Ordinations 2023

By 10^th of September 2023, eight men who completed initial formation in Maynooth had been ordained to the Priesthood. On Sunday 29^th January, Rev. Michael McCaul was ordained Priest by Bishop Donal McKeown in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry. Rev. Chris Garrett was ordained Priest by Bishop Kevin Doran on Sunday 28^th May in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo, for the Diocese of Elphin. On Sunday 13^th August, Rev. Mark Moriarty was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Ray Browne for the Diocese of Kerry in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney. Rev. Mark O’Farrell received priestly ordination on Sunday 20^th August at the hands of Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford. On Sunday 27^th August, Rev. Dawid Aksenczuk was ordained Priest for the Diocese of Down and Connor by Bishop Donal McKeown in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast. Bishop Kevin Doran travelled to the Diocese of Kumba in Cameroon to ordain Rev. Conrad Forzeh and Rev. Frankline Nkopi to the Priesthood on Wednesday 6^th September. These newly-ordained priests will return to Ireland later in the year to take up pastoral appointments in Elphin. Rev. Stephen Ward was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Derry by Bishop McKeown in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry on Sunday 10^th September.

On Sunday 24^th September, Anthony Hartnett was ordained to the Diaconate in the Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, for the Diocese of Raphoe by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ. The ordination took place in the presence of Anthony's family, friends and parish community. The Bishop-Emeritus of Raphoe, Most Rev. Philip Boyce OCD and a large number of Raphoe priests were joined by some recently-ordained priests from other dioceses, who had journeyed with Anthony during his years of formation at the National Seminary, Maynooth.

The seminary community shares in the joy of the families, friends and dioceses of our seminary alumni. We pray God’s blessing upon these men as they share their gifts and talents with the People of God in the parishes to which they are sent in synodal service of the mission of the Church in Ireland.

Fr Mark Moriarty, with his parents Brian and Marjie and his brother Paul after his ordination in St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney on Sunday 13^th August, 2023

Fr Mark O’Farrell with Bishop Cullinan and his Mother Mary, sister Audrey, brothers Fergal and Brian, and brother-in-law Conor after his ordination in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford on Sunday 20^th August 2023.

Fr Chris Garrett with Bishop Doran, Formators, Clergy, Seminarians and Servers following his ordination to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo on Sunday 28^th May 2023.

Fr David Aksenczuk with his parents Aleksandra and Jaroslaw and Bishop Donal McKeown (Apostolic Administrator of Down and Connor) after his ordination to the Priesthood in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast on Sunday 27^th August 2023.

Fr Conrad Forzeh and Fr Frankline Nkopi with Most Rev. Agapitus Nfon (Bishop of Kumba) and Most Rev. Kevn Doran (Bishop of Elphin) who travelled to Cameroon to ordain them to the priesthood on Wednesday 6^th September 2023.

Fr Stephen Ward with Bishop Donal McKeown following his ordination to the Priesthood on Sunday 10^th September 2023 in Christ the King Church, Omagh.

Rev. Anthony Hartnett pictured with his parents John and Yvonne, together with Bishop of Raphoe, Most Rev. Alan McGuckian SJ and Bishop-Emeritus of Raphoe, Most Rev. Philip Boyce OCD, following Anthony's ordination to the Diaconate on Sunday 24^th September in his home parish of Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.