Senior Student 2025.26

Karen Duignan

Hi there,

I’m Karen Duignan, and you could say I have taken “the road less travelled” in pursuit of my goal of becoming a stipendiary minister.

My journey began as an Ordained Local Minister, a role I served in for five years. During that time, I began to feel I could offer more and that I was being called to do more. That realisation eventually led me to CITI, where I found myself studying full–time.

I live and work in the west of Ireland, where, alongside ministry and study, I keep a small herd of cattle—with a great deal of help from my husband and family!

I have really enjoyed my time as a student. Being part of the CITI community has been a wonderful experience, both academically and personally. It has been great fun living and learning alongside others, sharing the journey and getting to know people from different backgrounds and traditions.

Looking back, this road may not have been the most straightforward, but it has certainly been enriching. I would wholeheartedly recommend the experience to anyone who is considering coming to CITI to study.