Fr Tim Collins celebrates his first mass overnight in home parish of Croagh following weekend ordination

 

Tuesday 13 May 2025:  Ireland’s newest priest and first ordained since the election of Pope Leo XIV has said that the sense of renewal in the Church makes the time and vocation feel very right.

 

Speaking after he celebrated his first Mass as a priest – held at a packed Croagh parish church - Fr Tim Collins, a native of Croagh, said that the feels a real sense of renewal in the Catholic faith.

 

“Becoming a priest is a road less travelled for sure and even more so now compared to previous decades. Having a vocation does not make this an easy road to travel and will be laid with moments of challenge and joy, with highs and lows. But I cannot help but feel right now a real sense of renewal and it has so much to do with timing and what’s happened in Rome this past week.

 

“Pope Francis had clearly begun a journey of courage and hope and as Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica last Friday, and from the global reaction and the new Pope’s words since, I believe that Christ’s mission that Pope Francis followed will be continued,” he said.

 

Fr Collins said that he has also been struck by the engagement across all generations around the new Pope’s election, including young people.

 

“Whether it was the joyous faces in Rome or the young people I’ve met and spoken to here since, there seems a genuine outpouring of delight and hope. We live in challenging times and there’s a desire for connection with something deeper, something of the unconditional love and peace that God brings.”

 

On his own vocation and what it means to him, he said, “The priesthood is a gift and a privilege, and I hope that in my own ministry I will be able to be an instrument of God’s grace for his people.

 

“What struck me over the last few days was the support, from my family, my friends, parishioners but also from people across the diocese, including those who don’t know me personally. There’s been tremendous goodwill and encouragement and this will strengthen me for my own ministry in the future.”

 

Fr. Tim will remain at that St. Nessan’s Pastoral Unit where he has been assisting across the parishes of Mungret, Raheen and Crecora over the past 18 months both in his pastoral placement and as a Deacon.

 

Congratulating Fr Tim on his ordination, Bishop Brendan Leahy said, “Tim’s ordination has been a moment of great joy, yes for Tim himself and, indeed, for me personally as a Bishop. But I’ve also been very struck by the joy across the diocese. The Cathedral was packed with family and friends of Fr Tim, with people from across the diocese and 80 priests, for whom this meant so much also, including a number who were seminarians with Tim and have also been recently ordained.

 

Addressing Tim directly in his homily, Bishop Leahy said, “What a wonderful year to be taking this step -a Jubilee year that speaks so much of hope and the year of the election of a new Pope that marks a new moment in the life of the Church. Your ordination brings much joy and hope to our Diocese.”

 

Bishop Leahy said that a priest’s life is made up of many wonderful, deeply fulfilling experiences of outreach, companionship and closeness to people in key moments of life, especially in times of need. It is a very meaningful way of life that perhaps few understand.

 

But, he said, “the sun doesn’t always shine in the day-to-day life of a priest”. 

 

“Misunderstandings, the cut and thrust of interaction with a variety of personalities and characters, the weariness of daily perseverance, the monotony of routine, the challenge of obedience, the indifference of many to the golden spiritual treasures you have to offer, the contradictions we so often find in the expectations in today’s cultural Catholicism, can often discourage. Yet, these are the moments of the Cross. These are opportunities for you to embrace the Cross.”

 

He added, “Your vocation is a noble one. It is serving a wonderful cause – to be a servant of all of humanity. Through the gift of celibacy, your heart is extended in love to create and build up a universal family.”