highest number since 1999.
Some of those students are from the Kilmore Diocese which just a few weeks ago launched a new vocations promotions programme.
New posters highlight various aspects a priest’s work and along with a DVD called You will be my Witnesses, are being sent to every parish and school in the diocese.
This development of a “culture of vocations" is seen as important so that those who feel called as a priest or religious will do so, seeing their decision as a normal and worthwhile career option, knowing that they have the support of their families and community.
Two men from America were attracted to the priesthood for this diocese and have lived in Ireland for a year and now candidates for priesthood the diocese of Kilmore.
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