St Joseph's Catholic Church Stockport

Terry wrote about his duties as Deacon for our website a few years ago.

My vocation to the Permanent Diaconate was fostered here at St Joseph's when at the age of seven I was called to serve at the altar. Throughout my working life as a policeman in Stockport, that call to the service of the people encouraged me on retirement, through prayer and contemplation to the Permanent Diaconate.Bishop Brian Noble accepted me onto the three year training programme and Canon Stephen Coonan, a former parishioner at St Joseph's, was my tutor. I was ordained on 3rd July 2004 at the Cathedral in Shrewsbury. Having been ordained only a short time I was asked by Bishop Brian to become a member of the Chaplaincy at Manchester Airport where I ministered three days per week to the twenty thousand workforce and the passengers in that has been described as the largest parish in Manchester.My main ministry is of course St Joseph's. The Deacon's duties are seen to fall into three areas - teaching, leading and sanctifying and all are covered by the code of canon law. The word Deacon is linked with the concept of servant and service. The Permanent Deacons' ministry is intended to assist all members of the church, both clerical and lay. The actual roles performed therefore vary according to the local specific needs and also the wider needs of the church. The aim of the Deacon should always be to encourage each individual member of the community to use their God-given gifts in building God's Kingdom here on earth. This may require all of us, lay and ordained members, to develop a mature view of what being a Christian means in today's world. The permanent deacon is an ordinary minister of baptism. He may assist at and bless marriages and may preside at funerals. During the celebration of mass he will proclaim the gospel assist the priest liturgically and he can preach. Canon law states the Permanent Deacon may provide communion services in the absence of priest and administer sacraments and blessings. He may also expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration and give Benediction. He may also provide public devotions especially the Litugy of the Hours of which he himself is bound to recite daily those parts determined by the Bishop's Conference. The Permanent Deacon can also provide a liaison between the interests of the laity and those of the clergy in general. I could not Minister without support my wife Margaret, the clergy and parishioners at Saint Joseph's and many others.