Courtney McGrailStaff reporter
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh has described the opening of a new Irish missionary seminary in Dundalk, Co. Louth as a sign of the “New Evangelisation for Ireland”.
Speaking as he officiated at the opening of the Redemptoris Mater Seminary last weekend, the Primate of All Ireland referenced the great legacy of Irish missionaries from the time of St Columbanus.
“Let us reflect on this saint who was a great Irish missionary, and who was one of a whole body of Irish men and women who left this country and went out into Europe and brought the Gospel at a time when it was difficult and dark and alien to the faith but, with the help of God, these pioneering faith-filled missionaries succeeded and began a new chapter in the life of the Christian faith in Europe,” he said.
Something similar
“Now,” he added, “we are beginning something similar for Ireland and for Europe, the New Evangelisation, under the protection of the holy Saints Columbanus and Patrick and, of course, Mary, the Star of the New Evangelisation.”
The Redemptoris Mater Seminary is currently home to 16 young men from eight countries studying for the priesthood.
They are drawn from Croatia, England, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Spain and the USA.
The seminarians receive their formation in Dundalk and travel to Maynooth for their philosophical and theological studies.
When ordained, the young priests will be incardinated into the Archdiocese of Armagh and serve in its parishes.
http://www.redmatarmagh.org