Latest News Rejoice! Eleven new Deacons St Mary's College, Oscott was filled with joy on Saturday (29 June) as 11 new deacons were appointed. His Grace, Archbishop Bernard Longley, led the Diaconate Ordinations in front of the deacons' family, friends and supporters in a packed Chapel. Read His Grace's Homily here The new deacons, including three for the Archdiocese of Birmingham, represent diocese' across the UK. Seven of the men have been at Oscott for five years. Four have been on shortened courses for various years. Eight of them will continue at Oscott for one more year, three are leaving. The first reading was read by Alexander Johnson and the psalm by Christopher Morris. The Gospel was sung by deacon Thomas Clarke. Find out more about some of the deacons here: Your Name: Sean Gough Your Diocese: Birmingham Your hometown/country: Walsall, England Your favourite saint: St John Bosco How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 12ish Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: It’s amazing how many people have been used by God to guide my journey towards being a priest, many of them don’t even realise the impact they’ve had by their words of faith. Your Name: Benedict Skipper Your Diocese: Birmingham Your hometown/country: Bath Your favourite saint: Maximilian Kolbe How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 14 Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: St John Paul II, Benedict XVI, a priest in my parish. Your Name: Paschal Uche Your Diocese: Brentwood Your hometown/country: Wanstead, London Your favourite saint: Blessed Cyprian Tansi How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 16 Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: Fr Albert Ofere, a then Nigerian Chaplaincy Priest. Your Name: Daniel Rooke Your Diocese: Northampton Your hometown/country: Bedford Your favourite saint: Blessed Imelda How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: I was 18/19 years old Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: My biggest inspiration was Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Your Name: David Jonathon Bowes Your Diocese: Hexham and Newcastle Your hometown/country: Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees Your favourite saint: Saint Cuthbert How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: I was 11 and still an Anglican at the time. Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: The priests who were around me inspired me. Seeing such great priests and how they ministered to people was a great witness of how God was working with them. Your Name: David McConkey Your Diocese: Clifton Your hometown/country: Abilene, Kansas, USA Your favourite saint: St Benedict How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: About five or six years old, if I remember correctly. Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: More than I could name or number. Your Name: Robert Davies Your Diocese: Menevia Your hometown/country: Port Talbot Your favourite saint: St Peter How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 10 Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: The people of God Your Name: Henry Longbottom Your Diocese: Leeds Your hometown/country: Huddersfield Your favourite saint: St Ignatius of Loyola How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 14 Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: My Parish priest who was in my home parish. Your name: Lim Gamsi Your Diocese: Nottingham Your hometown/country: Leicester Your favourite saint: Aloysius Gonzaga How old were you when you first thought you might be being called to the priesthood: 14 Did anyone inspire you on the journey to priesthood: A priest when I was in Cameroon, Fr Peter Watson. Jude Makuru - Dunkeld Diocese Alex Taylor - Birmingham Photo Gallery by Con McHugh Manage Cookie Preferences