CELEBRATIONS AT HOLY REDEEMER AS DAMIEN IS ORDAINED
FR QUIGLEY FIRST FROM HIS PRIMARY SCHOOL TO ENTER PRIESTHOOD
IT was a big day for the Holy Redeemer Parish when local man Damien Quigley was ordained into the priesthood.
He was joined by family and friends for the ceremony and the ordination which was performed by Archbishop Eamon Martin.
From Cedarwood Park, Damien’sd immediate family were present, including his parents, Tommy and Solo and brothers, Martin and Vincent.
One person sadly missing, was his sister, Mary, who passed away in August last year.
Many priests from across the Archdiocese of Armagh were also in attendance, as well as many of the new priest’s classmates from his years in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Cardinal Sean Brady was also there for the special celebration.
Damien attended Redeemer Boys primary school, and was informed when he attended a graduation Mass at the school a few days after his ordination, that he is the first past pupil to become a priest.
He started at Colaiste Ris in 1987, and afterwards studied at Dundalk Regional College and Queen’s University Belfast.
There followed an eleven-year career with Tesco.
‘I worked in store management, at head office and was on the road,’ recalled Damien.
Of his vocation, he said: ‘It was always there, and time to explore it.’
He entered St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 2010; and was ordained deacon for the Archdiocese of Armagh last year, and he has ministered as a deacon for the past year in the parish of Magherafelt, Co Derry.
The new priest has yet to be appointed to a parish. Since his ordination, he spent two weeks at home in the Redeemer, and this week began a period of holiday cover in Cullyhanna, Co Armagh.
‘It’s up to the archbishop. He will decide where I go.’
Away from his busy religious life, Fr Quigley enjoys Formula 1 racing, and is a big Ferrari fan; and he tries to find the time to play video games on his Playstation 4!