Ministry of Reader 2017

Posted on 11. Jan, 2017 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Left to right: Fr Paul Finnerty (Vice Rector), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation), Fr Thomas Norris (Spiritual Director), Cardinal Kevin Farrell (Prefect, Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life), Mr Colm Hagan (new Reader), Fr John Bauer (St John Vianney Seminary, Minnesota Director of Formation), Mons. Ciarán O’Carroll (Rector).

Mr Colm Hagan, a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Armagh, was conferred with the Ministry of Reader at a Mass in the College Chapel by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, on 11th January 2017.

The Ministry of Reader is a Church ministry in itself, but it is also one of the steps along the way in formation for the Priesthood.

Here is the description of the Ministry of Reader from the Apostolic Letter, ‘Ministeria quaedam’ of Blessed Pope Paul VI (August 15, 1972):

‘The reader is appointed for a function proper to him, that of reading the word of God in the liturgical assembly. Accordingly, he is to read the lessons from sacred Scripture, except for the Gospel, in the Mass and other celebrations; he is to recite the psalm between the readings when there is no psalmist; he is to present the intentions for the general intercessions in the absence of a deacon or cantor; he is to direct the singing and the participation of the faithful; he is to instruct the faithful for the worthy reception of the sacraments. He may also, insofar as necessary, take care of preparing other faithful who by a temporary appointment are to read the Scriptures in liturgical celebrations. That he may more fittingly and perfectly fulfill these functions, let him meditate assiduously on sacred Scripture.
Let the reader be aware of the office he has undertaken and make every effort and employ suitable means to acquire that increasingly warm and living love and knowledge of Scripture that will make him a more perfect disciple of the Lord.’

Carol Service 2016

Posted on 28. Nov, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

The annual Advent Carol Service at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, took place on Sunday, 11th December 2016 at 17.00. A large congregation attended and the Pontifical Irish College choir was joined by the West Wicklow Voices choir.

For photographs of the occasion, click here.

Jubilee of Mercy Conference

Posted on 19. Nov, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Left to right: Fr Paul Finnerty (Vice Rector), Fr Thomas Norris (Spiritual Director), Archbishop Rino Fisichella (President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation), Mons. Ciarán O’Carroll (Rector).

To mark the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Pontifical Irish College Rome held a special Jubilee of Mercy Conference on Friday and Saturday, 18th and 19th November 2016. The formation staff worked collaboratively to organise the conference, and had great assistance from the seminarian community, postgraduate priest student community, and the College staff.

Friday evening’s proceedings were chaired by the Ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See, H.E. Emma Madigan. The speaker was Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. He spoke from a unique vantage point as the person tasked by Pope Francis with overseeing the organisation of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. The title of Archbishop Fisichella’s talk was ‘Mercy: the heart of the Church’s life’. In his talk, the Archbishop traced the meaning of the word ‘mercy’, and gave insights into Pope Francis’s thinking in calling an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. He spoke of his experiences alongside the Pope during the Jubilee Year. He spoke of the need for mercy to be a strong element in the Church’s vocabulary and life.

On Saturday morning, the proceedings were chaired by Sr Rosarii O’Connor SMG, of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God at the Spanish Steps, and the speakers were Fr Roberto Cherubini of the Community of Sant’Egidio and Dr Mary McCaughey, a theologian. Dr McCaughey’s talk was entitled ‘Mercy and our understanding of God’. She spoke about our image of God, the relationship between God’s mercy and his justice, God in himself and God giving himself to us, and the role of the Holy Spirit in helping us to be people of mercy. Drawing on the work of major theologians and the Church Magisterium, she developed the theological aspects of our view of God’s mercy and human mercy. Fr Cherubini’s talk was entitled ‘The street as our teacher: learning the language of mercy from the poor’. He spoke about living a life of mercy towards the poor, and illustrated his reflections with anecdotes from his experience caring for the poor on the streets of Rome.

Lively question and answer sessions took place on both Friday evening and Saturday morning as participants and speakers teased out some of the issues raised about receiving God’s mercy and living a merciful life.

Fr Thomas Norris, the College’s Spiritual Director, was the principal celebrant for the Mass on Saturday. His homily continued the reflection on the theme of mercy, in the light of the focus on eternal life of the day’s Gospel reading.

All the participants shared in a buffet lunch after Mass, at the end of which Sr Thérèse of the Missionaries of Charity gave a reflection on mercy, drawing on the life and words of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her own experiences as a Missionary of Charity.

To view photographs of the conference, click here.

