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Our new Deacons
On Sunday 17 July Bishop Tom Neylon ordained Daniel Piwowar and Pearse McDonagh to the permanent diaconate in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. In his homily Bishop Tom reflected on the ministry of the diaconate saying, ‘as disciples of Christ we can serve the Lord best when we turn towards him, attentive to his word, so that we can then turn outwards with confidence and hope as we serve the needs of others’.
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Daniel who works as an HGV driver was born in 1980 and grew up in Poland coming to the UK with his family in 2007. In 2014 they moved to Stockbridge Village where he will serve in St Albert the Great parish and the Knowsley Deanery. In 2005 he completed a 5-year study of Catholic theology and philosophy in Poland and after moving to the UK decided to use his formation and theological studies as a permanent deacon. On his ordination day he says, ‘I felt very calm end excited at the same time. It was the finish line of a long process of formation and discernment, but most importantly it was the beginning of a new journey with Christ’.
Daniel goes on to say, ‘I am very grateful to my wife, children, and the rest of my family for their support and help before and during that day, also massive thanks to my friends and members of St Albert’s parish’.
Pearse was born in Mullingar, Ireland in 1970 and his formative years were spent almost exclusively in South Africa. In 1988, he had a profound religious experience during a Redemptorist parish mission which led him on the path to the permanent diaconate. He will serve in the parish of Holy Family, Platt Bridge and the Wigan and Leigh Deanery and says, ‘as a member of Holy Family Parish for 16 years, it is both exciting and humbling to serve the parish family as a new permanent deacon’.
He has been married to Nichola for 14 years and has twin sons, Joshua and Dominic aged 13. He says that ‘being a recently ordained deacon has brought with it a deeper sense of family life and a renewed sense of direction for our family’.
Pearse describes his ordination day as ‘significantly powerful - being ordained in the presence of family, parishioners and fellow clergy was life changing. It marked the beginning of a new ministry, and for me a new chapter in which I find myself being equipped and consecrated to bring the joy and Good News of the Gospel to those I serve’.
Daniel and Pearse with their families and Bishop Tom Neylon
On the following Saturday Daniel and Pearse travelled to the Isle of Man to celebrate the ordination of Graeme Easton in St Mary of the Isle and St Joseph, Douglas, by Bishop Tom Williams.
Graeme has been married to Heather for 36 years and has two married daughters. He has lived on the Isle of Man for 22 years and chairs the Parish Pastoral Council for St Mary’s and St Columba’s Castletown and Port Erin where he will serve and also in the Isle of Man Deanery.
He has a mathematics degree from Cambridge University and is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries holding the Institute of Directors' Diploma in Company Direction. He has held a number of senior finance roles with various
companies in the UK and Isle of Man and is currently a nonexecutive director of Hansard Global plc.
Graeme is a trustee of the archdiocese and a trustee and director of the Leprosy Mission (Isle of Man), treasurer to the Friends of Rushen Silver Band and a past Chairman of the Manx Actuarial Society. He is also a volunteer with Isle of Man Railways, the Crogga Valley Railway and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria.
He says, ‘It was a great joy for me to celebrate my ordination at St Mary’s where I really felt the love and support of my family, and so many friends and parishioners. I appreciated having some of my fellow deacons present, particularly Pearse McDonagh and Daniel Piwowar who I had trained with and had been ordained the previous week. I am Honorary President of the Rushen Silver Band who led the music of the Mass, really lifting everybody. It was special that my wife, Heather, led the litany of saints which was a profoundly moving and deeply spiritual experience for me. At the end of Mass, I just remember the joy throughout the church as I spoke to people and had photos taken and then afterwards at the reception on a steam train from the Isle of Man Steam Railway where I am a volunteer.’ Daniel, Graeme and Pearse at St Mary’s, Douglas
what’s on september
Thursday 1 September World Day of Prayer for the care of creation.
Saturday 10 September and Sunday 11 September Heritage Open Days 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm each day at Holy Cross and St Helen church, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1EF.
