Permanent Diaconate

Published: 05/05/2020

Last Updated: 25/02/2025

Welcome to the Permanent Diaconate section of the Westminster Vocations website.

Since the earliest days of the Church, men ordained as Deacon by the Bishop of his diocese has served the Church in a three-fold ministry:

The Ministry of Charity
The Ministry of the Word
The Ministry of the Altar

As well as parish ministry, deacons are engaged in a variety of other ministries, including school, prison and hospital chaplaincy.

A man considering a vocation as a Permanent Deacon will have the support of their parish priest, be actively engaged in the life of their own parish, and already be involved in works of service and exercising some leadership roles within this community.

Here you will find a series of articles and reflections, testimonies and practical “What next...” features – all aimed to help those discerning a possible calling to this particular vocation within the Church.

If you would like to know more about the Permanent Diaconate or are considering a vocation, then we we will be pleased to hear from you.

Contact: Deacon Adrian Cullen - Director

adriancullen@rcdow.org.uk

07961 594725

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Jubilee for Deacons - Rome - February 2025

Permanent Deacons from across the world gathered in Rome, between 20th – 23rd February, to celebrate the Jubilee of Deacons. Deacons came from the Americas, Asia, Oceania and from across Europe, with more than thirty representing the UK. Many came with their wives and families, making a total of 6,000 ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

Earlier in the week, from 17th-20th February, 180 delegates from 26 countries attended a conference, also in Rome, organised by the International Diaconate Centre, with the title of ‘Deacons: Joyful Witnesses of Hope’. The Conference included presentations and discussion on marriage and the diaconate, deacons as peacemakers, communion, mission and synodality.

On the following Friday the Jubilee of Deacons formally opened across twelve churches in Rome. The afternoon started with reciting of Midday Prayer, followed by catechesis, delivered by twelve bishops, on the theme ‘Concrete Signs of Hope in the Diaconal Ministry’.

On the Saturday, through the day, all those attending had the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. At the same time, at the Auditorium Conciliazone, over 1400 hundred participants gathered for the International Meeting, organised by the Dicastery for the Clergy, and were welcomed by its Prefect, His Eminence Cardinal Sik. There followed ‘Testimonies from the Continents’ giving a world-wide ‘snapshot’ of the Permanent Diaconate, with reports from Germany, United States, Brazil, Rwanda, Lebanon and elsewhere. Also, a testimony was given from the International Network of Diaconate Spouses. Delegates then reflected on the future pathway of diaconal ministry, on how to be ‘Witnesses of Hope’ in a ‘Synodal and Missionary Church’. There was recognition of the need for an updating of the Directory for Deacons, which has guided their ministry for the past thirty years. This led to the announcement from the Dicastery for Clergy of the launch of an online ‘Consultation on the Ministry of the Diaconate Today’, to culminate in a Conference on the Permanent Diaconate to be held in the Vatican in 2026. The day concluded with an evening Prayer Vigil in Paul VI Hall.

On the Sunday, at 9.00am in St Peter’s Basilica, 2,500 deacons and families gathered for Mass, presided over, in the absence of Pope Francis, ill in hospital, by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect for New Evangelisation with the Dicastery for Evangelisation. During the Mass twenty-three men from eight countries were ordained deacons. Prayers were said for Pope Francis, and Cardinal Fisichella delivered the homily prepared by Pope Francis, in which he reflected on three essential dimensions of the diaconate: forgiveness, service and communion. The Pope wrote that, ‘The deacon, invested in a ministry that leads him toward the world’s peripheries’, must see and teach that all are brothers and sisters, even those who cause suffering, in need of reconciliation, guidance and help. Pope Francis asks that deacons make selfless service ‘an essential dimension of your very being’; and encourages them to serve with humility, as the day’s Gospel from Luke said, to ‘do good and lend, expecting nothing in return’.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250223-omelia-giubileo-diaconi.html

Deacon Adrian Cullen
Director, Permanent Diaconate, Westminster
25th Feb’25

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Vocations: 'Come and See' - 2025

