Fr. Stephen Baxter ordained in St. Columb’s Church in the Waterside
Fr. Stephen Baxter has been ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Dónal McKeown.
At a ceremony in St. Columb’s in the Waterside on Sunday, Dr. McKeown congratulated the former bus driver on his ordination.
“We are blessed to have you with us here. Thank you very much for the joy that you have brought, not only to your mum and dad and sisters and everybody else, the extended family at the front, but to all of us,” the Bishop of Derry told a packed congregation in the Waterside chapel.
Fr. Baxter was joined by his parents Charlie and Sadie Baxter, who hail from Newtowncunningham, and a wide circle of family and friends, less than a year after his ordination as deacon.
Bishop McKeown said: “These are challenging times for us in the church and to find people who have the generous heart, who are ready to face all the strange challenges that lie ahead of us, none of us know what they are going to be like, trusting only in the grace of God, thank you Stephen for being a witness.”
Dr. McKeown observed that the past week had been 'a good example of the sort of world into which you are now being ordained for priestly ministry on this island’.
He referred to the national Rosary Rally in Knock on June 6, St. Columba’s Day on June 9, the Eucharistic Marian Procession on June 13 and the conclusion of the latest Cursillo weekend at Termonbacca on Sunday.
But, he reflected, ‘during the same week we also saw awful pictures of rioting and destruction, mainly in the Belfast area’.
“The best and the worst of who we are as human beings are part of the world into which you are to be ordained,” said the Bishop.
Congratulations poured in for Fr. Baxter following his ordination.
The Diocese of Derry said: “Today is a day of great joy and thanksgiving for the Diocese of Derry as Fr. Stephen Baxter was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Dónal McKeown.
"We give thanks to God for Stephen's generous response to the Lord's call and ask your prayers for him as he begins his priestly ministry.”
The Long Tower parish expressed its ‘heartiest congratulations’ and wished Fr. Stephen ‘every blessing in his service of the Lord and His people!’