On Sunday 30th August 2020, two people from the United Dioceses of Cork Cloyne and Ross in the Church of Ireland were ordained deacon:  Patrick Gerrard Culleton and Sabrina Ann Cooke.

Due to the restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ordination Services were held separately; one in Saint Peter’s Church, Bandon in the morning and the other in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork in the afternoon, with strict limits on attendance in line with current regulations.

At the request of the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton, who is recovering from surgery following an accident, the Ordination Services were conducted by the Right Reverend Dr Richard Clarke, former Archbishop of Armagh who, in retirement, now lives in County Cork.  

Pat Culleton was ordained deacon in a Service in St. Peter’s Church, Bandon at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning 30th August where all the arrangements were put in place by the rector, the Rev Denis MacCarthy.  The organist was Mr Colin Nicholls and music included organ pieces by Franck, Vierne, and Widor.

Pictured is Patrick Culleton, newly ordained Deacon, at The Ordination of Deacons by the Right Rev. Dr. Richard Clarke, at the request of Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross, at Saint Peter’s Church, Bandon, Co. Cork.
Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Sabrina Cooke was ordained 3:30 p.m. that afternoon in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork where the Dean is the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne.  The organist was Mr Robbie Carroll, Assistant Director of Music of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and music included Marcia from Symphony No. 3 by Charles-Marie Widor.

Pictured is Sabrina Cooke, newly ordained Deacon, at The Ordination of Deacons by the Right Rev. Dr. Richard Clarke, at the request of Dr Paul Colton, Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross, at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.
Picture: Jim Coughlan.

On both occasions the small attendance was, nonetheless, representative not only of the family and friends of the candidates, but also, most importantly, of the parishes in which they will serve, of the Diocese, and of the wider church into whose ministry Pat and Sabrina were being ordained. They were occasions of joy.

In his sermon Bishop Clarke said that a deacon is called to bring the sympathy of God to others, and must be a servant of that sympathy which exists within the pattern of Christ’s ministry.

Both Sabrina and Pat have been serving until now as licensed readers within the Diocese, and Pat has also been working as a local lay minister in pastoral work. 

Following his ordination, the Reverend Pat Culleton said:

What a privilege it is to be ordained in the winter of my life!

Pat (73) was born and raised in Co. Wexford. He served in the Irish Army and worked with Cork County Council until his retirement in 2011. Pat will serve in the Ordained Local Ministry in the Bandon Union of Parishes. 

Pictured are, the Ven. Adrian Wilkinson, Archdeacon of Cork Cloyne and Ross, the Rev. Anne Skuse (Bishop’s Domestic Chaplain), the Right Rev. Dr. Richard Clarke, former Archbishop of Armagh, the Rev. Denis MacCarthy (Rector of Bandon), the Rev. Bruce Pierce (Bishop’s Examining Chaplain), the Rev. Patrick Culleton, newly ordained Deacon, and John Jermyn, Diocesan Registrar.
Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Following her ordination, the Reverend Sabrina Cooke said:

I am feeling very grateful being called to ministry and I am looking forward to seeing how God is going to use the gifts he has given me to serve others.

Sabrina (40) who is originally from County Tipperary holds a Professional Certificate in Ministry from the University of Chester, as well as both a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and a Degree in Language and Cultural Studies: German and Philosophy from University College Cork. She spent two years in Germany, Aachen and Bochum, and speaks French and German. She is the mother of two children Alexander, 9 and Helena, 7. Having completed her third year in a Masters of Theology at Trinity College, Dublin, Sabrina is now entering her final year of training for full-time stipendiary ministry and will serve in an internship under the Very Rev. Susan Green, Dean of Cloyne in Cloyne Union of Parishes. 

For further information about Par’s ordination on Sunday morning please contact the Reverend Denis MacCarthy on ( 023) 884 1529

For further information about Sabrina’s ordination on Sunday afternoon please contact the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, Dean of Cork, on (021) 496 3387

Pictured are, The Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, Dean of Cork, Archdeacon Adrian Wilkinson, the Rev. Ted Ardis, the Right Rev. Dr. Richard Clarke, former Archbishop of Armagh, the Rev Anne Skuse (Bishop’s Chaplain), the Very Rev Susan Green (Dean of Cloyne), the Rev. Sabrina Cooke, newly ordained Deacon and John Jermyn, Diocesan Registrar.
Picture: Jim Coughlan.