The ordination took place, as Fr Murphy had wished, at St James’ Church in Glenbeigh on Sunday, and as has been the case throughout his journey to this point, the Glencar native was ably supported by friends and family alike on Sunday as he entered the priesthood.
An opening message to the congregation on behalf of the local parish council welcomed Bishop Browne and the Clergy of the Diocese, not least those from the parishes where Fr Murphy gained his pastoral experience.
Classmates and priests from Maynooth in attendance included National Seminary Rector Fr Tomás Surlis, while others travelled from England and Belfast.
Bishop Browne also welcomed Fr Murphy’s parents, Máiréad and Dennis; siblings, Máire and David, the latter of whom gave the first reading; niece, Lillian; and extended family, some of whom had tuned in from as far afield as Boston.
“This is a great day for the Diocese of Kerry,” said Bishop Browne. “We thank God for Seán’s faith and his vocation to the priesthood. We thank God for the faith of his family and the faith in the parish here of Glenbeigh/Glencar. This day we pray that Seán may have a lifetime of ministry among us, a lifetime that brings him joy and fulfilment.”
Following his ordination and before the celebration of Mass, former student of Boleshill National School and Milltown’s Presentation Secondary School received a hug from his colleagues in the priesthood, including Fr Kieran O’Sullivan, who himself spoke on the day and thanked the many people who made Sunday’s occasion a successful one. Among those thanked were the choir, whom Fr O’Sullivan said had spent three years preparing for Sunday; and Glenbeigh/Glencar GAA club, who provided parking and even moved a match so their grounds would be available on ordination day.
Ordinations have become rare events throughout the country, but while Bishop Browne acknowledged the obstacles facing the church, he added that there is reason for optimism within the Kerry Diocese.
“It’s a challenging and exciting time to be ordained a priest,” he said. “Challenging because we have so few ordinations and, thus, we have so very few young priests in our Diocese. “Challenging, also, because there’s a continued decline in the public practice of all aspects of the faith by people of all ages. It’s noticeable especially at weekend Masses.
“Exciting, because this is our third ordination in six years, and we also are enriched by the presence of two young Kenyan priests here today…Exciting also because, as a Diocese, we are responding to the challenge by promoting, more and more, lay ministry, the ministry of all the baptised.
“We have 25 people entering their final year of formation to be voluntary pastoral leaders, and we have five lay men entering their final year of formation to join the six permanent deacons we already have.”