Families, friends and neighbours take the opportunity of the Christmas holidays to meet, catch up and celebrate these holy days. Over the holidays the seminarians also took the opportunity to meet up with their fellow students and priests of the diocese in Navan last week.

There are five students studying in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and three studying in Rome.  The students joined together for Mass in the St. Annes Chapel, Navan celebrated by Fr. Declan Kelly, with the homily preached by Fr. Ciaran Clarke. Both Fr. Declan and Fr. Ciaran were ordained priests in September, and were very conscious of the great privilege to offer Holy Mass, and to offer it for their former student brothers too. Fr. Ciaran spoke of John the Baptist whose vocation  was to point others to Christ and not to himself, and how this must be at the heart of their future ministries too. One student described the joy of seeing their diocesan colleague, whom they have shared the path of discernment, now celebrating the Mass for them.

Please keep all our students in your prayers, and pray that many more young men will be courageous in following the Lord’s call to serve His people as priests.

Currently studying for the diocese are: Deacon Robert McGivney, who will be ordained a priest in June. Noel Weir (4th Theology), Barry White (4th Theology), Aaron Slattery (4th Theology), Conor McGee (3rd Theology), Fergal Cummins (1st Theology), Tony Shannon (3rd Philosophy), Warren Collier (3rd Theology).

Also pictured are: Most Rev. Michael Smith, Bishop of Meath, Rev Shane Crombie (Vocations Director), Rev Joe Campbell, (Vocations Director), V. Rev. Mark Mohan (Ballivor), Rev. Declan Kelly (Trim) Rev. Ciaran Clarke (Dunboyne).

(Report by Rev. Kevin Heer