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Congratulations to Deacons Gary Carter and Scott Coleman (pictured second and third from the right), who were ordained to the diaconate for our diocese on Saturday 15 June at Westminster Cathedral, by Bishop John Sherrington, together with fellow Allen Hall seminarians from Westminster and Southwark dioceses. Deacons Gary and Scott are continuing their studies at Allen Hall, in preparation for priestly ordination.

Deacon Gary is from the Parish of St Erconwald in Walton on Thames. He studied Theology at the University of Chester for his undergraduate and masters degrees and after university worked at the local Catholic secondary school before beginning seminary. During this time, I was received into the Church and eventually began the formal process of discernment for the priesthood. He has spent time on placements in Chichester, Worthing, Horsham and Woking and Christ the Prince of Peace, Weybridge.

Deacon Scott in the Church of England while studying Law at university, and soon began exploring ideas about vocation. He spent some time working in parishes in central London to try it out, and then began training for the Anglican ministry. He relates how, during that time, he "felt the pull of the Universal Church and became a Catholic. After a year’s placement in a Catholic parish I went to the English College in Valladolid, Spain, for an introductory year." Deacon Scott has spent time on placement in Guildford Parish.

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‍To find out more about our diocesan seminarians, please click here.

Image: CBCEW