Br Ruaidhri Grieve OP Ordained to the Diaconate

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On Saturday 24 November our brother, Ruaidhri Grieve OP, was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.

As a deacon, Br Ruaidhri’s task will include ‘assisting the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, distributing Holy Communion, assisting at and blessing marriages, proclaiming the Gospel and preaching, presiding over funerals, and dedicating himself to various ministries of charity’ (CCC 1570).

During the ordination, Bishop Eamonn laid hands on Br Ruaidhri and asked God to bless him with “[an abundance of] every Gospel virtue: unfeigned love, concern for the sick and poor, unassuming authority, the purity of innocence, and the observance of spiritual discipline”.

Fr John Harris OP, the Prior Provincial, has assigned Br Ruaidhri to our priory in Tralee, where he will exercise his diaconal ministry before his ordination as a priest.

(Photos by Br Sean Blackwell OP).

Three Dominican Novices Make Simple Profession

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On Thursday 15 September, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, in St Mary’s Church, Pope’s Quay, Cork, three Dominican novices – Br Charles (Sean) Hurley OP, Br Michael Donohue OP, and Br Joseph McGinty OP – made their first profession in the hands of the Prior Provincial of Ireland, Fr John Harris OP. These vows, which brought their novitiate to an end, are temporary, and will become permanent when they make solemn profession. These brothers have moved from Cork to Dublin, and will begin their studies in St Saviour’s Priory, Dublin. Pray for them as they make this transition!

Three Men Enter the Dominican Novitiate

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On Wednesday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, three young men were clothed in the Dominican habit in St Mary’s Church, Pope’s Quay, Cork. The three men – David O’Donnell (Cork), Aidan O’Connor (Tipperary), and John Melvin (Donegal) – received the habit from the Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris OP, thus beginning their novitiate. This year-long period of probation, under the guidance of the Novice Master, Fr Philip Mulryne OP, is focussed on prayer, community life, and becoming familiar with the customs, traditions, and saints of the Dominican Order.

As these brothers were being clothed in the habit, the ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ was sung, calling down the Spirit on them as they begin this year of walking in the footsteps of St Dominic. Please continue to call on the aid of the Holy Spirit for these novices, as they grow in the life of grace.

Solemn Professions in Dublin

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Four Dominican friars took vows of obedience for life in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin, last Sunday. Brs Benedict McGlinchey OP, Ruaidhri Grieve OP, Błażej Białek OP, and Chris Gault OP, surrounded by family and friends, made solemn profession in the hands of John Harris OP, Prior Provincial of the Irish Province.

The vows themselves included, as is traditional, a promise of obedience to God, to the Blessed Virgin, to St Dominic, and to the Master of the Order and his successors. In a particularly powerful moment, after the Gospel, the brothers making profession prostrated themselves on the floor and were asked by the Provincial: “What do you seek?” Together they answered: “God’s mercy and yours”.

Drawing on the Gospel of the Day, the parable of the Prodigal Son, Fr Harris called on these four friars to live their Dominican lives imitating the mercy of the father in that parable, the mercy that they themselves had sought in joining the Order of Preachers.

All four brothers are also preparing for priestly ordination. Please keep their continued formation in your prayers, and pray for more Dominican vocations!

Two Irish Dominican Friars Ordained to the Priesthood

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Sunday last, September 4, saw the ordination to the priesthood of Dominican friars, Anthony Kavanagh and Kellan Scott. A very large number gathered in St Saviour’s, Dublin, for the joyful occasion, with the crowd spilling out into the street. Dominican friars from across Ireland – and beyond – concelebrated the Mass of Ordination, along with priests from the dioceses of Dublin and Meath.

Bishop Tom Deenihan of Meath the ordaining prelate, preached a homily on the importance of generosity, determination, and sacrifice in the life of a priest today. Drawing on the Gospel of the day (Luke 14:25-33), Bishop Deenihan reminded the ordinands that they were called by Christ to take up their crosses, and to willingly and lovingly make sacrifices each day of their priestly lives.

The newly-ordained priests have received their first assignations from the Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris. Fr Kellan will be going to San Clemente, Rome, to complete his studies, and Fr Anthony will begin work as chaplain at Newbridge College.

We ask your prayers for these brothers of ours as they begin their priestly ministry.

Two Dominican Friars Ordained as Deacons in St Saviour’s, Dublin

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On Saturday 5 March in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin, Archbishop Dermot Farrell ordained two Dominican friars, Br Anthony Kavanagh OP and Br Kellan Scott OP, to the order of diaconate.

