In
The Year for Priests
The Year for Priests began on The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19th June 2009
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of
St John Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

The Ordination to the Priesthood of Eamon Purcell was celebrated by The Most Rev. Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick, on Sunday 28th June 2009 at 2.30p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Limerick.  Fr. Eamon is 55 years of age a native of the parish of Doonane, Crettyard, Co. Laois. His 35 years working in the hospitality industry took him too many different countries and eventually in 2003 to the Banks of the Shannon in Limerick City. In that year under the stewardship of Fr. Michael O’Shea the then curate in St. Munchin’s Parish Fr. Eamon began the two year vocation accompaniment programme “Come and See”. During this programme he gained an insight into the vocation and ministry of a priest while joining in the community and liturgical life of St. Munchin’s Parish.  During this time Fr. Eamon worked in Shannon Rowing club. In 2005 Fr. Eamon began his studies for Priesthood in the Beda, Pontifical College in Rome. Each summer Fr. Eamon returned to Limerick where he continued to gain pastoral experience in the Parish of St. Mary’s under the wise and gentle counsel of the Parish Priest Donough Canon O’Malley and the retired Parish Priest James Canon Connellan. Fr. Eamon also benefited from the support and guidance of the Pastoral Care Team of St. John’s hospital where he did a number of placements over the summers. On the 13th of June 2008 Fr. Eamon was ordained a Deacon in St. Paul’s Basilica. Fr. Eamon will celebrate his First Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Lelia’s, Ballynanty at 7.30p.m.