Advent Carol Service 2018

Posted on 07. Dec, 2018 by John Coughlan in Banner, Carousel

Advent Service and Carols 2017

An Advent Service and Carols will take place this Sunday, 9th December, at 5pm in the College Chapel. All are welcome to join us! 

Servant of God, Fr Ragheed Ganni

Posted on 27. May, 2018 by John Coughlan in Banner, Carousel

Opening the Cause of Servants of God, Fr Ragheed Ganni and Companions

Servant of God, Fr Ragheed Ganni, in the Sanctuary of the College Chapel of the Pontifical Irish College around the time of his priestly ordination in 2001. Credit for the photo: http://www.asianews.it

On Sunday next, 3rd June, the 11th Anniversary of the deaths of Servants of God Fr Ragheed Ganni and his companions, Fr Rebwar Basa, a priest of the Chaldean Patriarchal Archeparchy of Baghdad, will preach the homily at the Sunday Eucharist to be celebrated at the Pontifical Irish College. 

It was with great joy that the Community at the Pontifical Irish College became aware that the cause of Fr Ragheed Ganni, and his three companions, has officially been opened at the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Fr Ganni was a student at the Irish College from 1996 until 2003. He completed his formation for the priesthood here, and he was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul in 2001.

After ordination Fr Ragheed continued his studies at the Pontifical Irish College, and he gained a Licentiate in Ecumenical Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas, the Angelicum. In 2003 he elected to return to his home country of Iraq. On June 3rd 2007, after celebrating Mass, he was murdered along with his three companions who were subdeacons, one of whom was his cousin.

There are a number of steps involved in the recognition and canonization of saints. With the opening of Fr Ganni’s cause, the first stage has begun and he is now officially known as “Servant of God”. Competency in the cause has been transferred from the Archeparchy of Mossul of the Chaldeans to the Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit of the Chaldeans. What has now begun is a diocesan inquiry into the life, the martyrdom and intercessory power of the Servants of God Ragheed Aziz Ganni, Priest of the Archeparchy of the Mossul of the Chaldeans, and 3 Companions, Subdeacons of the same Archeparchy, killed in hatred of the Faith in 2007.

The Postulator of the Cause is Rev. Dr. Luis F. Escalante, JCD
Parrocchia Sant’Antonino Martire
Via IV Novembre, 2 – 02032 – Fara in Sabina (RI) Italy

Ministry of Acolyte 2018

Posted on 24. May, 2018 by John Coughlan in Banner, Carousel

Bishop Patrick Walsh, Mr Colm Hagan. Credit for Images: Fr Damian Szewczyk

On Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Mr Colm Hagan, a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Armagh, was conferred with the Ministry of Acolyte by Bishop Patrick Walsh, Bishop-Emeritus of the Diocese of Down & Connor. 

The Ministry of Acolyte is the second ministry received by those preparing for ordination as a deacon and priest. The first ministry is Lector. Prior to ordination as a deacon seminarians enter Candidacy, the third step on the journey towards ordination. 

Mr Colm Hagan pictured with Bishop Patrick Walsh as well as seminarians and staff of the Pontifical Irish College. Credit for Images: Fr Damian Szewczyk

According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §98, “the acolyte is instituted to serve at the altar and to assist the priest and deacon. In particular, it is his responsibility to prepare the altar and the sacred vessels and, if it is necessary, as an extraordinary minister, to distribute the Eucharist to the faithful. In the ministry of the altar, the acolyte has his own functions (cf. nos. 187-193), which he must perform personally.”

Video on the College’s history and formation today

Posted on 15. Jun, 2016 by Fr Hugh in Banner

This video on the history of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome and the formation for the diocesan Priesthood, ongoing formation, and other ministries that happen here today, was produced for the College by iCatholic.

Producer: Fr Bill Kemmy, Camera work: Mr Ray Beggan.

The Gift of the Priestly Vocation

Posted on 31. Jan, 2015 by Fr Hugh in Banner

For information about vocations to the Priesthood in Ireland, including contact details for the vocations directors of the Irish dioceses, see the Diocesan Vocations Ireland website by clicking here.

‘This I ask you: be shepherds, with the “odour of the sheep”, make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men. True enough, the so-called crisis of priestly identity threatens us all and adds to the broader cultural crisis; but if we can resist its onslaught, we will be able to put out in the name of the Lord and cast our nets. It is not a bad thing that reality itself forces us to “put out into the deep”, where what we are by grace is clearly seen as pure grace, out into the deep of the contemporary world, where the only thing that counts is “unction” – not function – and the nets which overflow with fish are those cast solely in the name of the One in whom we have put our trust: Jesus.’ – Pope Francis, Homily at the Chrism Mass, St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Holy Thursday, 28th March 2013.

Video of four Irish College Rome seminarians telling their vocation stories to Fr Ruairí Ó Dómhnaill, produced by iCatholic:

For a video clip of Bishop Donal McKeown reflecting on the importance of prayer for vocations, click here.

For vocations pastoral letter of Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin with video, click here.

Vocations video clip by the Diocese of Limerick – click here.

Vocations website of the Archdiocese of Armagh – click here.

Vocations website of the Diocese of Down and Connor – click here.

For a video interview about Priesthood with Fr Michael Shields by Worldpriest supported by Aid to the Church in Need, click here.

Villa Irlanda Accommodation

Posted on 19. Nov, 2011 by Fr Hugh in Banner

Consult the Villa Irlanda website www.villairlandaroma.com  For further information e mail villairlandaroma@villairlandaroma.com