By editor - 13 June, 2013
“The dominant theme in the still very young pontificate of Pope Francis is ‘the periphery’, ‘the frontiers’ and ‘the outskirts’. In that detention centre, speaking to the inmates he told them: ‘it is not in the soul searching that we encounter the Lord.. we need to go out to the outskirts where there is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs for sight’,” he said in the jubilee mass homily. He cautioned that there is a danger that priests might settle for the comfort zone but instead should launch into the deep.
Bishop Elect Denis Nulty was among six priests from the Diocese of Meath who joined the Silver Jubilee celebrations in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. In his homily he also cautioned against complacency in child protection: “The shadow of the abuse of children looms large still in our canvas of Church; the mismanagement of that abuse and allowing others to set the agenda and determine the conversation has left a gaping hole in the confidence of too many priests gathered here this Tuesday morning and perhaps those who didn’t gather. And that’s why those who didn’t bother to gather, to assemble, to be part of the unions should also trouble and task us. And while I’ve no doubt we are turning a corner in Church, complacency and settling on our laurels can still linger and stymie the progress of recent years.”
Following his ordination in Slane on 12th June 1988, Bishop-Elect Nulty became Curate in Mullingar where he remained until his appointment as Parish Priest of St Mary’s Parish, Drogheda in 1998. His ordination as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin will take place on Sunday 4 August in Carlow.
Fr Bradley was ordained in Nobber on 3rd July 1988. He served as Dean at St Finian’s College until his appointment as Curate in Holy Family Parish, Drogheda in 1994, becoming Parish Priest there in 2005.
Fr Boyle’s ordination took place in Culmullen on 17th July 1988, after which he was appointed Curate in Tullamore until he was named Parish Priest of Multyfarnham in 2006.
Fr Joseph Gallagher was ordained on 19th June 1988 in Mucklagh. He served in Mullingar from 1988, first as Curate and subsequently appointed Cathedral Administrator in 2004. He was nominated Parish Priest of Kilcormac in 2009. He is Director of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Fr Gaffney’s ordination took place in Castletown-Finea on 5th June 1988. After 15 years in St Finian’s College, he became Curate in Ratoath in 2003 and Parish Priest of Ardcath and Curraha in 2006.
Fr McNelis was ordained on 15th August 1988 in Navan. Since then, he worked as Curate in Clara, Mount Bolus (1994), Ashbourne (2003), Trim (2007) and was appointed Parish Priest of Laytown and Mornington in 2008. He has served as Diocesan Education Officer for many years and Vice Chairperson of CPSMA.
The Jubilee event springs from the Maynooth Union which was founded on the 27th of June, 1895, at a meeting held during the Centenary Celebration of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. The Union aims to foster a spirit of mutual sympathy between the College and its past students and friends. The annual reunions enable old friends to come together and relive memories of college days and continue discussions on questions of interest.
This year the Jubilee celebrations included Diamond Jubilee Class 1953; Golden Jubilee Class 1963; Silver Jubilee Class 1988 and the classes of 1943, 1948, 1958, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008.
