NEW PRIEST ORDAINED FOR CLOGHER DIOCESE

St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan on Sunday 28th July for the celebration of the Ordination to the priesthood of Rev. Raymond Donnelly by the Bishop of Clogher, Most Rev Liam MacDaid.

 This was an event of great significance and joy for people throughout the Diocese of Clogher, being the first priestly ordination in 11 years for the diocese, which includes County Monaghan, most of Fermanagh, and parts of Tyrone and Donegal. The diocese has seen a resurgence in vocations to the priesthood in recent years and there are currently six men undertaking study and formation in St Patrick’s College. Maynooth and the Irish College, Rome.

 Rev Raymond, 34, is a native of Monaghan town and is one of five sons of parents Colm and Maureen Donnelly. Raymond was educated at St Louis Infants, St Mary’s Boys’ National School and St Macartan’s College, Monaghan. He took a BA in Philosophy, Theology and English in St Patrick’s College, Carlow and completed teacher training in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Having taught for six years in Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Raymond began studies for the priesthood in 2008 at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. He was ordained deacon in Rome by Bishop MacDaid on 9th April 2012.

 During his time of formation, Raymond took up several pastoral placements in the diocese, including work in St Michael’s Parish, Enniskillen, St Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg as well as his native parish of Monaghan. While in Rome, Raymond studied for an STB in Theology and an STL in Dogmatic Theology.

 The Ordination ceremony was attended by Raymond’s family and friends, fellow priests and students from the Irish College, Rome and a large number of priests from the Diocese of Clogher. Diocesan organisations, pastoral and apostolic groups from the parishes of the diocese were also represented. The congregation also included staff from the local …