The clerical manpower of the diocese of Meath is being boosted by the ordination of two priests. Fr Joe Campbell was ordained in the Church of St Therese in Rosemount, Co Westmeath, last weekend and Stephen Kelly will be ordained on July 11 in Batterstown, Co. Meath.
31-year old Fr Campbell attended the Carmelite College and Moate Community School and subsequently took a degree at UCD in Agriculture and Environmental Science.
He worked for two years with Westmeath County Council as an Environmental Officer and later with an agriculture and environmental consultancy firm in Banagher, Co Offaly before deciding to ‘try’ a seminary for a month.
“I took the view that if he didn't like it, I could always turn around and go home but when I was a month there, I'd settled down and said that I'd give it until the end of the year,” he recalled.
Fr Campbell said that the call to the religious life had been with him over a long period of time but making such a life-changing choice at the age of 25 was tremendously difficult and he gave it lengthy and serious contemplation, as well as devoting more time to prayer and evening Mass and a stint working in Lourdes.
His ordination was the first time in 75 years – and only the second time ever - that the village of Rosemount hosted an ordination.
Fr Campbell praised the preparation undertaken for the event by his native parish, saying that he appreciated the support and felt fortunate to be entering priesthood with it.
“I am looking forward to working in the diocese of Meath and doing the best I can to live out my vocation," he added.
During his time in the seminary, he took placements in youth ministry and prison chaplaincy, as well as a pastoral year in Mullingar, a placement in Tullamore and his diaconate year in Enfield.
A keen footballer, Fr Campbell was a member of the Sigerson football panel with Maynooth College in 2005-2007 and he represented the college in European inter-seminary soccer tournaments.
Bishop Michael Smith who officiated at the ordination said the event was "a very sacred, solemn, and indeed historic moment in the parish of Tubber and Rosemount.”
Dr Smith said it was the new priest’s family and community that had planted the seed of his vocation and it was through the faith that he learned in his family that he had come to make this very sacred commitment to Christ.
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