Archdiocese of Armagh Gives Thanks Ahead of Three Ordinations to the Priesthood
There is a real sense of joy and thanksgiving across the Archdiocese of Armagh this weekend as Deacons Gabriel Neal, Jacek Tuszkiewicz and Paul O’Reilly prepare to be ordained to the priesthood.
Archbishop Eamon Martin will ordain the three men tomorrow, Saturday 9 May, at 3.00pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The ordinations mark a significant and hope-filled moment in the life of the Archdiocese, as Gabriel, Jacek and Paul prepare to offer their lives in service to Christ, the Church and the people of God.
Speaking ahead of the ordination, Archbishop Eamon said:
“We here in the Archdiocese of Armagh feel a deep sense of joy and thanks as we prepare for the ordination of these three men to the priesthood. I give thanks for their generous ‘yes’ to God’s call, and my hope is that they will have many years of fulfilment in serving God’s people here in the Archdiocese of Armagh.”
Archbishop Eamon also noted that tomorrow’s celebration brings to twelve the number of priestly ordinations for the Archdiocese of Armagh in recent years. At a time when the Church in Ireland is facing many challenges, these ordinations are a sign of encouragement, renewal and quiet hope.
The three men also reflect something of the increasingly international character of priesthood in the Archdiocese. Gabriel comes from the United States, Jacek from Poland, and Paul from Cork. Each has followed a different path, shaped by his own family, culture, formation and experience of faith, yet each has discerned a call to serve here in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
This diversity is now part of the lived reality of the Church in Ireland. The priests serving in the Archdiocese today come from a range of backgrounds, countries and pastoral experiences. Their presence speaks not only of the universality of the Catholic Church, but also of the generosity of those who leave home, family and familiar surroundings in order to minister among the people of God in a new place.
It is also a testament to the sustained investment the Archdiocese has made in priestly formation, including investment in it’s formation community and Redemptorist Mater Seminary in Dundalk, where seminarians and those discerning priesthood have been accompanied in prayer, study, pastoral experience and human formation.
Tomorrow’s ordination will be a moment of gratitude for all who have supported Gabriel, Jacek and Paul along the way: their families, friends, formators, parish communities, priests, religious and lay faithful who have encouraged them in their vocation.
As they prepare to be ordained, the Archdiocese asks the faithful to keep Gabriel, Jacek and Paul in prayer, that the Lord may bless them with faithful hearts, generous spirits and deep joy in their ministry.
May their priesthood bear lasting fruit in the lives of the communities they are called to serve.
