New friar professed at Aylesford
Damian Cassidy professed Solemn Vows as a Carmelite friar on Saturday - the Solemnity of the Prophet Elijah. The Profession Ceremony took place during the celebration of the Eucharist in the Relic Chapel at Aylesford Priory. Present in the full chapel were Carmelite friars from the British Province and other countries. Damian's family and close friends took an active part in this celebration of life-long commitment through the ministries of reading, music and prayer. Members of St Francis' parish, Maidstone, where Damian spent most of his formative years supported him during the day, as well as parishioners from Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, Enfield, where Damian assisted during the past few years while he was living in the Carmelite community in East Finchley, London. Damian became a member of the Aylesford community on 5 July 5 2002 after studying philosophy and theology at the Missionary Institute, London. Before entering the novitiate in Cheltenham, Damian was a nurse, and friends and colleagues from his time at Guy's hospital witnessed his solemn profession of vows in the hands of Fr Antony Lester, O.Carm., prior provincial of the Carmelite Order in Britain. For more information and to see pictures from the day, visit: www.thefriars.org.uk/events/damian.html