Three men were ordained as permanent deacons this afternoon, Sunday 4 July 2021.

Jim Brannan, Peter Crosby and Krzysztof Wasilewski were welcomed into the Diocesan family by Archbishop Bernard Longley at St Chad’s Cathedral.

The trio were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in front of family and friends and the celebration was also live streamed.

The word deacon derives from the Greek diakonia, meaning "service", thereby indicating that a deacon is called like Christ to be a servant. The Order of Deacon has three essential functions: the proclamation of the Gospel, the service of the liturgy, and the administration of charitable works.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Ordination of a Deacon is similar in form to that of a priest – by prayer and the laying on of hands, as described from the earliest days of the Church – but the beautiful Prayer of Consecration emphasises the essential nature of the diaconate, a call to service.

The new deacons will be serving the following parishes:

Jim Brannan, St John’s, Banbury
Peter Crosby, St Mary of the Angels, Aldridge
Krzysztof Wasilewski, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Worcester

A further ordination of two more permanent deacons is set to take place at St Chad's Cathedral in September.

We also remember in our prayers Toby Duckworth, who was ordained deacon, alongside other seminarians, at the English College Rome on the morning of Sunday 4 July.

Download Archbishop Bernard's Homily

Watch the recorded Ordination here