Diocesan News02 Jul 09

Ordination of Deacons in Cork, Cloyne & Ross diocese

Canon Paul Willoughby, who was the preacher at the Ordination in St. Fin Barre's Cathedral of Anne Skuse, Adrian Moran and Patrick Burke, spoke in his sermon about vocation. He marvelled at how St. Peter "immediately" left his nets and followed Jesus. Canon Willoughby suggested that behind that word "immediately" was another, hidden, story of family life and that Peter's response to his own calling was enabled by the support, love and acceptance of it by his family. Canon Willoughby thanked the families of the three candidates for their support and acknowledged that the journey to Ordination is frequently marked by struggle, hardship and tears. Canon Willoughby thanked Ruth Burke, Mary Rose Moran, Bill Skuse and their children for their love and support and said that the Church owed them a great debt of gratitude and that we would not be celebrating the Ordination of Patrick, Adrian and Anne without their wonderful participation.

He went on to speak about the great mystery of vocation in that the God who created the universe calls us to be his servants. The Bishop's prayer for the Candidates contains the following phrase "None of us can bear the weight of this ministry in our own strength, but only by the grace and power of God". Canon Willoughby spoke at length about the temptation of trying to 'minister' using our own strength and how the only way forward was through God's grace, as Peter discovered in his own journey.

The Deacons will serve in St. Anne’s, Shandon (Adrian Moran), Douglas Union with Frankfield (Patrick Burke) and Kilmocomogue Union (Anne Skuse).