Bishop's Message: Welcome to our Three New Permanent Deacons!
On Saturday 4 July 2026, it was my great joy to ordain Rev. Paul Briers, Rev. John Bennett and Rev. Christopher Houghton to the Permanent Diaconate for our Diocese at St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster.
Following their ordination, Rev. Paul will begin his ministry at The Good Shepherd, Workington, Rev. John at Holy Cross, Kirkham, and Rev. Christopher at Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles, Keswick, serving alongside their parish priests and the people of those parish communities.
The ordination of permanent deacons is always a cause of great thanksgiving. We give thanks to Almighty God for the generous response these men have made to His call and for the many people who have accompanied them on their journey to ordained ministry.
The permanent diaconate is a ministry of service, rooted in the Gospel and expressed through service of the Word, the altar and those in need. In our parishes, deacons proclaim and preach the Gospel, assist at the celebration of the Mass, baptise, witness marriages, lead funeral services, bring Holy Communion to the sick and housebound, and supportthe pastoral life of the parish. Through their ministry they remind us of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.
I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the Ordination Mass and helped to make it such a joyful and prayerful celebration. My gratitude extends to the clergy, altar servers, musicians, choir, readers and the many volunteers whose generosity made the day so memorable.
I also wish to thank everyone who has supported these men throughout their years of formation. I am especially grateful to Rev .Dr Bernard Farrell-Roberts, Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate, for his dedicated leadership, guidance and encouragement. My thanks also go to the formation team, spiritual directors, the priests who have accompanied them, and to their wives, families and friends for their constant love and support.
I am equally grateful to the parish communities that have welcomed and encouraged them during their formation, especially The Good Shepherd, Workington, Holy Cross, Kirkham, and Our Lady of the Lakes and St Charles, Keswick. Your friendship, encouragement and faithful prayers have played an important part in preparing them for this day and are a wonderful expression of the shared life of our diocesan family.
As they begin their ordained ministry, I ask you to continue to remember them, together with their wives and families, in your prayers.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen them with wisdom, compassion and joy as they serve Christ and His people. In the spirit of my episcopal motto, Holiness before Peace, may they always seek holiness first, trusting that through faithful service they will become instruments of Christ's peace in the communities they are called to serve.
This happy occasion is also a reminder to continue praying for vocations to the priesthood, the permanent diaconate and the consecrated life. May the Lord continue to call men and women to serve His Church, and may our parishes always be places where those vocations are recognised, encouraged and nurtured.
Please join me in giving thanks to Almighty God for the gift of these new deacons. May the Lord bless Rev. Paul, Rev. John and Rev. Christopher abundantly as they begin their ministry in our Diocese.
With every blessing,
✠ Rt Rev Paul Swarbrick
Bishop of Lancaster
