Diaconate Journey – part 1

The Road to the Diaconate – James Gurney

On Saturday 31st October 2026 at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, along with one other classmate, Peter, I am due to be ordained a deacon!

It has taken a while, so how did I get here?

I have been active in the Church pretty much all my life. I was an altar server from a very young age. It was Fr Moses who actually asked if I would be interested in putting myself forward for the diaconate. There followed various interviews and that sort of thing. Catherine and I had a meeting with Archbishop John, whose decision it is – yes or no. Fortunately it was yes.

The whole process is deliberately drawn out. Ordination to the diaconate is, for me at least, something to be grown in to, acclimatised to if you like.

  • Year 1: A service year. Community action or activity that is not part of your school or parish. Something that takes you out of your comfort zone.
  • Year 2: Aspirant year. The teaching part of formation is done at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. We join the main group 5 times, during which we go over the main aspects of the deacon’s ministry.
  • Year 3: First year of actual academic study, for a Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. 11 study days (Saturdays) at St Mary’s, Twickenham. After this year I was instituted as a Lector by Archbishop John.
  • Year 4: Second (final) year of the Pastoral Ministry degree. After this I was instituted as an Acolyte by Archbishop John.
  • Year 5: Catholic Social Teaching: this could stop at the end of the year with a Certificate, or continue next year onto an MA. I have yet to properly decide.

During the study years, there are two study weekends – where amongst other things you get to practice homilies – and a retreat.

Where am I now? I successfully passed the FdA Pastoral Ministry, I am currently part the way through the first year of Catholic Social Teaching. The Ordination date is looming. Everyone seems happy for me to proceed, including Catherine who, as my wife, gets a veto on my ordination!!

So, that’s a functional report, as it were. I will go onto what it was like and how I experienced it in part 2 (to follow).