A former Manchester United player has made his solemn profession as a Dominican friar.
Philip Mulryne made five appearances for Manchester United, 27 for Northern Ireland and 161 for Norwich City, before retiring from football in 2008 to try his vocation to the priesthood.
Now he has made his solemn profession “until death”, which takes place after four years of study and formation. The next steps are ordination to the diaconate, and then to the priesthood.
Mulryne, a midfielder, struggled to gain a place in the Manchester United first team in the era of David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. But after his £500,000 move to Norwich he flourished, and was part of the team that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2004.
He later had spells with Cardiff and Ipswich before retiring in 2008.
Mulryne was reported to have earned £500,000 a year while at Norwich. In 2005 he was suspended from the Northern Ireland squad after going on an all-night drinking spree.
He former teammate Paul McVeigh has written on his blog that he reacted with “amazement” when he heard Mulryne was hoping to enter the priesthood.
“I was still in contact with him and knew that he had turned his life around and was doing a lot of charitable work and helping the homeless on a weekly basis.
“Still, it was a complete shock that he felt this was his calling,” he wrote.
He added that he had been to visit his friend in Rome and found “a very contented-looking Phil”. According to some news sources, Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor came to know Mulryne through his voluntary work, and encouraged him to consider the priesthood.
His profession took place at St Saviour’s Priory in Dublin.
Heythrop College building ‘to be sold for £100 million’
The Society of Jesus has put the building that hosts Heythrop College, on the property market.
The college is based in the affluent area of Kensington, west London, and is set over 2.7 acres on King’s Gardens behind High Street Kensington Underground station.
The sale follows the decision in June last year to close down the college.
There is no fixed asking price but estate agents expect bids for the property to be upwards of the £100 million mark.
The Jesuits have hired the agent CBRE to sell the property.
Peter Burns, executive director of CBRE, said: “King’s Gardens will appeal to London’s best artisan developers who appreciate character, heritage and distinguished locations.”
A Jesuits in Britain spokesman said: “Heythrop College incurs a significant financial deficit each year.
“The financial reality is that as a small institution, within this highly competitive higher education environment and with the costly regulatory demands, it cannot continue in its current form.”
Heythrop College is due to close in 2018.
Bashir back to BBC for religion post
The BBC has announced that Martin Bashir will be its new religious affairs correspondent.
Mr Bashir, who is a Christian, is best known for his revealing interviews with Diana, Princess of Wales, and Michael Jackson.
Jonathan Munro, head of BBC Newsgathering, described him as “a student of theology”.
Mr Bashir replaces Caroline Wyatt, who stepped down after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
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