Congratulations to new Deacons for Southwark

Wonersh 006

St John's Seminary at Wonersh was in festive mood today as Rev Oladele Craig and Rev Kurt Barragan were ordained as Deacons. God willing, they will be ordained to the sacred priesthood this coming summer.

The celebration of the Liturgy was dignified and reverent, co-ordinated with discreet expertise by the Seminary MC, Simon Dray. The music was unmistakeably sacred music: the Missa Orbis Factor was used for the ordinary, and the English chants for Mass drew on both Eastern and Western traditions. The Schola gave a fine rendition of Tallis's If ye love me. An impressive number of clergy from the diocese participated, so it was a good opportunity to catch up with friends afterwards over lunch.

 The ordinati both went through my Sacramental Theology class last academic year. I am beginning to wonder whether it is a kind of hurdle before ordination (i.e. if you can survive that, you can survive anything!)

Here is a photo of myself with Rev Oladele Craig:

Ola
 
And here, from left to right, Fr Frank Calduch of Opus Dei, Fr Chris Basden, parish priest of Clapham Park, Rev Kurt Barragan and myself:

Kurt
 
Please remember our new deacons in your prayers

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