New Deacon Ordained for Diocese of Kilmore
On Thursday 30 November last. Rev. Jordan Mac Gabhann who hails from Ardue, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, was ordained as a deacon for the Diocese of Kilmore by Bishop Martin Hayes.
Jordan, an only son of Majella Smith, attended primary school in Greaghrahan NS and second level school in St. Bricin’s College, Belturbet.
A keen traditional musician, he graduated with a BA in Heritage Studies from GMIT in 2017 after which he began his studies for the priesthood in St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He is now a member of the parish team of Urney and Annagelliff serving the people of Cavan Town and surrounding areas.
In a time of declining numbers of priests Jordan said, “It’s an exciting time to be ordained in this special time of change. I look forward most especially to journeying with people in special life events of joy and sorrow such as baptisms, weddings, and bereavement.”
In his homily at the ordination Mass Bishop Hayes said, “We give thanks for the vocation of Jordan Mac Gabhann who is being ordained Deacon for service in the Diocese of Kilmore. We continue to pray with him and for him as he continues his journey towards priesthood, please God. We as a diocese are on a journey together to arrive at a clarity about the respective roles of bishop, priests, deacons, and lay ministers. We must discern the exercising of these ministries in collaboration with each other, and tease out, what co-responsibility means on the ground. What is ahead of us? We are being called by Pope Francis to follow the path of Conversations in the Spirit or the synodal path; that process of listening and speaking within the context of prayer with the scriptures. We have, in our recent parish consultations throughout Kilmore Diocese, being putting synodality into practice. It offers the opportunity to hear what God is saying to us, to get to the heart of our mission and to share our faith, hence, it’s a process of evangelisation for each one of us here in Kilmore.”
Being a native of the diocese, Jordan is very aware of his roots, “I am very proud and honoured to be ordained as a deacon for my native Kilmore diocese where I received the faith I now hold dear. My family, local community, and the priests who served in the parishes where I lived gave me the faith and I hope to make my own contribution to the life of faith of the people of Kilmore diocese. “
After his ordination as a Deacon, Jordan will continue to minister in Cavan Town in preparation for ordination to Priesthood.
Deacon Jordan is pictured above following his ordination to the Diaconate with his mother, Majella.
