Ordinations 2008
Reverend Tom McHale
On 13th June Tom McHale was ordained to the diaconate at the Beda, Rome.
This picture, taken during the ceremony, shows all six Beda students ordained on Friday, 13 June 2008 at St. Paul's Basilica in Rome. They are kneeling in front of Bishop Malcolm McMahon of the Diocese of Nottingham, who presided at the ordination. At the point when this photo was taken, he has just finished laying hands on the ordinands and is saying the Prayer of Consecration. From the foreground, those being ordained include: Eamon Purcell of the Diocese of Limerick, Ireland; Thomas McHale of the Diocese of Hexham-Newcastle, England ; Samuel Kwame Danso of the Diocese of Kanongo-Mampong, Ghana; Derek Alvarez of the Diocese of Gibraltar; Alwyn D'Sa of the Apostles of the Holy Family, Diocese of Karwar, India; and William Nicol of the Archdiocese of Westminster, England.
Rev Tom McHale writes about his ordination:
"I think we all found the ceremony very beautiful and very moving. I spent a lot of time on the day reflecting on, giving thanks for, and praying for the intentions of, the vast number of people who have helped and supported me in my training.
No man approaches ordination to diaconate or priesthood without the help of God's grace, and God has blessed me very richly by transmitting grace to me through many many people.
If I tried to make an exhaustive list of all of these, I'd certainly miss out someone important! Obviously, with apologies to anyone I may be overlooking, special thanks go to: my family and close friends, who have encouraged me to follow my vocation; to everyone at my seminary, the Beda; to Bishop Ambrose and our late Bishop Kevin; to the priests of the diocese, especially the Vocations Director Fr. John James, and my parish priest, Fr. Adrian Tuckwell, who has been an inspiration and an unfailing source of moral and practical support; and last, but by no means least, the parishioners of St. Godrics and St. Bede's in Durham and St. Patrick's in Hartlepool, who have supported me with their prayers and in other ways too many and varied to enumerate. I am proud to be a part of the Hexham-Newcastle Diocese.
It is a privilege to serve, and I hope, by God's grace, I will have many years of service to give."
This photo was taken just after the service. From left to right (deacons unless otherwise specified): Richard Villa, Society of Mary; Thomas McHale of the Diocese of Hexham-Newcastle; William Nicol of the Archdiocese of Westminster; Fr. James Downey, an instructor at the Beda; Alwyn D'Sa of the Apostles of the Holy Family, Diocese of Karwar, India; Fr. Dermot McCaul, Pastoral Director at the Beda; Rt. Rev. Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of the Diocese of Nottingham; Fr. John Breen of the Diocese of Hexham-Newcastle, Vice-Rector and Academic Dean at the Beda; Rt. Rev. Charles Caruana, Bishop of the Diocese of Gibraltar; Derek Alvarez of the Diocese of Gibraltar; Mgr. Paul McInerney, an instructor at the Beda; Samuel Kwame Danso of the Diocese of Kanongo-Mampong, Ghana; Mgr. Roderick Strange, Rector of the Beda; Eamon Purcell of the Diocese of Limerick, Ireland; and Binu Palakapallly, Institute of Charity.
Newly ordained Deacon, Tom McHale, in the garden of the Beda College at the reception after his ordination. From left to right: Fr. Philip Carroll (Spiritual Director, English College, Rome), Lee Barrett (English College student), Andrew Bunce (Beda student), Tom McHale, Fr. John Breen (Dean of Studies, Beda College) and Fr John James, Diocesan Director of Vocations