27.08.2015
Ross Styles – Plans to Explore Pastoral Care in Ministry as Intern Deacon in Greystones
On Sunday September 21 two new Deacons will be ordained in Christ Church Cathedral. Nigel Pierpoint and Ross Styles will be ordained to the Diaconate for the parishes of Christ Church, Taney and St Patrick’s, Greystones, respectively. This week they introduce themselves. Today is the turn of Ross Styles while Nigel Pierpoint featured yesterday.
“I grew up in the parish of Ballynure, County Wicklow, part of the Baltinglass group of parishes, from the year I was born (1977) until I went to secondary school in Kilkenny College. After school, I moved to Dublin and studied horticulture, which has been the focus of my working life in various private and public sectors. As a mature student I graduated from UCD with a degree in history and economics. I am married to Fiona and we live in Clonskeagh with Ben (4) and Ava (2).
For many years I had felt a calling to ordained ministry, but the preoccupations of education, work and young adult life presented plenty of opportunities to postpone responding to it. My grandfather was a clergyman in County Wicklow, so ordained ministry was not alien to me. Eventually, I began to explore my calling and the late Canon Mervyn McCullough and Canon Charles Mullen were very helpful to me.
I began the foundation course in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2010 and in the following year I passed selection and joined the part–time Masters in Theology course. The experience gained through that course, together with wonderful placements in Howth, Booterstown and Mount Merrion parishes, in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and also Holy Trinity, Rathmines, have been personally very rewarding. My training for ordained ministry has been a hugely enjoyable and uplifting experience. Pastoral care is an area of ministry that has always been of great interest to me. Growing up in a rural area, and now living in a large city, has reinforced the importance of effective pastoral care for any parish community.
I eagerly await the commencement of my deacon internship with the Revd David Mungavin and the people of St Patrick’s Church, Greystones.”