19.09.2017
The Revd Ross Styles – Preoccupations of Life Could Not Stifle the Calling
The Revd Ross Syles will be ordained will to the Priesthood on Sunday September 24 in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 3.30 pm. He will serve as Curate in the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes. Here he talks of his journey to ordination and his hopes for his future ministry.
I grew up in the parish of Ballynure, County Wicklow, part of the Baltinglass group of parishes. 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 (6) and Ava (4).
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. However, after many years, I realised that this calling was not going away. I began to explore it and the late Canon Mervyn McCullough, Canon Charles Mullen and the Revd Ted Woods 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, was very rewarding and made a fantastic foundation for me as I progressed towards my internship. I would like to thank the staff in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and the clergy in my placements for all they have taught me and for their invaluable encouragement and support on my journey towards ordained ministry.
I was ordained deacon in 2015 and spent two years as a deacon intern with Canon David Mungavin in the parish of St Patrick’s, Greystones. I learnt so much from Canon Mungavin, the Revd Alan Breen, Frank Connolly, my fellow deacon the Revd Stuart Moles and all the parishioners of Greystones. I am very grateful for their warmth, friendship and forgiveness for all my rookie mistakes! During my internship I also completed my dissertation for my Masters.
I feel very privileged to have the opportunity to serve as curate in the Christ Church group of parishes and I cannot wait to begin my curacy there. Both Fiona and I are really looking forward to getting to know the people in the group of parishes and becoming part of their community of faith.