My name is Fr. Yanbo Chen, and I was born in 1988. As a traditional Chinese man, my surname is Chen and my given name is Yanbo. According to Chinese culture, the surname precedes the given name, so you may also refer to me as Chen Yanbo.

I joined the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province, China, in 2010 at the age of 23. At that time, I was the only student and professed my first vows in 2012. On April 9th, 2014, I came to Maynooth to study English and continue my theological studies.

I stayed at the Divine Word School of English in Maynooth for a year. Overall, it was a bittersweet experience for me. Working and communicating in English was a challenging endeavour, but through hard work and the grace of God, I completed my theological training at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth. I was ordained as a Deacon to serve in the Parish of St. Matthew’s Church, Ballyfermot, in 2018. I was ordained to the priesthood on June 16th, 2019, by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Following my ordination, I was assigned to the Church of St. Philip the Apostle in Mountview and Huntstown Parish for one year.

During my time at Mountview and Huntstown Parish, I was deeply involved in various pastoral activities, including youth ministry, outreach to the elderly, and community-building initiatives. These experiences enriched my understanding of pastoral care and deepened my commitment to serving the needs of the community.

I am now delighted and humbled to minister at Carlow Cathedral. I am very glad to join this parish to continue my pastoral ministry. Here at Carlow Cathedral, I look forward to contributing to the spiritual growth of the community, enhancing the liturgical celebrations, and fostering a welcoming environment for all parishioners.

Please pray for the new parish team as we continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We strive to build a strong, faith-filled community that supports each other in our spiritual journeys. Rest assured of our continued prayers for all the parishioners of Carlow Cathedral and the wider Church community.

Fr. Yanbo, September 2020.