A large congregation was present to participate in this celebration, along with Dominican friars, sisters, and laity from throughout Ireland. In a sermon rich in references to Dominican authors, the Archbishop outlined the ministry of deacons: they are ‘heralds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ’, their preaching ought to draw on profound prayer, and in carrying out their ministry of service they should ‘live life in response to the needs of others’.

Quoting Pope Francis, Archbishop Farrell called on Brs Anthony and Kellan to be ‘contemplatives, whose closeness to people enables them to proclaim before the wounds of our world the power of the Resurrection at work even now’.

As these brothers advance towards priestly ordination, we invite you to pray for them, that they might live out their diaconal ministry in imitation of ‘the Son of Man, [who] came not to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:8).

We invite you too to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Dominican Order. Our vocations director, Fr Colm Mannion OP, can be contacted at colm.mannion@dominicans.ie and 086-0864420.

(Photos courtesy of Br Sean Blackwell OP).

Dominican Pilgrimage to Knock

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On Sunday 10 October, the annual Dominican Pilgrimage took place again after last year’s pilgrimage was cancelled due to the pandemic. While smaller then other years many associated with the Dominican Family gathered in Knock on a very sunny day to celebrate together.

Fr John Harris OP, the newly elected provincial, was the main celebrant of the Mass. Fr John spoke about the apparition at Knock and drew attention to the fact that the official witnesses to the apparition were witnesses in a similar way to how we witness the apparition. While at other pilgrimage sites revelations were given to visionaries, in Knock the apparition was visible to all present. So as the apparition was present then, it is available to us now though the scene as depicted in the apparition chapel. We are now as much as then all called to be witnesses to the apparition as were the official witnesses!

It was a joy to gather again at Knock, and with God’s help we will be back in full force next year in October!

Simple Professions 2021

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The day after the new Novices received their habits, the Novices who have completed their noviciate year make their Simple Profession. This is their official entry into the Order as Dominicans, and the brothers have made this profession for three years.

Bro Philip OP, bro Sean OP and bro Desmond OP

They will now go to Dublin to start their studies in our Studium in St. Saviour’s priory. They will study philosophy and theology for the next few years and, with the help of God, and subsequently to be ordained priests.

Please keep our brothers who have joined the Order yesterday and the three brothers who have now made profession into the Order in your prayers.

Habit Receptions 2021

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The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is the Feast Day of the Irish Province of the Dominicans. This is also the day that new novices start with their noviciate and receive the Dominican habit. The noviciate – the first stage of formation for a Dominican friar – is a year-long period during which, as our Constitutions explain, novices ‘experience the Order’s way of life, and are formed in the Dominican spirit in mind and heart’. During this time they are under the care of the Master of Novices, Fr Philip Mulryne OP.

This year four men joined the noviciate and received the habit during the 11 o’clock Mass in St. Mary’s, Popes Quay, Cork. In his homily, the Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris OP, reminded the new novices of their union with Christ in baptism, and encouraged them to grow in friendship with Christ. “During this noviciate year”, he said, “you must endeavour yourselves, with the help of your Novice Master, and the community here in St Mary’s, to live more deeply your baptismal calling as a beloved child of God”.

Please keep the brothers in you prayers as they start this new journey as part of the Dominican Order.

Please find a few of the photos below:

  • Fr Colm Mannion OP, Vocations Director, incenses the Gospel
  • Fr John Harris OP, Prior Provincial, celebrated the Mass
  • Taking up a cruciform position on the floor of the sanctuary, the postulants ask for the mercy of God and that of the brethren
  • Bro Martin receives the Habit
  • Bro Sean receives the Habit
  • Bro Joseph receives the Habit
  • Bro Michael receives the Habit
  • The Novices: Bros. Sean, Michael, Martin and Joseph.

Solemn Profession

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On the 11th of September, Fr. Columba Mary Toman OP made his Solemn Profession as a Dominican of the Irish Province. A native of Co. Down, Fr Columba Mary took his final vows in the St Malachy’s Church, Dundalk, where he has ministered for several years. His years of formation also saw him complete a PhD at Queen’s University, Belfast, on the ethics of end-of-life care, as he continued to carry out a fruitful preaching ministry.

In Solemn Profession, a Dominican friar vows obedience until death to God, to Blessed Mary, to Blessed Dominic, and to the Master of the Order. In this way, as our Constitutions explain, a friar is “consecrated totally to God, dedicated in a new way to the universal Church, being appointed entirely for the evangelization of the Word of God”.

On this happy occasion, we ask your prayers for the continued success of Fr Columba Mary’s preaching ministry, and that of the whole Province.

Please find below some pictures of the event:

  • Placing his hands in the hands of the Prior Provincial, Fr Columba Mary pronounces his vows
  • Fr Columba Mary Toman OP, with Prior Provincial, Fr John Harris OP