By Susan Stevenot Sullivan, Staff Writer

ATLANTA--All Saints Church in Dunwoody and Holy Trinity in Peachtree City will be welcoming new parochial vicars late this month. Father Joe Corbett and Father Frank McNamee were ordained in Ireland by Archbishop John F. Donoghue late in May.

Both men completed their seminary studies at St. John’s College, Waterford City, Ireland. “St. John’s has a good all-around program, not only in academics but in pastoral placements where the students are challenged greatly,” said Msgr. Don Kenny, Atlanta vocations director and chancellor.

Father Corbett was ordained in his home parish, the church of the Holy Cross, Stradbally, County Waterford on May 28. Father McNamee, whose given name is Francis, was ordained May 26 at St. Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea, County Galway, where he grew up.

Father McNamee was born Oct. 27, 1968 on Loughrea. He completed his early education at St. Bridget’s Vocational School in Loughrea and went on to study philosophy at St. Patrick’s College, Thurles, County Tipperary before going on to St. John’s in 1990 to study theology.

While at St. John’s he gained pastoral experience at St. Patrick’s Hospital for the aged, St. Otteran’s Psychiatric Hospital, the Waterford Probation Centre, took the chaplaincy course at Waterford Regional Hospital and worked in the Cathedral Parish of the Waterford and Lismore diocese which included teaching, home visits, marriage preparation and youth outreach.

His pastoral experience in Atlanta included time spent at St. Pius X Conyers, under Father John Walsh and Sacred Heart Church in Milledgeville under Father John Farrelly. He also served at St. Catherine of Siena in Kennesaw under Father Terry Kane.

“Frank strikes me as a very hard worker,” said Msgr. Kenny. “This came out very strongly in the parishes where he has been assigned as a deacon.”

“He’s going to Peachtree City and will help Father (Michael) McWhorter set up a mission,” Msgr. Kenny continued. “I think he was a very good choice. He puts his heart and soul into everything he’s asked to do.”

Msgr. Kenny was among those attending the ordination with Archbishop Donoghue, as was Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert, Father McNamee’s father, Christy, his two sisters and five brothers and other students, priests, friends and family members. His mother is deceased.

Father McNamee’s first Mass was to be celebrated May 27, also at St. Brendan’s in Loughrea, in thanksgiving for all those who supported him on the road to priesthood.

Father Corbett was born May 25, 1971 and grew up in Stradbally, County Waterford. His education included Holy Cross School in Stradbally and St. Augustine’s College in Dungarvan. He began his studies at St. John’s in 1989.

During his years at the college, Father Corbett’s pastoral experience included time at St. Patrick’s Hospital for the aged, St. Otteran’s Psychiatric Hospital, St. Brigid’s Family and Community Centre and the chaplaincy course at Waterford Regional Hospital. Parish work, while at the college included time at St. Joseph and St. Benildus Parish in the Waterford and Lismore diocese in the areas of teaching, hospital visitation, St. Vincent de Paul work, marriage preparation and office work.

His pastoral experience in Atlanta includes Sacred Heart Parish in Milledgeville under Father Farrelly and, last summer, All Saints Parish in Dunwoody under Msgr. Donald Kiernan.

“Joe is a gem,” said Msgr. Kenny. “He was studying for the Diocese of Waterford when he visited Atlanta two years ago and decided to resign from Waterford and apply to Atlanta. He was accepted.

“Last year he was assigned to All Saints,” Msgr. Kenny continued. “When Deacon Ray Egan’s mother died that summer, Joe filled in for him, taking over all of his work. He was very well accepted by the whole parish to the extent that when it came to assignments Msgr. Kiernan specifically requested Joe come back as a priest.”

Msgr. Kenny also attended Father Corbett’s ordination, as did Father Corbett’s parents, Patrick and Margaret, and his one brother and sister, as well as parishioners from All Saints Parish, classmates, priests and other friends and family members.

His first Mass was to be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Cross, Stradbally, May 29 in thanksgiving for all those who have helped him in his vocation.

“Both of them will be great additions to the archdiocese,” Msgr. Kenny said. Their parish assignments are effective June 29.