11.06.2008
Ordination of Priests in Christ Church Cathedral
On Sunday 15 June 2008 at 3:30pm the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill will preside at the ordination of two people to the priesthood, the Revd Alan Barr, Curate of Bray and the Revd Robert (Rob) Jones, Curate in CORE (City Outreach Through Renewal and Evangelism). The address at the service will be given by the Rector of Rathmines and Harolds Cross, the Revd Canon Neil McEndoo.
The Revd Alan Barr
The Revd Alan Barr (48) is originally from Dromore Co Down. He was educated in Dromore High School after which he studied Microbiology in Belfast Tech and Jordonstown Poly Tech. He was a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer in Belfast City Hospital for 8 years before training for membership of the Church Army, an Anglican Lay Society of Evangelists which works with Church planting, the homeless, elderly and young people. He went on to serve 17 years as a Captain in the Church Army. He is married to Liz, who is a sister in the Church Army and they have two children, Ruth (13) and Sarah (11). Since his ordination to the diaconate last year, Alan has served as Curate in Bray parish. Speaking about his work there over the last year he said that ”It's been absolutely fantastic, very enjoyable year where I've learned an awful lot about what it means to be a Deacon." Continuing on his ordination to the priesthood he said that for him "this is the culmination of a 22 year journey and I am very excited at the prospect of celebrating communion."
The Revd Robert Jones
The Revd Robert Jones (34) is from Rathfarnham in Dublin. After studying in High School, Rathgar and taking a gap year which included travel to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, he studied Science in UCD. After graduating with a BSc in Forestry and Genetics he worked for Coillte for six years as a Timber Resource Manager part of which he spent in Central America. He is married to Dilys, a PA with McNamara Builders with one son, Ethan and a daughter, Alanna. He counts rugby and swimming amongst his hobbies. Since his ordination as a Deacon last year, Robert has been serving as Curate in CORE (City Outreach through Renewal and Evangelism) which is based in St Catherine’s Church in Thomas’ Street, Dublin. Speaking on his ministry to date Robert said "I think ministry is going very well. We have extensive outreach into the community and that's been very positive and also we've started developing the younger guys in CORE in the 18-35 age group and that's been going faboulously well. We've started a project called momentium and we're gathering about 60 of them now and we're trying look at what it means to be church and what it means to be Christian in the 21st century...but as Bertie Ahern said, a lot done more to do!" On being ordained to the priesthood he said "I guess I can now say yes to people who want me to marry them and I am looking forward to that but also communion is important to us in CORE and it will be great to be able to celebrate that with the body." Robert has also been working with the Revd Canon Neil McEndoo, Rector of Rathfarnham and Harold’s Cross.