Nine men were ordained deacons, the penultimate step before ordination to the Catholic priesthood, in Maynooth on Sunday.
The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, during a Mass in the chapel at St Patrick’s College.
Msgr Hugh Connolly, president of St Patrick's, wished the nine new deacons well and said that "taken with the 14 ordinations to priesthood which have or will take place in these next weeks, this has really been a remarkable year for our college".
He prayed “that others inspired by their witness will discern a similar call to service within their hearts and respond with courage and generosity”.
The new deacons may act as ministers of baptism, preside at weddings, assist the priest at Mass, proclaim the gospel and preach, and preside at wakes and funeral services.
The nine new deacons are Damian Quigley, from the Archdiocese of Armagh; Kevin Malcolmson, from Clogher diocese; Patrick Nugent, from Cork and Ross; Christopher McDermott, from Derry; James O'Reilly, from Down and Connor; Michael King and John O'Halloran, from Galway diocese; and Conor Magee and Noel Weir, from Meath diocese.
