Rome: Three Irish seminarians ordained

Three seminarians of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, were ordained deacons today, by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, at the Church of Saint Alphonsus on the Via Merulana in Rome. Rev James Daly, 57, originally from Midleton, Co Cork, a former parish pastoral worker and teacher, and Rev Robert Smyth, 32, from Knocklyon in Dublin, a former management consultant, were ordained for the Archdiocese of Dublin, while Rev Seán Mulligan, 46, from Knockatallon, Co Monaghan, a former intellectual disabilities nurse, was ordained for the Diocese of Clogher. All three are transitional deacons, and are due to be ordained to the priesthood at a later stage.

Family members and friends of the new deacons travelled from Ireland to be present at the ceremony. The Church of Saint Alphonsus is in the care of the Redemptorist order and it houses the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

In his homily, Archbishop Martin spoke of how God has called each of the new deacons by name, to be loved, and to live in service to God's people, collaborating with the rich variety of other ministries in the Church.

Commenting on the ordination, the Rector of the Irish College, Monsignor Ciarán O'Carroll said: "It is with great joy that we celebrate the ordination to the diaconate today of three seminarians from the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. On behalf of everyone at the Pontifical Irish College I congratulate James, Robert and Seán on their ordination. I wish them every happiness and blessing as they commence
their diaconal ministries of service, of charity and of leadership in prayer and liturgy. May they experience God's grace anew in their lives so that they may courageously proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, generously serving the people of God in their various dioceses with care and compassion."