Preparing for the Permanent Diaconate

John-Simon Lawson   |   1st March 2009

When I completed my second year of formation for the Permanent Diaconate at St John's Seminary at Wonersh, last June, I was Instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte which, compared to commissioning as an Extra-ordinary Minister of Holy Communion, is a permanent state in the process toward Ordination, and carries additional responsibilities. If present at Mass, an Instituted Acolyte always assists with the distribution of Communion, if there are insufficient priests or deacons (who are Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion).

I am now in my third and final year of diaconal formation, during which I will complete my studies of Sacred Scripture, moral theology, and the Sacraments. The studying can be demanding but it is enjoyable. There are 20 students in the third year, of which four of us are from the Archdiocese of Southwark. We cannot believe how fast the three years have past as our Ordination dates rapidly approach this summer, leaving only 4 more Formation days at the Seminary.

I hope that you will all be at my Ordination as a Permanent Deacon on Friday 12th June, at 7.30pm, here at St Joseph's. I am looking forward to being of service in the Diocese and to this Parish and Deanery, and joining Deacon John in assisting Fr Peter and Fr Richard in the Sacred Ministry of Word, Altar and Charity.

Update!!!

John-Simon was Ordained into the Permanent Diaconate by the Right Reverend Paul Hendricks, Auxiliary Bishop in Southwark, on Friday 12th June 2009. Click to see the Photo Gallery, with pictures of the service and the obligatory party afterwards.