Fr. Willie Purcell

Fr. Willie Purcell is a priest of the Diocese of Ossory and is the National Coordinator for Diocesan Vocations in Ireland.  Music has always been an essential part of Fr. Purcell’s life and he has a particular interest in choral and gospel traditions.  To this end, over 20 years ago Fr. Purcell founded the Kilkenny Gospel Choir: he is currently their director and is also the president of the Irish National Gospel Choir Association.  Fr. Willie is delighted to be involved in this fantastic project which draws out the vocation of the human person through the medium of music.

“Music and vocation in a Christian view starts with faith in the Word of God, in response to the initiative of God who calls men and women to follow Him as priests, sisters and brothers. Music and vocation are prayerfully connected, vocation and call often being the inspiration for the creation of music, hymns and songs as in this unique Music Competition. Music often creates the desired prayerful atmosphere for a vocation response.”