The Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Killaloe has claimed
that the double ordination in the diocese this summer will provide “a
huge morale boost for the priests of the diocese.”
Speaking at the weekend after the ordination of Fr Ger Fitzgerald (pictured) in
Castleconnell in County Limerick, Fr Iggy McCormack claimed that it had
been fourteen years since there had been two priests ordained in the
diocese in the one year.
While Fr Ger Jones from nearby O'Briens Bridge
will be ordained for the diocese in August the diocese has only one
other student studying for the priesthood at this particular time.
However Fr McCormack said, ‘‘We would always like more in seminary
but the diocese's record would compare very favourably with other rural
dioceses.”
He also confirmed that he is dealing with “three to four very firm
enquiries since the Bishop's recent pastoral letter on vocations.”
“We are very pleased about the ordinations. It is a very special
summer and it is a nice start for Bishop Kieran O'Reilly. We want to
start a conversation in this diocese about vocations and foster a
culture of vocations and that life in the religious is seen as a good
and credible option.”
Last Sunday's ordination of Fr Ger Fitzgerald sees him become one of the country's youngest priests.
Fr Fitzgerald in a native of Castleconnell just outside Limerick city
and received his secondary education at Saint Mary's in Newport in
County Tipperary and is the first priest from County Limerick to be
ordained in over 6 years.
Speaking recently on young people and religion he said, “People do
turn to priests to give them hope. Last year I was in Lourdes and there
were some 50 to 60 young people there who took time out of their
holidays to help the elderly and the sick. I don't understand how they
can say that young people are losing their faith when there are people
around like that.”