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Ordination to the Priesthood of the Revd Rob Clements
Mr Ewan Richmond Dean Kenneth Hall Revd Rob Clements Bishop John McDowell Revd Alistair Warke
The Revd Rob Clements, who has commenced serving as Curate Assistant in St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen, in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Clogher, was ordained to the Priesthood by the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd John McDowell, at a service of ordination in St Macartin's Cathedral, Enniskillen on Sunday 8th September 2013, the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity.
Rob was born in Belfast, studied Politics at Queen's University Belfast and went on to study Equality Studies at University College Dublin. Before ordination Rob worked in Drug and Alcohol Services, Adult Education, and in Youth and Community Work. He met his wife Julie in Belfast; they lived for four years in Seattle, USA before returning to Ireland to live in Dublin. They have two young children: Sophie and Gideon. He recently served as Intern Deacon at Rathfarnham Parish, Dublin as part of his Masters in Theology degree from Trinity College Dublin.
The opening hymn at the ordination service was Praise my soul the King of heaven. Rob was presented for ordination by six sponsors: Mrs Julie Clements, Mr Alistair Craig, the Revd Anne Taylor, the Revd Gillian Wharton, Mrs Helen Coalter and Mrs Jennifer Johnston. The Revd Ngozi Njoku, Rector of Garrison, Slavin, Belleek and Kiltyclogher, read the first reading from Isaiah chapter 61, Psalm 145 was sung by the choir, and the Revd Alistair Warke, Diocesan Curate, read the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 8. The Gradual Hymn was Come to us creative Spirit, and the Dean, the Very Revd Kenneth Hall, read the Gospel reading from St Luke chapter 9.
The preacher was the Revd Ted Woods, Rector of Rathfarnham Parish in the United Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough, where Rob spent his year as an Intern Deacon. The Nicene Creed and the Rite of Ordination followed the sermon. After the ordination litany, which was sung by the Precentor, the Revd Canon Noel Regan, all joined in singing the Veni, Creator Spiritus. The Ordination Prayer with the Laying on of Hands followed, when the bishop and priests laid hands on the candidate. The bishop then presented Rob with a Bible and the congregation greeted the newly ordained priest. The Bishop introduced the Peace and the Offertory hymn was Will you come and follow me.
After Holy Communion was celebrated the bishop gave the blessing, Revd Clements said the dismissal and the closing hymn was Guide me O thou great Jehovah. All in attendance were invited to the parish hall after the service for refreshments.