An extract from our latest Quarterly Newsletter as Br Conor shares his experience of being a newly ordained deacon
On December 19 of last year, I was ordained a deacon and so these past few months have been filled with much learning and, most importantly, opportunities to serve.
It has been with great joy that I can now assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a deacon. Since my ordination, I have noticed a growing appreciation for the deacon’s role and the closeness with which he serves at the altar. It is truly a great gift to assist the priest at Holy Mass and my love and reverence for the Holy Eucharist have only increased with this august honour from God, Our Father.
It hasn’t been without difficulties though. After many years of study and duties proper to a Brother of the Oratory, I had become relatively comfortable in my daily routine. I have subsequently had to revise all of this to make time to prepare homilies and talks. The effort necessary to prepare a homily completely threw me at first. But I am confident, almost, that I have now found the balance between the preparation and writing of a homily and my other responsibilities. It is a daunting task preaching a homily and one that I take most seriously. This is the opportunity to bring the Word of God, Sacred Scripture and the living tradition of the Church together to unpack the mysteries of our holy faith.
Lastly, I have been made the chaplain for our young men’s group, which falls under the patronage of the great and youthful example of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. It has been a great honour to be made chaplain and I pray that I will help guide our young men towards being true Christian gentleman and soldiers for Christ.