THE Dominican Brothers at Saint Mary’s church on Popes Quay this week celebrated the addition of four young novices to their order.
At a special ceremony, the four men who range in age from 24 to 31, were clothed in the Dominican habit to mark the commencement of their novitiate year.
Three of the novices come from a teaching background with Kevin Leavy from Co Roscommon a former secondary school principal and Maurice White, a native of Trinidad and Tobago where the Irish Dominicans have had a mission for over 100 years, a former teacher.
At St. Mary’s popes Quay for the Reception of four new Novices into the Dominican Order from L to R., Maurice White, Kellan Scott, Kevin Leavy and Anthony Kavanagh. Picture, Tony O’Connell Photography.
Anthony Kavanagh, a native of Dublin also worked in the teaching profession before joining the Dominicans while the youngest novice; Kellan Scott, 24, from Dublin has recently
graduated from Trinity College.
The reception of these four men means that the Irish Dominicans have 15 men in various stages of ‘formation’ and hope to have a number of ordinations to the priesthood next summer, Fr Gerard Dunne, prior of the order said.
“The generosity of these four men is a positive sign for vocations in Ireland and a reminder that many men generously consider priesthood in these times,” he said.
The addition of the four novices comes a week after the St Mary’s community celebrated the solemn profession, or life commitment, of two of their brothers in Dublin. Shandon native Brother Patrick Desmond joined the order in 2009.
Brother Kevin O’Reilly from Dublin was a novice in Cork in 2011 to 2012.
The Dominicans in Pope’s Quay are celebrating 175 years of existence in the city of Cork this year and the Dominican Order will celebrate its 800th anniversary of its foundation next
year.