By Sarah Mac Donald - 03 August, 2014
Fr Matthew Martinez OP is pictured with Archbishop Joseph Harris CSSp. Picture by Fr Gerard Dunne OP, Vocations Director & Prior of St Mary’s Priory, Cork.
Irish Dominican friars on Saturday celebrated the third ordination to the priesthood this summer in the province.
Fr Matthew Martinez OP, a native of Trinidad in the Caribbean, was ordained in his native parish of St Finbar, Port-of-Spain, on the feast of Blessed Jane of Aza, mother of St Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order.
Fr Joseph Harris CSSp, Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, was the ordaining bishop.
He was assisted by Robert Rivas OP, Archbishop of St Lucia and a former member of the Irish Dominicans, as well as Bishop Jason Gordon of Barbados, and Bishop Malcolm Gault, bishop emeritus of Barbados.
St Finbar’s church was packed to capacity with parishioners, Fr Matthew’s parents, sister, extended family and friends.
Approximately 40 priests also took part in the celebration, with 12 friars of the Irish Dominican Province, some natives of Trinidad, some who are missionaries there and some who travelled for the occasion.
Fr Matthew was clothed in the priestly vestments by his classmates Fr Luuk Jansen OP and Fr Colm Mannion OP who were ordained in Dublin in July.
Fr Matthew is scheduled to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving this evening in the same church.
