Tag Archives: Franciscan Order

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 …

BEFORE Christmas, parish priest Fr Tom Ryan was affiliated as an honorary member of the Franciscan Order, in the Poor Clare’s Chapel in Ennis. He was given the affiliation award in recognition of his service and generosity towards the Franciscan Order. The ceremony was presided over by Fr Hugh McKenna, the minister provincial of the Irish Franciscans, and Bishop Fintan Monahan. Writing about Fr Tom, a spokesman for the Franciscans stated, “Fr Tom Ryan, a St Michael’s Villas native and parish priest of Shannon, has always been a good friend of the Franciscans. He has conducted the annual novena in honour of St Anthony in all our friary churches in Ireland. Any time we were away at meetings, Tom was always ready and willing to come to our assistance. In fact, people often joked saying Fr Tom was half a friar. “We certainly appreciated his generous help and decided to do something about it. We contacted our provincial Fr Hugh …