Four new Deacons at Wonersh

incense rc

Congratulations to four new Deacons who were ordained at St John's Seminary, Wonersh this morning by Bishop Kieran Conry. Revv John Chandler (Portsmouth), Daniel Kelly (Brentwood), David King (Arundel and Brighton) and Jonathon Routh (Southwark) are all now in major orders and hope to be ordained to the priesthood during 2011.

Last night there was a holy hour, followed by Compline and Benediction, as an immediate spiritual preparation for the ceremony (the ordinands had just come back from their retreat.) This morning, the seminary celebrated Lauds at 7.30am before a quick breakfast and a lot of jobs to be done by the sacristans, servers, and singers.

Above you can see the altar of Our Lady Queen of the Clergy with the image being incensed for the singing of the Marian anthem. (I expect there will be some photos of the ordination online soon.) Here is a close-up of the image of the Regina Cleri:

Regina Cleri

Please offer a prayer to her for the new Deacons. I have known them since they began at the Seminary and they have all patiently endured my course in Sacramental Theology so it was a great joy for me to be able to be present at their ordinations today.

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