Background
The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore is delighted to announce the ordination of Rev Stuart McGovern to the priesthood. The ordination was celebrated by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan on Sunday 23 November 2025, the Feast of Christ the King, at 3.00pm in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Waterford.
The historic occasion was attended by over 60 priests and more than 500 faithful from across the diocese and beyond, marking a significant moment in the life of the local Church.
Homily delivered by Bishop Cullinan
There is something happening under the surface in Ireland today. I truly believe that. There are people discovering that a purely secular world without God is an illusion, and ultimately does not satisfy the human heart. Only Jesus can satisfy the heart.
So what a wonderful day to be ordained – the last Sunday of the Church’s year, the Feast of Christ the King. This feast was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, and the Second Vatican Council wisely placed it at the end of the liturgical year. We have reached the pinnacle: Christ, the universal King. And He is here with us now – sharing His priesthood with Stuart and sharing His love with us all.
Today, 23 of November, is also the feast of Saint Columbanus, perhaps the most famous Irish missionary. In the late 6th century, he left Bangor with twelve monks and journeyed across Europe – through France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland – eventually settling in Bobbio, Northern Italy, where he died in 615. His monastery is still there today, over 1,400 years later. There will be great celebrations today for this Irish saint across Europe.
But today is also about this Irish priest, and above all, it is about Jesus Christ, our King. “I rejoiced when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.”
This is the day the Lord has made – a day of joy for Stuart’s family, his parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, and also his wider family: the people of this diocese of Waterford and Lismore, whom he will now serve. Stuart is a believer. He trusts God. He is willing to commit his life to Jesus in the priesthood – and that takes courage. In today’s world, many people want to keep their options open, afraid to commit. But Christ calls us each to our particular vocation: marriage, single life, religious life, the diaconate or the priesthood.
And the heart of today is Jesus Himself. He is the eternal High Priest.
Saint Paul tells us: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His beloved Son.” The Kingdom of Life. God’s kingdom is not about domination, but about life. One of the great prayers says it simply: “Lord, you are the light.” In Latin: Tu lumen es.
Stuart, my advice for you is this: let Jesus be the light of your soul every day. Turn to Him in honest, fervent prayer. Make Him your King.
In a few weeks’ time, there will be a crib here in this cathedral. People will come to gaze on it, and what they are really seeing is a representation of God made flesh – born like us, fragile like us, yet divine. Just as David was anointed king, so today Stuart is anointed for service. David led his people; Stuart will lead the people of this diocese in his own way, following in the footsteps of the Good Shepherd, who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep. And really, that lost sheep is all of us.
At every age, there have been those who reject Christ. Even on the cross, people shouted at Him: “Come down! Save yourself!” There are always those who believe life is only about power, pleasure, success and wealth. But that world is ultimately empty, going nowhere.
I was recently in Rome, surrounded by the ruins of the once-mighty Roman Empire. Where are the emperors now? Gone. But another institution still stands – not led by an emperor, but by the Servant of the Servants of God, the successor of Peter. The Church remains because it is founded on Jesus Christ.
I remember hearing, years ago, someone confidently claim that the Church in Ireland would be dead by 2025. Here we are. The Church lives, because Christ lives.
Stuart, you will face challenges. You will need courage, the same determination I hear you showed on the rugby field. You will need to rise above difficulties, to look upward, and to hold firm to Christ. Let us not believe the lie that the Church is finished. She is alive. She is young. And today she brings new life through the gift of your priesthood.
What kind of King do we have? A King who reigns from the cross. A King with wounds in His hands and feet. He is not afraid to show His wounds, because they reveal how much He loves us. We all carry wounds. Let us bring them to the wounded Christ, so that we may be healed. Stuart, part of your mission will be to bring people to that healing.
Like the good thief, may we all be able to say one day: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.”
And may we hear those words: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus, we thank you for the gift of redemption – offered through your Church, through the sacraments, through the Eucharist and through Confession. Even on the cross, you forgave those who crucified you.
Pope Leo XIV once said that as a child he was taught that Jesus is always close, that He is our best friend, and that the Mass is where we meet Him. Stuart, may you deepen your love for Jesus every day, and help others fall in love with Him too. You will have successes. You will have failures. But the point is perseverance. Love grows through struggle.
You will transmit God’s life through your ministry. You will bring Christ into a fast-moving, changing world. In this synodal Church, your role as a priest will always be essential – because you will stand in the person of Christ, offering the Eucharist and forgiving sins in His name.
Finally, I recall when I was in Bobbio many years ago with students from the Irish College. We were reflecting on Saint Columbanus, and what one young priest had wrote: “As I looked back at the statue of the saint and considered his life, I realised that if one man, built on Christ, could have such an impact 1,400 years later, then there is great hope for the Irish Church.”
And that is true – not because of Columbanus himself, but because he built his life on Christ, the light of his soul.
Stuart, may you do the same.
ENDS
- Background on Rev Stuart McGovern
Rev McGovern is a native of Dublin and brings a rich life experience to his priesthood. He began his professional life as a Mechanical Engineer, working in the telecommunications industry, before establishing his own home maintenance business, which he successfully ran for almost twenty years.
During this time, he experienced a growing sense of call from the Lord to serve His Church as a priest. Responding to this call, he entered seminary formation, undertaking two years of philosophical studies at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, followed by three years of theological studies in Rome.
He was ordained a Deacon on Divine Mercy Sunday in April 2025, and since returning from Rome in June 2025, he has been ministering in the Parishes of Ballybricken and St John’s, Waterford, where he has been warmly received by clergy and parishioners alike.
Meaning and Mission of the Priesthood
At his ordination, Rev McGovern made sacred promises, including his commitment to a life of obedience to his bishop, celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of God, and a life dedicated to prayer and pastoral service.
The daily life of a Catholic priest is centred on: The celebration of the Eucharist; The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office); The celebration of the sacraments, particularly Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick; The pastoral care of God’s people, including visits to the sick and elderly, ministry in schools, and support for families and parish communities.; These commitments are rooted in a deep love for Jesus Christ and His Church, and in service to the People of God.
A Sign of Hope for the Church
Speaking after the ordination, Bishop Cullinan remarked on the significance of the occasion and the hope that such vocations bring to the Church. The Feast of Christ the King provided a fitting context, underlining the priest’s mission to serve Christ through humble service to His people.
Rev Stuart McGovern’s ordination is a joyful and hopeful moment for the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore and a strong sign of ongoing vocations within the Church in Ireland today.
The Diocese asks for prayers for Fr. Stuart as he begins his priestly ministry, that he may be strengthened, guided and blessed in his service to Christ and His people.
Seminary Formation
Completed two years of philosophical studies at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Continued his formation in Rome, where he studied Theology for three years. Ordained a Deacon on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 2025. Since his return from Rome in June 2025, he has been ministering as a deacon in the Parishes of Ballybricken and St John’s, Waterford.Notes on Priesthood and Priestly Promises
- At ordination, a Catholic priest makes promises, rather than vows (a distinction worth noting for accuracy in religious terminology). These include:
- Promise of obedience to his bishop and his successors, serving in union with the diocesan Church.
- A commitment to a life of celibacy/chastity, offered freely for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
- A lifelong commitment to prayer, spiritual discipline and pastoral service.
- The priest’s daily life is centred on:
- The celebration of the Eucharist
- The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)
- The sacraments, particularly Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick
- Pastoral care of parish communities, including the sick, elderly, families, schools and the wider community.
- These commitments are rooted in love for Jesus Christ and His Church, and in service to the people of God.