The St. Finnian of Clonard Institute is a Catechetical Institute that was started by Fr. Bartimaeus to help train Orthodox Priests, Deacons and Catechists in the faith of Jesus Christ according to the Patristic Fathers. The Institute is the primary means that those interested in Holy Orders receive their training. 

Named after the great Irish Saint, St. Finnian of Clonard, who trained the twelve apostles of Ireland, the Institute works to prepare individuals for ministry, church planting and catechesis in a parochial level. The institute teaches only the Orthodox theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It also places a heavy focus on the Celtic and Anglican fathers' pre-schism who defended the faith along with the standard Eastern Orthodox saints. Our list of books can be found below:

Longer Catechism of St. Philaret of Moscow
Orthodox Study Bible
On the Procession of the Holy Spirit by St. Gregory of Palamas
The Orthodox Church by John Meyendorff
In the Image and Likeness of God by Vladimir Lossky
The Theology of the Church by Dumitru Staniloae
Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky

This is not an exhaustive list, but only a few that are the most prominent that develop the key components of our classwork. The Institute aims to provide quality clerical development also through continuing education options for clergy at the annual retreat hosted by the Deanery. 

All persons seeking to join the Order of St. Columba will be required to go through the formation program associated with the Order. Those who are not looking to join the Order in a vowed state, may take a grey habit as a companion of the Order. In so doing, they live the values of the Order and follow the rule as they are able. 

Those persons that are in the boundaries of the Deanery who desire to become members of the clergy are required to go through theological formation and training. From the rank of Sub-deacon to Priest, these men are required to receive the appropriate training. The standard formation model for this process is below: 

Step 1: Receive the Application
Step 2: Application review by the Dean
Step 3: Interview with the Dean
Step 4: Classes begin in September/January of the year
Step 5: After completion of the first year of training, a man will be ordained to the Sub-diaconate
Step 6: After completion of three years of formation, a man will be ordained to the Diaconate
Step 7: After completion of all formation and training, a man will be ordained to the Priesthood.

All ordinations are done in retreat, family and friends are more than welcome to join. The priestly ordination will be done in one's home parish where they will be assigned.