Archbishop Dr Diarmuid Martin is today ordaining three new to the Dublin archdiocese — the first ordinations since 2004.
More than 600 people were expected to attend the ceremony in St Mary's Pro Cathedral in the capital. Dubliners Padraig O'Sullivan and Robert Coclough will be joined by Joseph McDonald from Belfast.
Fr McDonald (44) has spent 25 years as a Christian Brother. He said: "Priests have a fundamental duty to bring the gospel to the market place of today. That is the ultimate challenge."
Offering advice to the men, Dr Martin urged them to cling to their initial enthusiasm.
He added: "Stay close to God. Develop a sense of prayer. Try to work in a new way with other priests and above all, with lay people."
The three priests were trained at the national seminary in St Patrick's College, Maynooth. Almost half of the Dublin archdiocese's 2,000 priests are over 50 years of age.
There currently 67 men studying in the national seminary in St Patrick's College, Maynooth and eight others are due to be ordained later this year. More than 60 priests are expected to participate in today's ceremony.