“The support of my parish and family carried me all the way to ordination,” hears Pedro Esteva
It takes a village to raise a priest,” said Rev. Tiernan Burke, reflecting on the long journey which recently brought him to the transitional diaconate – just one year away from full priesthood.
Now 40, Rev. Burke described the day of his ordination as overflowing with joy. “A joy that has been stirring in my local parish – one which has extended out into the nearby parishes.” And from the sound of it, across Ireland, with the amount of uplifting messages and Mass cards he’s received.
Ordained in his hometown parish of Whitechurch, Co. Cork, Rev. Burke is set to become the first man ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Cloyne in nine years. St Patrick’s Church was brimming with people, with almost 700 attendees – with many hundreds more tuning in online.
Support
The community’s support went far beyond just attendance though, with more than 2,000 sandwiches, 1,000 cakes, and 700 cups of tea and coffee served throughout the day. Over 75 volunteers, stewards, and helpers kept the day running smoothly, while more than 60 singers helped to elevate the liturgy into something truly unforgettable, at least until next year. “The whole village was buzzing,” Rev. Burke recalled. “It was one amazing day.”
From the beginning of the conversation, one thing was clear: though Rev. Burke’s vocation was a personal call, it is also one nurtured and shaped by the whole community – from early encouragement to everyday support.
She supported, encouraged, and prayed for me throughout my life. I even assisted her in the sacristy after my altar serving years. Her steady faith helped anchor mine”
From a young age, Rev. Burke was drawn to the Mass. He became a regular altar server, often serving at multiple liturgies each Sunday. “I just loved the Mass and wanted to be there,” he recalled.
He traces that early love to two women: Julia Downey, the longtime sacristan in Whitechurch, and the late Hannie Burke, his grandaunt. “In 1993, they knocked on the door of my granny’s house and asked if I’d like to train as an altar server. If they hadn’t come knocking, we might not be here today. That day, they planted the first seeds of my vocation and over the years, they kept dropping gentle hints.”
Influence
Ms Downey’s influence continued long after those early days. “She supported, encouraged, and prayed for me throughout my life. I even assisted her in the sacristy after my altar serving years. Her steady faith helped anchor mine.”
“Some people lose their faith as they grow older,” he reflected, “but staying involved in the Church helped me grow deeper in mine. Julia and Hannie showed me what quiet, faithful witness looks like.”
Before entering seminary, Rev. Burke followed a different path studying Hotel Management at Cork Institute of Technology (now MTU). He later managed the Whitechurch Service Station for many years. It was during this time that the idea of the priesthood returned, sparked by an encounter with someone unexpected.
“In 2017, I came to a crossroads in my life, and on a few different occasions the desire to become a priest resurfaced,” he said.
At that time, his neighbour, Fr John Magner, a widower in his seventies, was preparing for ordination. “I knew him as he lived in my village, and I truly admired his bravery as he journeyed through seminary. And I thought, if he could do it, I could do it.”
Rev. Burke received an invitation to Fr Magner’s ordination at St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh. “It was the most powerful ceremony I’ve ever attended. During the ceremony, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.”
At the reception, a priest offered an invitation to anyone present who might be discerning the call. “Everyone at my table looked at me,” he laughs. “It felt like a little sign from God.”
Encouraged by his boss and friend at the service station, Rev. Burke contacted the vocations director. After a year of discernment, he entered the Royal English College in Valladolid, Spain, where he met seminarians from around the world.
“Before I left, I only told my parish about ten days beforehand. That whole week felt like a wake — people were calling by the house nonstop to wish me well. The community really rallied around me.”
In Maynooth, he dove into academic, pastoral, and spiritual formation. “The academics were tough, but I had a great tutor. And all the brothers there were so helpful.”
Rev. Burke gained hands-on experience through pastoral placements, including time at the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, assisting in Clane parish, a pastoral year in Mallow, and a chaplaincy course at the Mater Hospital. “All of it was an apprenticeship of sorts,” he says. “I just took it a day at a time.”
Eager
Now a deacon, he’s eager for what lies ahead. “Being a deacon gives you the chance to become more involved with the Church — to become more of a servant. You can give homilies, preside at funerals, weddings… everything except consecrate the Host.”
Asked what he would say to someone discerning the diaconate or priesthood, his answer is simple: “Give it a go. Take the risk for Christ.”
As Rev. Burke looks ahead to his ministry, he remains full of gratitude and hope for future vocations. “We have two lads from Cloyne in Maynooth,” he says, “and two others just starting out.”
Speaking with Rev. Burke, you get a clear sense of his energy and joy and his deep love for the Mass. “Pursuing my vocation took courage. But it also required a good deal of prayer, hard work, and most importantly, the love and support of so many people.”
And if the scenes are Whitechurch are anything to go by – the music, the prayers, the food, the people – it’s clear that this village truly raised a priest.
