| Ryan McAleer Ordained Deacon |
 RYAN MCALEER ORDANIED DEACON Six students from the Pontifical Irish College, Rome were ordained deacons on Easter Monday. The ceremony, celebrated by Dr Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, was held in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. Two of the new deacons, Brendan Collins and Patrick Lagan, come from the diocese of Derry. The other candidates were Philip John Harris (Diocese of Waterford and Lismore), Ryan McAleer (Diocese of Armagh), Conor McGrath (Diocese of Down and Connor) and Milan Tomaga (Diocese of Banska-Bystrica, Slovakia). This is the largest diaconate ordination class from the Pontifical Irish College in over a decade. Monsignor Liam Bergin, , rector of the Pontifical Irish College, congratulated the new deacons and noted that the Irish College shared the joy of their families and friends who had come from Ireland and Slovakia for the ordination. During the ceremony the six candidates took a promise of celibacy, obedience and formally undertook the responsibility of praying for the Church and the world. The new deacons will be ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses during the coming year.  |
