Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, celebrated the ordination of Rev Norman Allred to the priesthood Sunday 20 September in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar.
Fr Norman completed the required philosophical and theological studies in the Pontifical Beda College, Rome. Fr Norman is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, where he worked as a teacher and principal in Saint Joseph`s Secondary Catholic School. After the sad passing of Joanna Mooney, his wife of 24 years, Fr Norman discerned the Lord calling him to the priesthood in 2014. With a life-long love and interest in Ireland, along with a semester of studies undertaken in Trinity College Dublin in 1985, he pursued his vocational discernment and was accepted for studies for the Diocese of Meath in 2016 by Bishop Michael Smith, the then Bishop of Meath.
Bishop Deenihan said,
“Norman has a significant amount of experience as a husband and a teacher which will enrich the life of the parishes that he will work in. The fact that Norman is from America is also an indication of how the Diocese of Meath and other dioceses also are becoming dependant on priests from abroad to work in our local parishes.
Bishop Deenihan continued,
“the Ordination of a man to the priesthood is an opportunity to renew again that invitation and sense of support to others who may be discerning a calling to priesthood and religious life. Parish and family as well as priests and religious have a responsibility to support and encourage those who may be discerning such a vocation.” The diocese of Meath has three other men at various stages of formation for the diocese at present.
