The Diocese of Clogher will celebrate the Ordination of Rev Deacon Stephen Sherry from the Parish of Tullycorbet to the Priesthood this weekend.
Deacon Stephen is presently serving in the Parish of Monaghan and Rackwallace and in the Parish of Roslea as a Deacon.
He was ordained a Deacon last June upon completion of his studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College Maynooth.
Deacon Stephen comes from Tiromedan in the Parish of Tullycorbet, outside of Ballybay in Co Monaghan.
He is the second in a family of four. His parents are Gerard and Laura Sherry and his siblings are Mark, Christina and Andrea.
Deacon Stephen began to discern his vocation in 2014 as he prepared for his Leaving Cert exams.
After prayer and consultation with the diocesan vocation’s director, he realised that he may be called to the priesthood.
However, needing to take time in discerning this call, he decided to study English and History at the University of Limerick.
After graduating in 2018, and following further consultation with the diocese, Deacon Stephen made the first step in the formation process, entering the propaedeutic (preliminary) seminary year at the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain.
This provided him with a good introduction to seminary life and formation, and also a wonderful cultural experience with Irish, English, Welsh, and Norwegian seminarians in Spain.
Following the successful completion of that year, Deacon Stephen joined the seminary in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in September 2019, beginning the study of philosophy in first year.
However, in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic meant that he and his class had to continue their studies online.
They reconvened in Maynooth as a seminary community in September 2020, amidst restrictions and online study.
In September 2021, Stephen began the study of theology, which he completed this past semester.
The Bishop of Clogher, Bishop Larry Duffy, will be the ordaining prelate and he will be joined by priests and deacons from across the diocese and from Maynooth and other places.