Homily for the Ordination to the Priesthood of Br. Ian Cunningham, OFM
Ennis Friary, County Clare, Diocese of Killaloe
Sunday, 31 May
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
A phobal Dé,
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
Dear Franciscan community,
Dear family and friends of Br. Ian,
And especially you, Br. Ian Cunningham, OFM,
Today is a day of profound joy for this ancient Franciscan house and for the whole Church. Here in Ennis Friary, where generations have gathered to pray and to seek the Lord, we witness another chapter in the long and beautiful story of the Franciscan presence in this town. A son of Ennis kneels before God and His Church, and is ordained a priest of Order of Friars Minor for service not only to his home community, but to the universal mission of the Franciscan brotherhood and of the Church throughout the world.
A Trinitarian Gift!
Ian, your ordination is a gift to your family, to the people of Clare, to your Franciscan community, and to the entire People of God. But above all, it is a gift;
- of the Father,
- through the Son,
- in the Holy Spirit.
And that is why it is deeply fitting that your ordination takes place on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
Drawn into the Life of God
Today the Church contemplates the deepest mystery of our faith: one God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity is not a puzzle to be solved, but a communion of love into which we are invited.
- The Father eternally gives Himself to the Son.
- The Son receives everything from the Father and returns all in love.
- The Holy Spirit is the bond of that perfect and life-giving love.
A Communion of Love
God is not solitude; God is relationship. God is communion. God is self-giving love.
The priesthood finds its meaning here. A priest is called to live in this same pattern of divine love: receiving everything as gift, giving everything in service, and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape his life into an offering for others.
Ian, today you are being drawn more deeply into the very life of the Trinity. Your priesthood is meant to reflect the generosity of the Father, the obedience of the Son, and the joy of the Holy Spirit.
“Whom Shall I Send?”
Every vocation begins with God’s initiative. Before you ever thought of becoming a Franciscan or a priest, the Lord had already spoken your name. Like the prophet Isaiah, you heard the Lord ask: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And, through years of prayer, discernment, formation, and fraternity, you have answered: “Here I am, send me.”
A Franciscan Calling
That answer has brought you from the streets of Ennis to the life of Order of Friars Minor, where you have learned to walk in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis did not seek status or prestige. He sought only to live the Gospel; without compromise, without explanation, without reservation. He wanted to become a brother to all and a witness to the tenderness of God. Your priesthood, Ian, must always be rooted in that same Franciscan spirit: simplicity, humility, fraternity, and joy.
A Priest and a Brother
You are ordained today not simply as an individual, but as a Franciscan friar. That is profoundly important. Before you are called “Father,” you are and will always remain “Brother Ian.”
Your priesthood will be enriched and safeguarded by your identity as a lesser brother. Saint Francis wanted his friars to be close to ordinary people, to live without privilege, and to proclaim peace.
As a Franciscan priest, your ministry will be marked not by clerical status but by fraternal service. You are called to stand with the poor, to listen to those who are forgotten, to preach reconciliation, and to reveal by your life that the Gospel is good news for everyone.
The world does not need priests who seek importance. It needs priests who are brothers;
- gentle,
- accessible,
- joyful, and
- deeply rooted in prayer.
For the Universal Mission
It is especially significant that you are ordained for the universal mission of the Franciscans. Your priesthood belongs not to one parish or one diocese alone. It is offered for the service of the Gospel wherever the Church and your Order may call you.
Today you are surrounded by the people of your native town, by family and friends who have supported you, and by the Franciscan fraternity that has formed you. Yet your heart must remain open to the whole world.
Like Saint Francis of Assisi, who longed to bring the peace of Christ to all nations, you are sent beyond every boundary. Whether your ministry leads you to Ireland, to another continent, or to hidden places known only to God, your mission will be to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. The priest says every day at the altar: “This is my body, given for you.” Those words must become the pattern of your life.
A Son of Ennis
There is something deeply moving about the fact that your priestly journey comes to this moment in the town where your life began. This community has watched you grow. Your family has nurtured your faith. Your local Church has helped shape your vocation. Your local schools, Ennis National School, St. Flannan’s College through their Catholic ethos made their own contribution to that formation.
Today, then, Ennis offers one of its own back to God. The people who know you best rejoice with gratitude and perhaps with a certain, you could day, holy wonder at what God has done. Your ordination is a reminder that vocations are born in ordinary homes, nourished in faithful communities, and brought to maturity by grace.
To anyone listening to these words and particularly young people here today: do not be afraid to listen if the Lord is calling you. Great things happen when we say ‘yes’ to God.
The Ministry You Receive Today
In a few moments, through the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination, the Holy Spirit will consecrate you for priestly service.
- You will preach the Word of God.
- You will celebrate the Sacraments.
- You will absolve sins.
- You will anoint the sick.
- You will stand at the altar and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
- Above all, you will be called to reveal the merciful face of Jesus Christ.
Never forget that the priesthood is not a possession; it is a mystery of grace. It is not about personal achievement; it is about being configured to Christ the Good Shepherd.
Remain close to the Lord in prayer. Love the Eucharist. Cherish the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Stay near the poor. Live faithfully with your brothers. Let the Gospel be your constant guide.
Mary, Mother of Priests
Entrust your priesthood to Mary, Mother of Jesus, who received the Father’s call with complete trust and allowed the Holy Spirit to overshadow her. She teaches every priest how to say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” May she accompany you as she accompanied the first disciples, and may she help you to serve with humility and steadfast love.
Conclusion
Dear Br. Ian, on this feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the Church gives thanks for your generous yes.
- The Father has chosen you.
- The Son has called you His friend.
- The Holy Spirit will consecrate and sustain you.
Live your priesthood as a true son of Saint Francis of Assisi:
- with joy in your heart,
- with peace on your lips,
- with compassion in your hands,
- and with the Gospel as your rule of life.
May your ministry always proclaim what Saint Francis loved to say: “The Lord give you peace.”
And may the Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—bless you, guide you, and make your life a living witness to the boundless love of God.
Amen.