For the talk given by Fr Roberto Cherubini on Saturday morning, ‘The street as our teacher: Learning the language of mercy from the poor’, click here

For the talk given by Sr Thérèse Magdala of the Missionaries of Charity after lunch on Saturday, ‘Mother Teresa – becoming mercy’, click here.

Ministry of Acolyte

Posted on 16. Nov, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

(Left to right) Front row: Declan McGeehan, Tony Shannon, Bishop Paul Tighe, Seán Mulligan, Anthony Briody. Back row: Fr Paul Finnerty (Vice Rector), Fr Hugh Clifford (Director of Formation), Fr Thomas Norris (Spiritual Director), Fr John Bauer (St John Vianney Seminary, Minnesota Director of Formation), Mons. Ciarán O’Carroll (Rector).

Four seminarians of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, were instituted as Acolytes by Bishop Paul Tighe, Adjunct Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, at Mass in the College Chapel on 16th November 2016. Those conferred with the Ministry of Acolyte were: Declan McGeehan (Diocese of Derry), Seán Mulligan (Diocese of Clogher), Anthony Briody (Diocese of Raphoe), and Tony Shannon (Diocese of Meath).

The role of an Acolyte is set out in Pope Paul VI’s Motu proprio, ‘Ministeria quaedam’ of 1972:

‘The acolyte is appointed in order to aid the deacon and to minister to the priest. It is his duty therefore to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations, especially in the celebration of Mass; he is also to distribute communion as a special minister when the ministers spoken of in the Codex Iuris Canonici can. 845 are not available or are prevented by ill health, age, or another pastoral ministry from performing this function, or when the number of communicants is so great that the celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. In the same extraordinary circumstances an acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful and afterward replacing it, but not with blessing the people. He may also, to the extent needed, take care of instructing other faithful who on a temporary basis are appointed to assist the priest or deacon in liturgical celebrations by carrying the missal, cross, candles, etc., or by performing other such duties. He will perform these functions more worthily if he participates in the holy Eucharist with increasingly fervent devotion, receives nourishment from it, and deepens his knowledge about it.
As one set aside in a special way for the service of the altar, the acolyte should learn all matters concerning public divine worship and strive to grasp their inner spiritual meaning: in that way he will be able each day to offer himself entirely to God, be an example to all by his gravity and reverence in Church, and have a sincere love for the Mystical Body of Christ, the people of God, especially for the weak and the sick.’

Time for Priests 2016: ‘The Priest and the Ministry of Mercy’

Posted on 17. Sep, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

‘The Priest and the Ministry of Mercy’

During these days in the city of the apostles Peter and Paul, participants were afforded an opportunity to reflect on the theme “The Priest and the Ministry of Mercy”. The five days included a series of talks, liturgies and guided visits to significant Churches and Basilicas in Rome, a day of spiritual recollection and reflection, a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, as well as an opportunity to attend a General Audience with Pope Francis. 

Presentations were given by the following:

• Bishop Paul Tighe, Pontifical Council for Culture, reflected on the theme ‘Towards a Culture of Mercy – making known the Good News of God’s unconditional love for all’.
• Ms. Alice Leahy of the Alice Leahy Trust, Dublin, spoke about reaching out in mercy to the poor.
• Ms. Frances Rowland, Diocese of Kerry Pastoral Team, focused on experiencing and living mercy today.
• Fr. Tom Norris, Pontifical Irish College, Rome, conducted a day of reflection.

For enquiries about next year’s Time for Priests, please telephone the Pontifical Irish College on the main office number at 00 39 06 772 631 or email ufficio@irishcollege.org

To view photographs from the Time for Priests, click here.

Course for Parishioners 2016: ‘Opening the door of mercy’

Posted on 09. Sep, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

‘Opening the door of mercy’

During these days in the city of the apostles Peter and Paul, participants had the opportunity to reflect on the theme of “Opening the Door of Mercy”. The five days included a series of talks, liturgies and guided visits to significant Churches and Basilicas in Rome, a day of spiritual recollection and reflection, a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, as well as an opportunity to attend a General Audience with Pope Francis. 

Presentations were given by the following:

• Msgr. Ciarán O’Carroll, Pontifical Irish College, Rome, led the participants through the Holy Doors at the Basilica of St. Peter and the Basilica of St. John Lateran. He also gave reflections on the theme of Mercy in the Baptistry of St. John Lateran.
• Fr. Tom Norris, Pontifical Irish College, Rome, conducted a day of reflection.
• Fr. Hugh Clifford, Pontifical Irish College, Rome, spoke on “Formation: Letting God open us to mercy” and led the participants through the Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls.
• Ms. Frances Rowland, Diocese of Kerry Pastoral Team, focused on experiencing and living mercy today.

