IN the hallowed atmosphere of Limerick city’s oldest building, St Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1168, another piece of ecclesiastical history was made when the first female Dean of Limerick and Ardfert, Sandra Pragnell was installed. Describing the ceremony in the medieval cathedral as “a special occasion,”the newly ordained Dean who is from the UK said it was “special for both the Church of Ireland and the wider community of Limerick and Kerry.
A native of Hampshire, the newly ordained Dean worked in the public sector in London before entering the ministry in Dublin, where she studied at Trinity College and All Hallows.
She said her ministry was about people.
“People count, people need to know that they belong, whether they come to church, are occasional attenders, whether they are lapsed, whatever – they still belong to the family of God.”
She said she looked forward to building up a working relationship with the Catholic Church in Limerick under Diocesan Administrator Fr Tony Mullins.
“That has happened in every parish I have been in and I think it is so important the more we can do together, the more we are doing what Christ wants us to do.”
The installation ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Limerick, Rev Trevor Williams and the congregation included the Catholic administrator of the Diocese of Limerick, Fr Tony Mullins; the lay leader of the Methodist Church, Gillian Kingston; retired Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Rev Alan Harper and the retired Archbishop of Dublin, Rev Walton Empey, who ordained Dean Pragnell to the priesthood in Dublin.
Mayor Gerry McLoughlin led a representation of leading civic figures at the installation.