If you are interested in exploring the Priesthood or Permanent Diaconate,

you are invited to come along to one of our

'Come & See' Vocations Mornings

on:
Sat 25th January, 10am-2pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, Westminster SW1P 1QN
Sat 8th February, 10am-2pm at SS Peter & Paul parish hall, 38 Camborne Ave, Northfields W13 9QZ
Sat 1st March, 10am-2pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus and St Joseph parish hall, 1 King Edward’s Road, Ware SG12 7EJ
Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.
To find out more and to register your attendance at one of the days, please contact: Canon Roger Taylor - Vocations Promoter rogertaylor@rcdow.org.uk or Deacon Tito Pereira – Assistant Director Permanent Diaconate 07977 599110 titopereira@rcdow.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you.

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Ordinations to the Permanent Diaconate July 2024

On Saturday 6th July at the 10.30am Solemn Mass in Westminster, Paul Hewitt, James Shin and Eze Ugoala where Ordained by Bishop Jim Curry. The Ordination followed more than three years of Formation by the men, which included part-time academic study in Pastoral Ministry and Catholic Social Teaching at St Mary's University Twickenham, and active service in their parishes. Each man was supported firstly by there families, their parish priest, also academic tutors, mentors and spiritual directors.

With traditional hymns and music from Mozart, the three men who initially sat with their families, were called forward to be presented to the Bishop. After being assured of their worthiness to take on ministry as deacons, Bhp Jim gave his homily, urging them to continue to study, complementing their prayer life and life of public ministry.

During the ordination rite, the men resolve to be charitable, faithful and prayerful as they carry out their duties following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and obedient to the bishops. They then prostrate themselves, as all present call on the help of the saints in heaven to assist the men in their ministry. And again, presenting themselves to the Bishop, who then lays his hands on their heads calling down Holy Spirit, the men are ordained Deacons.

Deacons Paul, James and Eze are then presented with their vestments by their wives, and vested in stole and dalmatic by priest and deacon colleagues. The Bishop then hands them the Book of the Gospels, and declares, 'Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are'. Following which, the newly ordained Deacons Paul, James and Eze are greeted by their brother deacons, and applause from all present.

Immediately, the new Deacons are put to work, assisting the Bishop in the celebration of the Mass, as they will do so from now on with the Priests in their own parishes: Paul in Our Lady of Victories, Kensington; James in St John Fisher, Harrow North; Eze in Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holloway.

Before the end of the Mass, the three Deacons brought their wives onto the sanctuary: Paul with Maria, James with Annie, Eze with Jackie. There, Bishop Jim, on behalf of the Church, blessed and thanked the wives for the loving support they have given their husbands in their new ministry.

The Mass of Ordination ended with blessings and the procession to the accompaniment of 'Crown Imperial' by Sir William Walton.

Congratulations to

Deacon Paul Hewitt, Deacon James Shin, Deacon Eze Ugoala,

ordainained to the Permanent Diaconate

by Bishop Jim Curry on 6th July 2024.

Homily given on Saturday 6 July at Westminster Cathedral by Bishop Jim Curry:

Today is a day of joy. Joy for you, Paul, James and Eze and for your wives, Maria, Annie and Jackie.

What a joy too that you are surrounded by your families, friends, fellow deacons, clergy and the people of the parishes of Kensington, Holloway and North Harrow, and this Diocese of Westminster. I know that you, and your wives and families, will have faced any number of decisions on the road to this day. I thank you all for your courage, resolution and faith.

Paul, James and Eze; you have answered the call to serve Christ and his Church as deacons. Today, through the laying of hands and the prayer of the Church we will call upon the Holy Spirit as you are ordained for service in the Church.......................

Click for full Homily

Click for Photographs

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For further information on the Permanent Diaconate click on the following links:

Permanent Diaconate in Westminster

What is a Deacon?

Application and Formation

Safeguarding in the Permanent Diaconate

Care and Support for Retired, Frail and Sick Deacons

Articles

Ordinations - July 2023

Ordination Photographs - July 2023