TEN years ago Damian Casey set out on a journey of faith, which has led him to being ordained as a priest of the Franscican Order this weekend.
His ordination will take place this Saturday at 4pm, and on Friday, April 30, the newly ordained Fr Damian will celebrate the 7.30pm mass in Ennis Cathedral.
Brother Damian is currently the Deacon of the Franciscan Order and his ordination, along with his first mass on Sunday at 12 noon, is being broadcast on the internet.
Damian was born in Waterford, a past pupil of Mount Sion CBS. After school his life took him on a career in teaching, ending up as Principal of Mother of Fair Love School, Kilkenny.
In 2011 Damian began exploring his vocational calling and this led him to the Franciscan family.
Two years late Damian came to Ennis as a novice and in September 2014 in the Friary here in Ennis he made his first profession.
His Franciscan Formation continued in Canterbury, Athlone, Maynooth, Assisi and Rome.
On September 14, 2019 in the Franciscan Friary, Clonmel, Damian made his solemn profession as a Brother of St Francis.
He then moved to Dublin to train in hospital chaplaincy and on September 8, 2020, Archbishop Eamonn Martin ordained Damian a Deacon.
Once again Damian found himself in Ennis where, as a member of the local Franciscan Fraternity, he was appointed a Deacon to Ennis Parish and the Abbey Cluster Pastoral Area.
Over the past year Damian has become a familiar voice and face in the parish as he proclaimed and preached, officiated at funerals, baptisms and marriages, visited schools and carried out works of service both in the parish and in his own Franciscan community.
On Saturday the journey Damian began 10 years ago will see him answer the call to priesthood when Fr Aidan McGrath OFM Minister Provincial of the Franciscans in Ireland will ask Archbishop Dermot Farrell to ordain Damian to the priesthood.
The mass in Ennis Cathedral next Friday is a thanksgiving for the people of Ennis who have supported him during his time here in the parish.
“As Damian prepares for his ordination, we here in the Parish of Ennis thank him for his service and ministry as a Deacon in our parish and assure him of our continued prayerful support,” said a spokesperson for Ennis Parish.
“On Friday next April 23 on the eve of his ordination, there will be a conducted period of prayer for Damian after the 7.30pm mass in the Cathedral.
“Please join us online or by radio for this time of prayer,” they added.
The ordination on Saturday at 4pm, and celebration of Fr Damian’s first mass on Sunday at 12 noon will be broadcast on www.churchtv.ie (enter ‘Dublin’ under county, then locate ‘Adam & Eve’ Church).