By Sarah Mac Donald - 22 July, 2016
This Sunday, the diocese of Clogher will see two deacons ordained to the priesthood at St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan.
Bishop Liam MacDaid will preside at the ordination liturgy of Rev Stephen Duffy and Rev Kevin Malcolmson.
Rev Duffy is from Ballybay. He completed his formation at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. While there, he also studied philosophy and theology at the University of St Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum).
Rev Kevin Malcolmson is from Aghabog parish. He undertook his formation at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he also studied philosophy and theology.
Both Stephen and Kevin, who were ordained to the diaconate in 2015, have undertaken postgraduate studies in areas of pastoral theology.
Sunday’s ordinations will bring to four the number of new priests ordained for Clogher in the past three years.
There are currently two other seminarians preparing for priesthood in the diocese of Clogher.
The newly ordained priests will celebrate their first Masses in Ballybay and Aghabog churches on Monday 25 July at 7pm.
Last Sunday, 27-year-old Fr Daniel Gallagher was ordained by Bishop Martin Drennan for ministry in the diocese of Galway at a ceremony in St Patrick’s Church in the city.
Fr Daniel was born and grew up in Bohermore, attending St Patrick’s primary school and Galway Community College, Moneenageisha before he went on to study Irish and History in NUI Galway.
He subsequently studied in Maynooth and the Irish College in Rome before he returned to join Oranmore Parish Team for a final year of practical and pastoral preparation before his ordination.
In his homily Bishop Drennan said, “The priest is to be a builder of trust who touches the hearts of people with a message of hope. In a world in such real need of mercy and forgiveness, the priest is entrusted with the mission of bringing compassion and peace.”
This week Fr Daniel is leading a group of young people from Oranmore to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.
