On Sunday, 22nd June 2025, Jean Taylor and Alan Howe were ordained to the Diaconate by the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. Jean will serve in Cobh and Glanmire Union of Parishes, and Alan will serve in Bandon Union of Parishes.
Pictured is The Right Rev’d Dr Paul Colton, The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross with newly ordained Deacons, Captain Alan Howe (4th from left) and Jean Taylor, (5th from right) with members of the Clergy in attendance, after the Ordination of Deacons. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Jean and Alan were both presented for ordination by their sponsors, two lay and ordained members of their respective parishes. Parishioners, family and friends from all over the Diocese, as well as Diocesan Readers and clergy came to the Cathedral to support the two ordinands on this special day.
The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton presided at the liturgy and Canon Elaine Murray preached. The Choristers and Lay Vicars Choral of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Choir sung under their Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and the Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen played the organ.
Another Ordination Service will take place on Sunday 31st August 2025, when the Rev. Eoghan Healy and the Rev. Andrew Coleman will be ordained to the Priesthood in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork.
Pictured is newly ordained Deacon, Jean Taylor, after the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Ordination of Deacons by The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Jean Taylor was born in the UK and has had a varied career, working in the Civil Service as a Judges’ Clerk in the County Court and then as an Editorial Assistant at the Sunday Telegraph in Fleet Street and subsequently in Canary Wharf.
In 2004 Jean moved to Cobh and worked for Charles Daly, Solicitor. Then, from 2007 she worked at Fota Wildlife Park. During this time she qualified as a zookeeper and worked on the animal care team. She spent the last years before her retirement overseeing the Tropical house where she was responsible for the care of reptiles, fish and the sloths. One of the highlights of her career was hand rearing two cheetah cubs rejected by their mother.
Jean has been a parishioner at Christ Church, Rushbrook, Cobh since 2019 and became a Church Warden in 2022. She also worships at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
Feeling a call to Ordination she spent time in discernment and reflection and, having been encouraged by her Rector, she was accepted for training to the Ordained Local Ministry. Jean embarked on the training course at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2023. Jean is now spending her second year placement in her home parish of Cobh and Glanmire and with the support of the present Rector, the Reverend Elise Hanley, assists with services at Christ Church, Rushbrooke and St Lappan’s, Little Island.
Pictured is newly ordained Deacon, Captain Alan J. Howe, after the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross Ordination of Deacons by The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, The Right Reverend Paul Colton, at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Bishop Street, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Captain Alan Howe lives near Kilbrittain. He is the second son of the late James and Violet Howe. He has four siblings; two brothers live locally and the third lives in Dublin. His sister Jane is married to Canon Patrick Harvey who is Rector of Abbeyleix and Killermogh Union of Parishes. Alan is married to Olivia (nee Travers) and they have three children – Amy and Adam are in London. Rosie and her husband Ian live near Ballylickey.
Alan is a parishioner of Bandon Union of Parishes but has close family links to both Holy Trinity, Templetrine and the Church of the Ascension in Timoleague. He went to the National School in Timoleague. He attended Bandon Grammar School and Newtown School, Waterford. He was confirmed in Waterford Cathedral by Bishop John Armstrong in 1970.
After leaving school in 1973 Alan was accepted for training as a Cadet within the Shell fleet. It was a career that was to span twenty-four years during which he attained a Certificate of Competency as Master Mariner. His first command in the fleet was in 1992. He joined Ostensjo Rederi AS in 1998, a company which provided marine services within the Port of Cork. He joined Fendercare Marine in 2002 as Berthing Master. Alan’s final career change occurred in 2007 when he joined Chevron Shipping as a Mooring Master. He worked in Nigeria and Angola and achieved the position of Senior Mooring Master before returning to the San Francisco office as Marine Superintendent, Terminal Advisor and Auditor. He retired in 2021 having completed forty-seven years of marine service.
Alan was licensed as a Diocesan Lay Reader by Bishop Robert Warke in 1998 and was recommended by the present Bishop for training for Ordained Local Ministry in 2023.
RSS – Posts