The National Vocations Office is an office of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and was established in July 2017 to assist the Diocesan Vocation Directors to promote vocations to the Diocesan ministry. The office will oversee and coordinate the delivery of formation and on-going training of Diocesan Vocation Directors and Vocation Teams and the promotion of vocations to Diocesan Priesthood and the Permanent Diaconate. The Office will work in collaboration with Vocations Ireland who promote vocations for men and women for religious and consecrated life.
About The National Vocations Office
Rev Eric Cooney (Deacon)
Administrator – National Vocations Office
Deacon Eric is a Permanent Deacon of the Archdiocese of Dublin. He was among the first group of men to be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in June 2012.
Deacon Eric was appointed by the Irish Episcopal Conference in July to establish the National Vocations Office. He brings to the office a broad range of administrative, IT and marketing skills from a career of over forty years in business development and marketing.
Fr Willie Purcell
National Vocations Coordinator
Fr. Willie Purcell is a priest of the Diocese of Ossory and is the National Diocesan Vocations Coordinator for the Irish Episcopal Conference. He works with Vocations Directors, Seminarians and Priests in creating a culture of vocations awareness.
Fr. Willie is also a member of the board for Religious Vocations in Ireland and works closely with religious in vocations promotion. He directs priests retreats on ‘reconnecting with the call to priesthood’ and has published articles on vocations to the diocesan priesthood. Fr. Willie is also a member of the Council for Immigrants and teaches an orientation course in Kimmage for Priests and religious coming to work in Ireland.