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There was no blinding light, no audible voice from heaven, and no vapour trails in the sky spelling out the word ‘Deacon’.

In our fifty years of parish life, my wife Anne and I had never encountered the Ministry of a Permanent Deacon. While we had two good friends who are Permanent Deacons and I was active in our parish as a reader, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, and Alpha facilitator, I never felt a desire to follow their path. So, what changed?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly, but after being part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2019, I felt a quiet, subtle call to explore the Permanent Diaconate.  When I shared this with Anne, she mentioned that she and the rest of the family had been wondering, “What took you so long?”

After discussing with our Parish Priest, I reached out to the Diocesan Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate. As an analogy, it felt like putting on a new pair of shoes and beginning a journey.  With paperwork completed and interviews done, Anne and I met with Bishop Richard. He wisely advised us on the importance of love, support and prayer throughout this journey.

In 2020, I began a year of discernment at St. Mary’s University Twickenham, attending sessions over several Saturdays with others desiring to understand their call. The goal was to understand the motivations behind choosing this path. Despite COVID restrictions - sitting apart, wearing masks and enduring winter with open windows - this time was crucial in sensing God’s will.

In 2021, I was accepted to start formal formation for the Permanent Diaconate. The academic rigor was both enjoyable and challenging. Writing university essays for the first time in forty years felt like encountering some stones in my new shoes.  Beyond academics, the formation included human, spiritual and pastoral development. Through prayer, retreats and sharing experiences with a Spiritual Director, I gained a deeper understanding of my call and how to walk in my new shoes. Healthcare chaplaincy further developed my listening skills, empathy and how to pray the presence of the Holy Spirit in challenging moments.

All of this led to 18 July 2024, the day of my Ordination. Despite encountering the odd stone and occasional slips on steep climbs, I have never felt the urge to take off these new shoes and they still fit comfortably.

Maybe having read this, you are considering trying on some new shoes?