Empey ordains three deacons and priest at Christ Church Cathedral

The Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, Dr Walton Empey, ordained three deacons and a priest at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday. Two of the new deacons, the Rev Patrick Comerford and the Rev Avril Bennett, will continue in their secular jobs while serving in parishes.

The third deacon, the Rev Tim Close, will be full-time curate at Glenageary parish in Co Dublin.

Mr Comerford was ordained for Whitechurch parish in Co Dublin. He is currently Foreign Desk Editor of The Irish Times. A graduate in theology, he is working on a PhD in church history. He and his wife, Barbara, have two children.

Ms Bennett, a Cork woman, is a primary teacher and mother of three children. She is married to Mr Fred Moody, and the family lives in Lucan, Co Dublin. She will assist in Crumlin and Chapelizod parishes.

Mr Close is from Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. He is a psychology graduate of Queen's University Belfast and also studied criminology at Leicester University. He has worked in both the public and private sector in the development and provision of community mental healthcare services.

The new priest, the Rev Roy Byrne, is curate of Christ Church Cathedral group of parishes. From Clondalkin, Co Dublin, he worked in the retail business before studying theology at Oxford University.