The Irish Dominican friars rejoiced as eight of their brothers were ordained to the priesthood in Saint Saviour’s Dominican church, Dominick Street in Dublin on Saturday 9 July. The ordaining prelate was Archbishop Robert Rivas OP of the Diocese of Castries in the Caribbean. Archbishop Rivas is part of the Irish Dominican province and came to Ireland to ordain the eight brothers in this special year of the 800th Jubilee of the Dominican Order.
The brothers ordained to the priesthood are David McGovern OP, Damian Polly OP, Ronan Connolly OP, Pat Desmond OP, Daragh McNally OP, Connor McDonagh OP, Eoin Casey OP and Kevin O’Reilly OP.
The brothers were joined by many friars of the province, families and friends to witness the joyful liturgy of ordination.
This year the Dominican Order is celebrating 800 years since its foundation in 1216.
The Order, which was founded by Saint Dominic, was officially confirmed by Pope Honorius III who approved the Order as a body of Canons Regular on the 22nd December 2016. A second papal bull, issued on 21st January 1217, recognised the newness of Dominic’s ideas and approved the foundation as an Order of Preachers.
The Jubilee Year is being celebrated worldwide by Dominican friars, sisters and lay people.
For more on the Irish Dominicans see www.dominicans.ie.
ENDS
