Dublin priest writes
Pat- I’m sure aware that Joe Merrick is getting married in December… to a female doctor…
DM is doing the ceremony… he’s telling people!
Not sure if it’s University Church or Donabete … he was a contemporary of Derwin & Byrne…. he’s finishing his law degree…
DMs last wedding…?
Interesting… lots of in house speculation in Dublin re replacement…
DM has more or less given up… word is … it’s between classmates Kieran mc Dermott(tough and now in pro C)
Ciaran o Caroll (everyone’s favorite
and best choice to renew and energize the disillusioned clergy…) or Gareth Byrne… (an academic)….
Interesting times in Dublin… the inner circle needs a new leader!
JOSEPH MERRICK AT EUCHARISTIV CONGRESS 2014.
Catholic Register
“Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, had just finished celebrating Mass in the main arena of the Royal Dublin Society. One of his altar servers was Joseph Merrick, a 25-year-old schoolteacher from Dublin.
“There is a great vibe around the campus,” he said, remarking on how it reminded him of World Youth Day in Madrid and Sydney.
“I chose to become a volunteer for the week because the church has done an awful lot for me, and this is one small way of giving something back.” He added that having attended two World Youth Day events, “It’s an opportunity to give a little back to the people who hosted me in their countries.”
Merrick is involved with a number of faith-based groups, including Youth 2000 and the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, an order that raises money for Christians in the Holy Land. He also has been a spokesman for St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society, a lay-run organization that promotes priesthood and support for seminarians; it is Eucharist-centered.
The 25-year-old said it can be difficult to explain to his peers what his faith means to him.
“All you can do is be patient and explain as best you can to your peers why you believe this or do that. Maybe in some small way seeds might be sown,” he said”.
PAT SAYS
Of course, we must all wish Joseph Merrick and his new bride every blessing on their forthcoming marriage.
He has an interesting life to date – Maynooth seminaria. St Joseph’s Young Priest Society press officer and then Diarmuid Martin’s private secretary.
And now – husband, father and lawyer.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 