Sunday 11 September Education Sunday
Liverpool Bach Collective Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 127 ‘Herr Jesu Christ, wah’r Mensch und Gott.’ (‘Lord Jesus Christ, true man and true God.’) 6.30 pm at Holy Cross Church, Church Lane, Woodchurch, Wirral, CH 49 7LS. Singers and Players directed by Philip Duffy. www.liverpoolbach.com Email: liverpoolbach@icloud.com
Tuesday 13 September Time out on Tuesday – enjoy some personal quiet time to deepen your relationship with God. 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com
Thursday 15 September Newman Circle Talk: ‘My Path to Rome’. Speaker: Father John Goddard, former Anglican Bishop of Burnley. 7.30 pm at St Helen’s Parish Centre, Crosby, L23 7TQ. Tea and coffee will be available at the start of the meeting. Details from Secretary, John Potts Tel: 07889 841096.
Friday 16-Sunday 18 September ‘The Call of Creation’ Women’s Weekend at the Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road, L22 1RD or join by zoom. Residential places available. Details contact Jenny Tel: 0151 949 1199 Email jenny@irenaeus.co.uk
Saturday 17 September Heritage Open Day 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm at St Patrick’s church, Park Place, Liverpool, L8 5RA.
Heritage Open Day 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm at Holy Cross and St Helen church, Corporation Street, St Helens, WA10 1EF.
Friday 23 September The Sixteen Choral Pilgrimage present a programme of English choral music centred around Hubert Parry’s emotional Songs of Farewell. 7.30 pm at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Tickets £8.00 - £16.00 Details and booking: https://thesixteen.com/event/thechoral-pilgrimage-2022-liverpool/
Saturday 24 September Cursillo 50th Anniversary Mass of thanksgiving and exhibition, reflections and witness talks in the Gibberd Room of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King to celebrate 50 years of Cursillo in England and Wales. 10.00 am – 4.00 pm with Mass at 12.00 noon celebrated by Bishop Tom Williams.
‘Come apart and rest awhile’ Quiet Day 10.00 am at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Lance Lane; Liverpool, L15 6TW. Please bring your own lunch, tea/coffee are provided. Suggested offering for the day is £10.00. No booking required. For more information contact Sr Winnie Tel: 0151 722 2271 email: morleywinifred6@gmail.com
Sunday 25 September Day of Prayer in thanksgiving for the harvest
Tuesday 27 September St Vincent de Paul Festival Mass 7.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. Celebrant: Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP. Mass to celebrate the work of the SVP in Liverpool and across southwest Lancashire, all welcome. Wednesday 28 September All ladies of the Archdiocese are invited to a ‘discussion group meeting’ at 7.30pm in the Gild Hall, Formby It is hoped that a more formal ‘women’s discussion group’ will start to meet on a regular basis and will move around the archdiocese with a view to linking into the National Board of Catholic Women. For further information contact Pat Murphy Email: Mpmmurphypat@aol.com or Claire McCarthy claremccarthy1@icloud.com
Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October Living Christ Retreat Take time out to do something special for yourself listen to talks about people’s experience of Christ in their lives, and share prayerful conversation, in safe company, share as much as you are comfortable with. 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm (Friday) and 9.30 am to 5.00 pm (Saturday) including Mass at St John Stone Parish Hall, 1 Sandbrook Way, Ainsdale, PR8 3RN. Food provided. No Charge - Donations welcome. Details and booking: Tel: 01704 577722. Email: heartstone@rcaol.org.uk
Looking ahead:
Sunday 2 October ‘Pause for Hope’ for all those affected in any way by cancer 3.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. A service led by Bishop Tom Williams, Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool; Canon Crispin Pailing, Rector of Liverpool and Major David Taylor, Salvation Army. Speaker: Maria Breslin, Editor Liverpool Echo. Homily Canon Crispin Pailing. Music by SingMeMerseyside choir.
‘History of St Patrick’s.’ Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP will visit St Patrick's, Park Place, Liverpool, L8 5RA at 4.00 pm for the press launch of Michael O'Neill's new ‘History of St Patrick's, 1821-2021’. Over 7,000 people have been buried below and beside St Patrick's since 1827 and are commemorated in the book. They will be remembered at Mass celebrated before the book launch. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
