Ireland's youngest woman priest, the Rev Lynda Peilow (24), was ordained at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, yesterday, during a service which involved clergy from 10 non-Roman Catholic denominations. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, presided, and the sermon was given by Bishop Erik Vikstrom of Porvoo in Finland.
Ms Peilow will continue working in the west Dublin parish of Caslteknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla, where she has been serving as a deacon since last October. She also teaches at Castleknock Community College and is chaplain to the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown and the Orthopaedic Hospital in Cappagh.
The only girl in a family of five, Ms Peilow is from Geashill in Co Offaly, and attended the Sacred Heart school in Tullamore. She entered the Church of Ireland Theological College to study for the ministry in 1994.
On her new role as priest she said she was looking forward to the challenges it would bring, to "sharing the lives of people, being with them in good and bad times. It's an exciting time to be ordained as we move into the 21st century."
Taking part in the ordination ceremony yesterday were the Rev Baldur Kristjansson of the Evangelican Lutheran Church of Iceland, the Rev Darius Petkunas from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania, the Rev Ane Hjerrild of the Church of Denmark, the Rev John Lindsay of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Rev Anthony Crockett from the Church of Wales, the Rev Dr John Dalman of the Church of Sweden, the Rev Juhani Forsberg from the Church of Sweden, the Rev Canon Dr Trevor Park of the Anglican diocese in Europe, the Rev Janis Ginters from the Church of Latvia. Representing the Church of Ireland among the group, known as the Porvoo Communion, was the Bishop of Cashel, Dr John Neill.
Bishop Neill is co-chairman of the communion, named after the cathedral town of Porvoo in Finland where, in 1996, 10 north European Lutheran churches and the Anglican churches signed an agreement under which members and clergy of any may participate in the practices of the others.
As well as the four Anglican churches on these islands, other signatories included the Lutheran churches of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, and Estonia.
Representatives of the Porvoo Communion were in Dublin this weekend to review progress on the implementation of the agreement. Bishop Neill said yesterday discussions had centred on the practicalities of clergy and students for the priesthood serving in each others' churches, and how lay people travelling in each others' countries might best be welcomed by the host church.
