On 30 November, Rev Jordan MacGabhann was ordained deacon in the Cathedral of Saints Patrick & Felim, Cavan, Diocese of Kilmore.
Rev MacGabhann (pictured), who hails from Ardue, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, was ordained as a deacon by his local bishop, Martin Hayes. He is the only son of Majella Smith and attended primary school in Greaghrahan National School, and second level school in Saint Bricin’s College, Belturbet.
Rev MacGabhann is a keen traditional musician who graduated with a BA in Heritage Studies from GMIT in 2017 after which he began his studies for the priesthood in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He is now a member of the parish team of Urney and Annagelliff which serves the people of Cavan town and surrounding areas.
Reflecting on the declining numbers of priests ministering in Ireland, Rev MacGabhann said, “It’s an exciting time to be ordained during this time of change. I look forward, most especially, to journeying with people during their significant life events of joy and sorrow, such as baptisms, weddings, and bereavement.”
In his homily, at the ordination Mass, Bishop Hayes said, “We give thanks for the vocation of Jordan MacGabhann who is being ordained Deacon for service in the Diocese of Kilmore. We continue to pray with him, and for him, as he continues his journey towards priesthood, please God. At this time we, as a diocese, are on a journey together to arrive at clarity about the respective roles of bishop, priests, deacons, and lay ministers. We must discern the exercising of these ministries in collaboration with each other, and tease out, what co-responsibility means on the ground.”
Bishop Hayes continued, “We are being called by Pope Francis to follow the path of ‘Conversations in the Spirit’ or the synodal path; that process of listening and speaking within the context of prayer with the Scriptures. In our recent parish consultations throughout Kilmore Diocese, we have been putting synodality into practice. It offers the opportunity to hear what God is saying to us, to get to the heart of our mission and to share our faith, hence, it is a process of evangelisation for each one of us here in Kilmore.”
As a native the diocese, Rev MacGabhann is very aware of his roots, “I am very proud and honoured to be ordained as a deacon for my native Kilmore diocese where I received the faith that I now hold dear. My family, local community, and the priests who served in the parishes where I lived, all passed on the faith to me. Into the future, I hope to make my own contribution to the life of faith of the people of Kilmore diocese.”
Now, as an ordained deacon, Rev MacGabhann will continue to minister in Cavan Town in preparation for his ordination to Priesthood.
ENDS
