15.02.2016
Joy in Christ Church Cathedral as the Revd Martin O’Kelly is Ordained to the Priesthood
“The Cross is a portal to hope,” the Revd Martin O’Kelly was reminded by his former lecturer at his Service of Ordination to the Priesthood on Sunday February 14. Martin was ordained in Christ Church Cathedral for curacy in Christ Church Bray. The Service was celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackson and the preacher was the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey, lecturer at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
The cathedral was filled with well wishers including family, friends and parishioners from Bray, along with many clerical colleagues – which include his wife the Revd Ruth O’Kelly. Opening the service the Archbishop thanked the cathedral’s Precentor and the Dean’s Vicar and all associated with the cathedral for making the service possible. He said that Martin’s many positive characteristics had shone during his journey to ordination.
In his sermon, Dr McGlinchey reflected on the words of St Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians [2 Corintians 5: 14–19] stating that the text outlined what drove St Paul’s ministry and what should drive Martin’s ministry. “St Paul’s ministry was driven by the conviction that one event in history was the hope of every human being and that is the crucifixion of Jesus. What happened on that day was a game changer for the wh ole world. I encourage you Martin to see the Cross as the gateway for every human. In science fiction movies portals play a big part… For Paul, Jesus’s Cross is the portal to forgiveness, to new life and new possibility,” he said.
Dr McGlinchy said that Christ’s love compelled Paul to convey the Good News to every human that on the Cross Jesus experienced on our behalf and entered into the consequences of our sin allowing everyone to live a different sort of life if they so choose. Ministry is driven by the knowledge of the Cross but also by the consequences, he said, so people should no longer live for themselves first but with the Grace of God in first place. This is more profound than spelling out the cost of discipleship, he said adding: “The challenge to us is to live in such a way that people are drawn to Christ”.
The preacher explained that often the message of God was seen to stand for oppression, abuse of power and empty ritual. “Your challenge is to help people see God’s amazing power of Grace for human beings and to help people to see Christ as he really is, not as the distorted image he has become,” Dr McGlinchey said.
Until recently, Martin has been assisting the Revd Norman McCausland in St John the Evangelist, Coolock and All Saints Raheny. Prior to that he completed his Deacon Intern year in the Edenderry Union of Parishes with Canon Lynda Peilow. He is married to Ruth and they have three adult children Daniel, Owen and Rachel.
Photo captions:
Top – The Revd Martin O’Kelly (centre) with his wife, the Revd Ruth O’Kelly and Archbishop Michael Jackson.
Bottom – The Service of Ordination of the Revd Martin O’Kelly.
[More photos are available on the Dublin and Glendalough Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough/posts/963379313698113