Diocese of Cloyne to celebrate Ordination of new Deacon on Saturday 30th of August.
On Saturday 30th August 2025 – the Diocese of Cloyne will celebrate the Ordination of Tiernan Burke from Whitechurch for service as a Deacon. Tiernan was a seminarian at the National Seminary at St Patrick’s Pontifical University in Maynooth, where he has completed his studies for the Priesthood for the diocese.
The ordination Mass will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Church, Whitechurch at 12 noon.
The Bishop of Cloyne, Bishop William Crean, will be the ordaining prelate and he will be joined by priests and deacons from across the Diocese and from Maynooth and other places. They will be joined by members of Tiernan’s family, his classmates and friends.
As Tiernan continues his formation for priestly ordination, he will work in ministry in the Diocese as a transitional deacon ahead of his future ordination.
Tiernan Burke
The ministry of deacon is one of service and charity, especially to those in particular need or on the margins of the church and society. There are two forms of the ministry today – transitional deacons who are en route to priestly ordination and permanent deacons who serve in a permanent capacity in parishes and diocese.
All are welcome to the Ordination Mass on Saturday afternoon.
About Tiernan Burke
Tiernan comes from the village of Whitechurch, Co. Cork. He is the third in a family of four. His parents are Donal and Geraldine Burke and his siblings are Darren, Shane and Ciara.
After his leaving cert Tiernan went on to study a Batchelor of Business in Hotel Management in Cork Institute of technology now MTU. He then worked as a manager in Whitechurch Service Station for many years. Tiernan began to discern his vocation in 2017. After journeying with the vocation directors, he realised that he may be called to the priesthood. Tiernan made the first step in the formation process, by entering the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain to complete the propaedeutic year. This provided him with a good introduction to seminary life and formation, and also a wonderful cultural experience with Irish, English, Welsh, and Norwegian seminarians in Spain.
Following the successful completion of that year, Tiernan joined the National seminary in Maynooth in September 2019, beginning his academic study of philosophy. In September 2021, Tiernan began the study of theology, which he completed this past semester.
During his time in seminary, Tiernan had the opportunity for many pastoral placements, including in the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin and assisting in Clane parish. He completed a pastoral year where he spent over six months in the parish of Mallow and he completed a Chaplaincy course in the Mater hospital in Dublin.
Tiernan is very thankful to God for allowing him this opportunity to serve him and he is very grateful for all the prayers and support that he has received on his journey. He is looking forward to being a Deacon and to be able to help in the Diocese of Cloyne and God willing in 2026 he will be ordained as a priest.
