Bishophonours Barntowncurate
BARNTOWN Curate Fr John Carroll was honoured by Bishop Denis Brennan at St Alphonsus Church, marking the silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood.
Bishop Brennan celebrated Mass at the 7 p.m. Saturday evening Mass at the Pugin-designed church in Barntown which was followed by small reception at the local school, to which all parishioners were invited.
Fr John is the son of Patrick and Brigid Carroll, currently living at the Laurels, Wexford. One of five children - siblings are Mary, his twin Patricia, Alison and Brid, he was born on September 29, 1966.
He was educated at St John of God Primary School, Wexford (1971- 1975), the CBS Wexford Primary (1975 to 1979), CBS Secondary (1979 to 1984), UCD and St. Patrick’s College Maynooth (NUI and Pontifical) (1984 to 1991), was NUI history tutor from 1987 to 1990 and between 1991 and 1993, was with the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland – annulments process.
Fr John’s Diocesan appointments are St. Aidan’s Cathedral (1991 to 2000), Dublin Regional Marriage Tribunal 1994 to 1997, the Bishop’s Office – Chancellery, Diocesan Secretariat, Trócaire, Diocesan Press Officer, Chaplain to St. John of God Community 2000 to 2002 and Ballaghkeene -2002 to 2006, when he became the curate in Barntown.
Speaking at his jubilee, he said the 25 years have been very good ones - nine years at the Cathedral, two years a chaplain to the St. John of God community, 16 years at the Bishop’s Office, four years at the Ballagh and 10 years now here at Barntown - some of the appointments running concurrently. ‘I have been blessed in the people with whom - and for whom - I have worked and in the many opportunities and challenges that have unfolded,’ he said. ‘In particular this weekend, I remember the many people whose funeral Masses I have celebrated, the children I baptised and the many couples at whose marriages I have officiated. ‘Down the years, I have been very fortunate in the many people I have met. Different places have meant for different opportunities and the chance to act in solidarity with others in the day to day life of some of our schools and our parishes and in the Diocese.. and county. ‘For the most part, the main beneficiary has always been myself - repeatedly edified and uplifted in heart and encouraged in spirit’.