Young seminarian Christopher McCormack enjoying placement at Longford's St Mel's Cathedral

Young seminarian Christopher McCormack from Moate, Westmeath originally, is doing vocational preparation in Spain and on a month's placement where he was assigned to St Mel’s Cathedral, Longford.

The next step would be seven years in St Patrick's College Maynooth after which if completed he would be a priest, and possibly within our own Parish of Ardagh & Clonmacnois.

He is alongside 26 others, 7 of which are Irish and many of the English have Irish ancestry, then there are others from Canada, Wales, Norway and Sweden.

Also read: RIP: Longford's Kevin 'Bunty' Dempsey always believed in 'turning chance into good fortune'

There were priests in his family and the most recent was a nun, a sister of his grandfather who was in a convent in Essex, twenty years ago.

He was inspired by the late Fr Gerry Hipwell from his home place in Westmeath. Christopher is a firm believer in try and see, which you can do with the Come & See weekends in the National Seminary programme in Maynooth.

If you have any discernment for the priesthood, you can learn about the seminary formation programme alongside others who are exploring the idea of vocation to diocesan priesthood.

Read next: Exclusive sneak peek revealed at Longford Lights launch

It is a gentle way of seeing how it works and any inclinations you may have over a cup of tea and a chat with no pressure.

Christopher explained that anyone interested should firstly talk to the diocese vocation director, who in Ardagh & Clonmacnois is Fr Seymour O’Rourke, who is based in Carrick on Shannon.

“ I wish Christopher all the best in his journey, a gentleman, may God be with him, I hope you all keep him in your prayers, if he becomes a priest, he could be a local priest we will all call upon in the future.”

- Words and photo by Michael Croghan