An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 8 | From the Trenches to the Pulpit D avid Murphy enlisted in the Defence Forces as a re- cruit on 21 June 1979 in Kilkenny Bks. Later that year, on 30 September, he made a presentation of an oak sapling to Pope John Paul II on behalf of the young people of the Diocese of Ossory, at the papal Mass in Ballybrit Race- course, Galway. The sapling has now grown into a full-size oak tree, stand- ing 40 feet high, located in the grounds of the old bishop's residence on Sion Road in Kilkenny. David was promoted to the rank of corporal on 5 May 1981 after completing an NCO's cse in the Curragh. He then undertook some studies in the Curragh Post Primary School in 1982 and successfully completed the leaving certificate in 1984. At that stage he had been posted to the Cur- ragh Camp and was at- tached to 6 Brigade HQ. After completing six years of service in the Defence Forces, David entered St Peter's Diocesan Seminary, Wexford, to study for the priesthood in September 1985. After six years preparation he was ordained on Sunday, 2 June 1991 in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Rowe Street, Wexford, for service in the Diocese of Ferns, where Fr David ministered for 25 years. In October 2016, Fr David rejoined the Defence Forces as a chaplain. His official title being 'Locum Chaplain' which essentialy is a substitute chaplain, this job means that he replaces a chaplain when they go overseas or need to be replaced in the short term. He inititialy started his first sub- stitution appointment in Galway, then moved on to Gorman- stown/Dundalk, moving then onto Limerick, the Curragh, back to Galway and his most recent appointment has been to Finner Camp, all his appointments were for a period of 6 months. Since rejoining, as well as his commitments to the units he serves, Fr David travels to Lourdes every year for the Military Pilgrimage, where he joins a team of Irish military chaplains in conducting masses all over the town of Lourdes. Fr David always hoped he'd eventually go back to the Army af ter he had been ordained, so to finally rejoin the Defence Forces was a great honour for him, as he always felt that he wanted to give something back to the serving soldiers. The wheel has turned full circle for Fr David, starting as a soldier, being afforded the op- purtunity to do his leaving cerificate which he needed to join the priesthood and now rejoining as a Defence Forces Chaplain. Something Fr David particularly enjoys is working with recruits who have just joined the Army. The chaplain will meet with them a few times during their training, and they see the chaplain as a friendly face he says. Fr David will now deploy with the 60th Inf Gp UNDOF for a period of 3 months, He had previously served for a 3 week leave period in July 2017 in the Golan Heights, and is looking forward to the challenge an overseas deployment brings to his job. Pte David Murphy meeting Pope John Paul II in 1979 A presentation of a mass box to Fr David Murphy after saying mass in Kilkenny Bks

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