A Bumper Weekend for Irish Vocations

The Irish Catholic is reporting the joyful news of people entering into religious life and ministry in the Irish church last weekend. In particular the Dominican family had a busy weekend of celebrations. Ad multos annos to one and all concerned!

"Irish religious congregations had a boost last weekend, with the profession of two Dominican sisters and the ordination of a Carmelite priest and a Sacred Heart deacon.



Sr Sabine making profession in the hands of Sr Helen Mary Harmey,
Congregation Prioress of the Dominican Sisters, Cabra, Dublin
Photo from Irish Catholic

The Irish Dominican sisters in Cabra celebrated the first profession of Sr Sabine Schratz on the feast of St Bridget. The rite of profession was celebrated during the celebration of the Eucharist at the Dominican convent chapel in Cabra, Dublin 7 and was a first for the congregation in many years. Sr Sabine's parents, Josef and Christiane, her sister, Cornelia and family, gathered with Dominicans and friends in celebrating the happy occasion. Sr Sabine has completed her novitiate and will now be assigned to one of the communities of the congregation.

Sr Cathy Howard seen here making her First Profession with
the Dominican nuns in Drogheda, Co. Louth before Sr Mary Breda Carroll, Prioress
Picture - The Irish Catholic

The Dominicans nuns at Siena Convent in Drogheda celebrated the First Profession of Sr Cathy Howard last Saturday in the monastery chapel in the presence of Sr Cathy's parents Imelda and John, her family, members of the Dominican family and a large congregation of well-wishers. Sr Cathy, a native of Finglas, Dublin entered the convent in April 2010. The Dominican nuns in Drogheda, who live a life centred on prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, are the only community of contemplative Dominican nuns in Ireland. The Novice Mistress, Sr Mairead Mullen said: "Today is a day of great joy for Cathy and for our community here in Siena. In recent years we have had two solemn professions and at present a number of young and not so young are in contact with us. There are 19 sisters in community.” The Dominican nuns will hold a vocations weekend for women interested in exploring their vocation February 15-17.

 

A member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Br Ultan Naughton SSCC, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Ray Field, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, in the Church of St Peter the Apostle in Neilstown, Dublin 22. Bishop Brendan Comiskey presided and the concelebrants included Fr John Dunphy and Fr Abraham Pathackal PP and PC for the Rowlagh Neilstown parishes, along with a number of the members of Rev. Ultan's religious community. Rev. Ultan is presently completing his studies at St Patricks College, Maynooth while working in Neilstown parish on a pastoral experience for the last number of months.

Fr David Twohig, a Carmelite from Dublin was ordained in the Whitefriar St Church in Dublin on Saturday. He originally studied Architectural Technology in Waterford and worked in architecture for a time before joining the Carmelites in 2004. He completed his philosophical and theological studies in the Milltown Institute and is now based in Whitefriar St parish. For some time, he has been involved in Carmelite youth and young adult ministry, both nationally and internationally, and spoke at the International Eucharistic Congress last year on the theme of Youth Ministry.