Ordination of Dominic O'Toole CSsR to the Priesthood by H.E.Keith Patrick Cardinal O'Brien.
Cardinal O'Brien and Fr Dominic O'Toole CSsR
A day of great joy
Cardinal O'Brien's opening words at the Ordination Mass of Fr Dominic O'Toole CSsR on February 14th reminded the congregation that not only were we celebrating the Feast of Ss Cyril and Methodius, but also St Valentine, so the celebration was about service, giving of one's life, and about love. The Cardinal ordained Fr Dominic in Our Immaculate Lady of Victories, the church of the Mother House of the Redemptorists of the London Province, located at Clapham Common, London. Local parishioners were joined by a contingent from St Patrick's, Edinburgh, where Fr Dominic was based for most of his formation. He was also joined by seminarians representing Scotus college where he completed his studies, by Redemptorists from England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Austria and Singapore, Fr Dominic's family and friends, and representatives from the local Methodist and Anglican churches. Monsignor Michael Regan from St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, assisted the Cardinal. The Redemptorist mission in Zimbabwe was represented by Fr Richard Reid who was in charge of Fr Dominic's formation.
Welcoming the Cardinal and the visitors from all over the world, Fr Ronnie McAinsh CSsR, Provincial of the Redemptorists, said that he had searched the parish archives in Clapham to find out how recently the church had welcomed a Cardinal and it was in 1895! Cardinal O'Brien was making history.
One special concelebrant was Fr Cyril Axelrod CSsR, a deaf-blind Redemptorist who lives in London. Well known to parishioners in St Patrick's, Edinburgh, Fr Cyril gives missions and retreats to deaf and deaf-blind people all over the world, and his presence was a moving and inspiring feature of the Ordination Mass. Fr Paul Fletcher SJ, formerly of Sacred Heart, Edinburgh, interpreted the Mass for Fr Cyril through sign language.
Fr Dominic celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving the next day, Sunday, at the noon parish Mass. Fr Richard Reid preaching the homily. He confessed that the gospel reading he was preaching on was a tough one for an ordination – the cleansing of a leper by Jesus - but pointed out that, in spite of being told to keep silent about his cure, the leper 'Just couldn't stop talking about Jesus'. This, said Fr Richard, was the particular vocation of every Redemptorist, and indeed of every priest and every Christian. His prayer was that Fr Dominic would find his priestly ministry as rich and rewarding as Fr Richard found his own, and that others hearing the Good News of Christ would come to realise their own Redemptorist, and priestly, calling. Fr Dominic is returning to St Patrick's for the weekend of 21st/22nd March to celebrate Mass, before returning to London where he is currently based.
Cardinal O'Brien Anoints the hands of Fr Dominic, with Fr Provincial Ronnie Mc Ainsh CSsR and Fr Richard Reid CSsR .
Inclyta, Before the Blessing the Redemptorist's sing the Inclyta,A traditional hymn to Our Lady.
Cardinal O'Brien with Fr Dominic and his family and friends at St Mary's Clapham after his Ordination.
Photographs by and copyright of Paul Mc Sherry.
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