Seminary Life
Ordination to the Diaconate
"Joseph, Sean, Damian and Conleth: Diaconate for you is not just a moment of transition on the path towards priesthood. Diaconate will be a permanent dimension of your ministry in the Church on your future paths as deacons and then priests...the ministry of the deacon is a ministry of service. That characteristic of being a servant must become the dominant characteristic not just in your ministry but in your lives."
From the Homily of Archbishop Martin, Maynooth College Chapel. Pentecost Sunday 2009.
On Pentecost Sunday, Archbishop Diarmaid Martin ordained four men to the Diaconate in the College Chapel. Three are preparing to serve as Diocesan Priests; Joseph Campbell (Meath), Conleth Meehan (Dublin) and Damian McGroarty (Raphoe). They are joined by Br. Sean Kelly, OFM Cap. We warmly congratulate them and wish them every blessing on their journey and ministry.
"Whenever ministry loses the characteristic of service then it can quickly degenerate into the opposite of ministry, to that "self indulgence which is the opposite of the spirit" as we heard in the second reading, to the temptaion towards self-centredness, towards using ministry and using others really for our own needs...all of us who are called to exercise ministry in the Church are called to continually examine our underlying motivations which inspire our actions and our attitudes and to undergo a constant process of discernment and purification and of conversion in our lives as regards the deepest motives which inspire our actions."
From the Homily of Archbishop Martin, Maynooth College Chapel. Pentecost Sunday 2009.
