1st Year Part Time MTh Student

Jane Burns

My name is Jane Burns. I am a first–year student on the part–time MTh. I am married and have three teenage children. I am from Athy in County Kildare and am a parishioner of Athy Union of Parishes in Dublin and Glendalough Diocese. I have been actively involved in many aspects of ministry in my Parish for over twenty years. 

Since my teenage years I have had a strong interest in overseas aid and development. This interest progressed as I had children of my own and became even more aware of God’s blessing in my life. I have been involved with Christian Aid as a volunteer and as a staff member. I have travelled overseas to visit projects twice – as a volunteer in 2014 to Zimbabwe and as a staff member leading an overseas visit in 2017 to India. Christian Aid’s belief in equality, dignity and freedom for all people regardless of their faith, nationality or gender, resonates for me with Jesus’ call to love our neighbour as ourselves.

I have felt God calling me towards Ordination training over a long period of time. After prayerful consideration and affirmation from members within my church and my Rector, I joined the fellowship of vocations in our Diocese and met with my Archbishop. I undertook the Foundation Course in 2018 and went through the Selection Process in April 2019. Throughout this process my faith has been strengthened and my desire to humbly serve God has deepened. I continue to ‘seek God with all my heart’ and give thanks for the extraordinary privilege that I have been given to study at CITI and continue on the pathway towards Ordained ministry.