Welcome ceremony for new curate at St. Iberius Church
A new Church of Ireland curate assistant has been appointed in the Wexford and Kilscoran Union of Parishes.
Conor O’Reilly, a native of County Offaly, received his priestly ministry at a licensing service in St. Iberius Church following a garden party hosted by Reverend Arthur Minion at the Rectory in Park.
Family, friends and clergy from around the diocese gathered with parishioners to greet the Reverend Conor and his wife Mollie as they participated in the special event.
Wexford is Reverend O’Reilly’s first ministry as a Church of Ireland curate.
A former Catholic priest, he was ordained in 2001 and decided to leave the priesthood in 2008 after serving in the parishes of Askea in County Carlow and Mountmellick in County Laois.
He later changed denomination and re-trained at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin. He and his wife Mollie recently moved into the rectory in Killinick.
‘I’m looking forward to getting to know people and to journeying in faith with them’, he said,.
Dr. Bridget Nichols, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Anglicanism and Liturgy in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, delivered the sermon at the licensing ceremony and spoke in her address about the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle on whose feast day the event was held.
Reverend O’Reilly was formally welcomed by Bishop Michael Burrows and Canon Chancellor Arthur Minion.
The Mayor of Wexford Cllr. Tony Dempsey welcomed him on behalf of the town.
Reverend O’Reilly’s wife Mollie was presented with a gift of flowers on behalf of the Select Vestry by the Honorary Secretary Francoise Davison.
Bishop Burrows also mentioned that this was a special occasion for him as he was celebrating 12 years as Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory that day. He had chosen the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle as the day of his consecration as Bishop.
Following the speeches, Reverend Conor was accompanied out of the church by representatives of the parish in which he now serves, symbolising his shared ministry, as is the custom. Afterwards, refreshments were served in the church.
There has been no curate in the Wexford union of parishes since the departure of Reverend Nicola Halford who served for three years. The Reverend Margaret Sykes was thanked for helping out the ministry in Wexford in church services and hospital chaplaincy over the past two years.