The Bishop of Shrewsbury has ordained Fr David Irwin to the priesthood in the first of three priestly ordinations for the Diocese of Shrewsbury this year.

Fr Irwin was ordained by Bishop Mark Davies at a Mass in St Vincent’s Church, Altrincham, Cheshire, on the Feast of the Annunciation.

The newest priest of the diocese grew up on Hale and Altrincham and attended St Bede’s College in Manchester and St Andrew’s University in Scotland. He studied for the priesthood in Rome, Valladolid.

Welcoming the faithful to St Vincent’s, Bishop Davies reminded them of the words of St John Vianney that “a priest is never ordained for himself but always for you and for all of us”.

In his homily, the Bishop added: “You become a priest not for yourself but for the salvation of others. How much depends on our wholehearted response to this call.”

He told Fr Irwin that there were “countless souls” awaiting his ministry as a priest.

Bishop Davies said the mystery of the Eucharist must be the one constant of Fr Irwin’s life, ministry and his mission, helping him to renew his faithfulness each day.

“In joyfully fulfilling your mission keep your gaze fixed”, on the Eucharist, the Bishop, said, “which will be placed every day into your hands which the rite of ordination urges you not only to faithfully celebrate but to imitate on your path to holiness.”

In his note of thank you, Fr Irwin first expressed gratitude “to God for the gift of life, for blessing me so abundantly each day and for bestowing the gift of the priesthood upon me”.

He thanked his parents, Marie and Paul, for their “constant love and support” and “for raising me to know and love God”.