Joy as Alan Neville MSC is ordained to the Priesthood

On Friday 29th May confreres, family and friends of Alan Neville MSC gathered with great joy at Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, for Alan's ordination to the priesthood.

The beautiful ordination ceremony was conducted by Most Reverend Dr John Buckley DD, Bishop of Cork. The Provincial of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Patrick Courtney, concelebrated the Ordination Mass, along with 35 other priests, mostly MSC.

Joy as Alan Neville MSC is ordained to the Priesthood

On Friday 29th May confreres, family and friends of Alan Neville MSC gathered with great joy at Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, for Alan's ordination to the priesthood.

Bishop Buckley ordains Alan by the laying on of hands

The beautiful ordination ceremony was conducted by Most Reverend Dr John Buckley DD, Bishop of Cork. The Provincial of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr Patrick Courtney, concelebrated the Ordination Mass, along with 35 other priests, mostly MSC. The music was led by parishioners of the parish of Ss Alban and Stephen, St Albans, Hertfordshire (England) where Alan is currently ministering.

Alan's hands are anointed with the oil of Chrism

Alan, 34 years, who is originally from Cork city, began his association with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart early in life as an altar server at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Rd. Later, while at university at UCC, he was a lector in the same parish.

Bishop Buckley congratulates Fr Alan

After completing a social science degree and a Masters degree in youth and community work, during which time he also volunteered with the Simon community, Alan finally decided to test his religious and priestly vocation with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart whom he had known since a boy.

He began his formation in the MSC parish in Killinarden, Dublin, from where he travelled daily to Milltown Park Institute for his philosophy studies. He then travelled to South Africa for his Novitiate year where he joined fellow novices from across the African continent. After further theology studies back in Dublin Alan had a two year missionary assignment in Caracas, Venezuela, which is a Region of the Irish MSC Province. For the last two years Alan has been co-ordinating youth ministry in the MSC parish of St Albans, Hertfordshire (England). After taking a holiday with his family Alan will return to St Albans where he will continue his ministry, now as a priest.

Fr Alan and his family

In his ordination homily Bishop Buckley said that today people are looking for a priest who encourages them to use their gifts, whether that gift be as a parent in the home, the teacher in the school or the dedicated people in parishes, especially those who look after the suffering and the sick. "That role of the priest is the delivering of a message that gives meaning to life. People are not looking for a priest who can solve all their problems but a priest that is close to them and reminds them that, no matter what life's difficulties are, the Lord loves them."

Alan was joined on the day of his ordination by his very proud family; his mother, Catherine, his step-father, Joe, his brother and sisters and many extended family and friends. Parishioners from both Killinarden and St Albans travelled to Cork to join the celebration, as well as MSC missionaries who are currently at home from South Africa and Venezuela. Also present was Michael O'Rourke, who has recently begun his formation with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and is living with Alan in the MSC community in St Albans.

The following day Fr Alan celebrated his First Mass in Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road joined by MSCs, family, friends and parishioners.

Fr Alan gives his First Blessing to his mother, Catherine

The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart warmly congratulates Alan on his ordination and wishes him every blessing in his future ministry as an MSC priest and missionary.

Bishop Buckley, Fr Alan and the concelebrating priests

For information about vocations to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and MSC formation and training please visit the vocations pages of this website - http://www.mscvocations.com/.