The Irish Dominican Friars celebrated two first professions and the arrival of five new novices last weekend, bringing to 22 those in formation with the order.
On Saturday during a special Mass in Saint Mary's Priory Church in Pope's Quay, Cork, Br Kevin O Reilly and Br Murchadh O Madagain made their first profession on completion of their novitiate year.
“We congratulate our brothers on their first profession which aggregates them into the Order and pray that they will flourish in the next phase of their Dominican lives,” said vocations director, Fr Gerard Dunne OP.
Br Kevin had a doctoral degree in philosophy and had taught that subject in various institutes and universities.
Br Murchadh who was ordained a priest for the diocese of Galway and Kikmacduagh also holds a doctoral degree in spirituality.
He ministered in parishes and hospitals before joining the order.
The day before, on Friday September 14, also in Saint Mary's Priory, five men were clothed in the habit of the Dominican Order and officially began their yearlong novitiate.
The brothers were received into the order during the conventual Mass at which the prior provincial of the Irish Dominican province Fr Gregory Carroll OP, officiated.
He warmly welcomed the new novices and asked that for prayers for their perseverance.
Friday was the feast day of the Irish Dominican province, which is also the traditional day when new novices are accepted into the Order.
“This is a very happy day for the Brothers of the Irish Dominican Province and we are very conscious that we have been greatly blessed by god during the past number of years with a consistent intake of vocations,” said Fr Gerard Dunne.
The vocations prayer initiative, which was launched in March in Siena monastery in Drogheda, moved to Cork last weekend.
The initiative, which uses the specially commissioned icon of Saint Dominic as a focus for prayer for Dominican vocations was warmly received by the many people who attended the Sunday Masses at St Mary's Cork.
Over the coming weeks people are invited to participate in the prayer campaign before the icon moves on.