If you wish to inquire about next year’s Course for parishioners, please telephone the Pontifical Irish College on the main office number at 00 39 06 772 631 or email ufficio@irishcollege.org or write to Pontifical Irish College, Via Dei S.S. Quattro, 1, 00184 Roma, Italy.

To view photographs from the 2016 Course for Parishioners, click here.

To view or download the flyer for the Course for Parishoners, Course for Parishioners flyer 2016 Irish College Rome

Ordination of Fr Stephen Duffy

Posted on 07. Aug, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Fr Stephen Duffy

Fr Stephen Duffy, a seminarian of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Liam McDaid, Bishop of Clogher, in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan, on Sunday 24th July 2016.

To view photographs of Fr Stephen’s ordination and first Mass, click here.

Ordination of Fr Daniel Gallagher

Posted on 06. Aug, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Fr Daniel Gallagher

Fr Daniel Gallagher, a former seminarian of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, was ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Martin Drennan, Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora in St Patrick’s Church, Forster Street, Galway, on Sunday, 17th July 2016.

For photographs from the ordination and Fr Daniel’s First Mass, click here.

Link with St John Vianney Seminary, St Paul & Minneapolis

Posted on 05. Aug, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Fifteen US seminarians to transfer to the Pontifical Irish College, Rome

From September, fifteen seminarians from the Saint John Vianney College Seminary (SJV), from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, will pursue their academic formation at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Rome, and are to transfer their residency from the university’s Bernardi campus to the Pontifical Irish College, Rome.  These college seminarians will be experiencing a semester in Rome as part of the SJV programme, and will be replaced by another group of SJV seminarians in the second semester. The new arrangement will initially run during the academic year 2016/17.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Pontifical Irish College, along with the board of Saint John Vianney College, approved the new partnership at their June meeting.  Welcoming the seminarians Archbishop Martin said, “The presence of these United States’ seminarians will enrich and consolidate the seminary community in the Pontifical Irish College, under the overall leadership of its rector, Monsignor Ciaran O’Carroll.  Together with Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Saint Paul Minneapolis, I wish the project every blessing and success.”

According to SJV Rector Father Michael Becker, “This new partnership is a testament to the strong collaboration between the University of Saint Thomas’ Catholic Studies Rome Program and Saint John Vianney College Seminary.  Our association with the Pontifical Irish College will only enhance what has already been established.”

Father John Bauer, SJV formator, will also take up residence next month in the Pontifical Irish College along with the fifteen seminarians.  Father Bauer said, “It is hoped that this formative experience will connect SJV seminarians with both Irish seminarians and the international community of post-graduate priests who live at the college.  It will also provide SJV seminarians, as they continue their studies in the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, with an opportunity to experience the vitality of the universal Catholic Church, and form intercultural friendships, while pursuing their studies.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Founded in 1628, the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, is home to 50 students, with fourteen coming from Ireland and the others representing many different nations.  The College is home to a seminarian community and a post-graduate community.  Four Irish diocesan priests make up the staff of the college, led by the rector Monsignor Ciaran O’Carroll.
• Established in 1968, Saint John Vianney College Seminary is the largest college seminary in the United States.  Each year more than 120 men, representing twenty dioceses, discern a vocation to the priesthood while earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Saint Thomas.
• The University of Saint Thomas, founded in 1885 in Minnesota, by Archbishop John Ireland, is a Catholic comprehensive urban university that emphasises values-centred, career-oriented education.

Doctoral Defence: Fr Romeo Neculai

Posted on 23. Jun, 2016 by John Coughlan in Carousel

Fr Romeo Neculai pictured outside the Pontifical Lateran University with some of those who attended his doctoral defence, including members of the Pontifical Irish College community.

Congratulations to Fr Romeo Neculai, of the Diocese of Iaşi, Romania, a postgraduate Priest student at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome, who successfully defended his doctoral thesis in canon law at the Pontifical Lateran University on 23rd June 2016. The title of his thesis was ‘L’esercizio della potestà del Vescovo diocesano: Il can. 381§1 CIC 1983 ed il can. 178 CCEO.’ (The exercise of power of the diocesan Bishop: Canon 381§1 of the Latin Rite Code of Canon Law of 1983 and Canon 178 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.) His moderator was Rev. Prof. Natale Loda.

For photographs of the occasion, click here.