On Sunday 19 July three men were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate at St Chad’s Cathedral.

Family, friends and fellow parishioners gathered to support Stephen Myers, Carlton Rose and Patrick Standen on this momentous occasion.

They were ordained by Archbishop Bernard Longley.

Just before their Ordination the trio shared a little of their very different journeys to the Permanent Diaconate.

Stephen Myers, 65, worships at St Wulstan’s, Stourport on Severn. 

“I am a cradle Catholic, one of six children,” said Stephen, a fashion designer. “However, my journey to value what was given to me in baptism started at Medjugorje in 1984, aged 23. I have been part of many church groups since including the Legion of Mary and charismatic renewal. But most recently I have been in the Neocatechumenate in London for 26 years. It was there an Italian seminarian, now Fr Paolo, planted the idea of studying. I resisted until lockdown struck. I came to look after my 96-year-old Mum in Worcestershire and enquired about studying at St Mary’s College, Oscott and was accepted.”

Stephen will undertake his new role whilst continuing to care for his Mum and “through that experience there may be a role for me with the elderly.”

He will also assist the parish priest with "hatch, match and dispatch (baptisms, weddings, funerals).”

Carlton Rose is a 49-year-old quality manager and belongs to the parish of Our Lady and St Hugh, Witney.

He has been married for 23 years and has three children Michelle, Michael and Marieta.

Carlton shares he has always been surrounded by strong models of Catholic faith – his parents, grandparents, priests and religious sisters.

“From my earliest memories, I can remember being taught about the faith and guided by its practice, though I decided to go my own way as I grew into a teenager and young adult. At the age of 21 and during the year dedicated to the Holy Spirit in 1998, I had a deep spiritual experience during a retreat, at which I made a promise to dedicate my life in service to God, in whatever way He may choose to use me. I began to be very active in the charismatic renewal, in leading praise and worship, conducting retreats for young people, couples and parishes. 

“Fast forward to 2002 and I married Teena who was also quite active in the charismatic renewal. At our Wedding Mass, we together made a promise to serve the Lord as a couple and as a family. The Lord continued to use us in many beautiful and powerful ways over the next years. During this time there was a lot of doing and though prayer was always the backbone of our ministry, still it was very much about doing.

“In 2016, we moved to the UK as a family and for the first time in our lives, there was no more doing. Over the next four years, the Lord in His goodness taught us to 'be' and not to 'do'. There were no opportunities to get involved in charismatic activities near Witney, and during this time God drew me into a space of quiet trust, an invitation to remain with him. During this time we began to assist in small ways within the parish, through reading at Mass, children's liturgy and carrying out warden duties. Towards the start of 2020, Fr Patrick Broun asked the question in regard to my thoughts about the Permanent Diaconate and if I would be interested in pursuing this. After some prayer and consultation with Teena, we decided to proceed - but then Covid happened, and we moved back to Chennai, India in August 2020. In my heart, I was asking the Lord what exactly was He doing, but the only response that I got was, ‘Trust in me'.

“In April 2021 we moved back to the UK and not long after that I got in touch with Fr Harry Curtis who helped with information about the Permanent Diaconate. I started the propaedeutic period in September 2021 and have never looked back since then. I believe that God in his goodness had been preparing me for this moment. He allowed me to experience the 'doing' through the charismatic renewal - to see His transformational power at work in the lives of people around me. He then led me through the quiet period of 'being' with Him, of receiving from Him, of learning from Him. He has taught me to see the world and the people around me, not with my eyes but with the eyes of faith and charity.

“As I look ahead to Ordination, I see this as a continuation of the promise that I made as an individual in 1998 and then along with Teena in 2002, to serve the Lord. God in his goodness will bring all things to fruition in His time and for His glory.”

In his new role Carlton will serve the parishioners of Our Lady and St Hugh, and the Archdiocese, but also sees the role encompassing three aspects:

1. Be faithful to God's call and wait on His Holy Spirit for guidance and direction

2. To be an icon of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve

3. To be a witness of the resurrection.

Patrick ‘Pat’ Standen is now retired, having worked in the IT industry, and is also a former local councillor of Tamworth Borough Council.

The 60-year old’s home parish is St John the Baptist in Tamworth and he is married to Margaret, a retired GP. The couple have five children Stephen, Anne (deceased), Joseph, Elizabeth and Robert.

“I have been an altar server and M.C. for over 40 years and after losing my seat on Tamworth Borough Council in 2021 numerous people kept asking me if I was going to become a deacon,” said Patrick.

“This triggered me in to investigating the diaconate and concluding that God was calling me to now serve as a deacon. I had considered the diaconate was something I would potentially do in the future when I was younger, having had two wonderful examples of deacons in my parish - Deacon Brian Cox (my daughter Elizabeth's godfather) and Deacon Tony Rigby (my teacher from when I was 12 years old); two great examples of the diaconate, both who passed away last year.

“I also had Deacon Bob Charles in the parish as someone closer in age to myself and he has been a great help over the last few years.

“Since starting training as a deacon I have been working closely with the parish team, particularly with the sick and housebound of the parish, ensuring documentation is updated and visiting, alongside assistant priests, housebound parishioners and those in care homes to take the Blessed Sacrament to them.

“I hope to continue and grow in this role as a member of the clergy. I will have to get used to no longer being an altar server and having different responsibilities when on the sanctuary at Mass when ordained!”

 And finally, what would this trio say to other men considering the permanent diaconate?

Stephen: “I saw a quote recently that said, ‘the joy you're looking for is in the thing that you have been avoiding all these years’.”

Carlton: “For those who are considering the Permanent Diaconate, I invite you to place your intention at the altar of God and walk away. It may take days, weeks, months and even years, but If God is indeed calling you to the Permanent Diaconate, you will know it, others around you will know it and you will find absolute peace even if there is trepidation about what lies ahead. Remember that above all, it is God who calls and He calls not based on our ability but upon His plan and His will for our lives.”

Patrick: “The diaconate is a great way to serve God and your neighbours. I would first stress that for those men who are married it is essential to have your wife’s support and to remember that your first vocation is your marriage.”

Becoming a Deacon

There are approximately 80 Permanent Deacons across the Archdiocese, with around 60 active in ministry, and they all play a vital role within the Diocesan family and the communities they serve.

Permanent deacons are mature men, aged 35 or over, married or celibate, who by virtue of their ordination are members of the clergy. The word 'deacon' means servant. Their ministry is one of service to the Church, and with the Church to the world, with a special concern of the poor and marginalised. The majority are in secular employment or retired.

Deacons are ordained to the ministry of service, which from the early days of the Church has been characteristically associated with the service of those in need in society. The diaconate as a permanent Order in the Church was restored following the Second Vatican Council, and the ministry of the deacon must always respond to the needs of his time and place.

Diaconate - Birmingham Vocations

Photo Gallery - Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate Sunday 19 July