Two new members of the Permanent Diaconate have been ordained by Bishop Ralph at the Cathedral Church of St Marie, in Sheffield.
Deacons Martin Frain and John Gilliver were ordained on the Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist before a crowded congregation, including many priests and fellow deacons.
Readings at the Ordination included St Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians to lead lives worthy of their vocation, read by Deacon John’s wife, Maria, and the account of the appointment of the first Deacons, from the Acts of the Apostles, read by Deacon Martin’s brother, Kevin.
The Gospel, read by Deacon Simon Hegarty, focused on Jesus calling ‘a man called Matthew’ to follow him before rebuking the Pharisees for asking why he ate with ‘tax collectors and sinners’, telling them: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick…I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”
Both Deacons Martin and John will serve in the Doncaster area at St Peter in Chains, and Blessed English Martyrs, Askern respectively.
Deacon Martin was born in Sheffield to an Irish family and was the youngest of Paddy and Annie Frain’s eight children.
He was educated at St Catherine’s Primary School and Notre Dame and gained his grounding and love of the faith as an Altar Server at St Catherine’s, Pitsmoor.
He worked as a carpenter and joiner before moving into construction management and working for one of South Yorkshire’s local authorities.
Playing Irish traditional music is a big part of his life and he won an all-Ireland title for the Uilleann Pipes in 1987, two years before he married Suzanne Corcoran, herself a champion Irish dancer.
The couple have four children.
Martin says of his decision to seek ordination as a Deacon: “There was no great pull from God towards an ordained ministry but more a gentle nudge on life’s directional rudder.
“Everything seemed to fall into place – a loving family who have given nothing but support, a new change of job that allowed for times of study and pastoral experience and a wife who knew me so well that she recognised my calling before myself.
“How could I refuse God’s call.”
Deacon John is a retired fire fighter and former Doncaster Councillor, who represented the Askern Ward for four years before, as he puts it, he felt a “strong sense of being called to serve a much higher Authority.”
He started out in the church as an Altar Server, aged seven, and he and his wife of 39 years, Maria, are Readers and Eucharistic Ministers in addition to helping other Catholic couples to prepare for married life.
The couple have two adult children, a son who has Down syndrome and associated medical conditions and lives with them and a married daughter
John sees parallels between his 30 years as a fire fighter with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and his new role as a Deacon.
“We are trained to deal with every eventuality, the primary objective being to save life. As someone recently said: ‘As a fire fighter you put out many fires, may you now light them instead!’”
In their spare time, John and Maria enjoy taking their son to watch the Dons Rugby League team and watching Formula 1 racing on the television.
“Rev Dcn Martin Frain from St. Peter’s, Doncaster, and Rev Dcn John Gilliver, from Blessed English Martyrs, Askern, were ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Ralph at St. Marie’s Cathedral on 21 September 2024, having completed four years of formation. They were joined by parishioners from their parishes, and clergy from across the diocese and further afield. As part of the ordination ceremony Martin and John made ordination vows, promised obedience to the Bishop and his successors, and after the laying on of hands received the Gospels of Christ from the Bishop, whose herald they now are. After being vested in a stole and dalmatic by their wives, the other deacons present came forward to offer Martin and John the kiss of peace, and welcomed them into the order of deacons. The Assistant Director of Deacons responsible for pre-ordination formation, Rev Dr Tony Strike, said: “Congratulations to Martin and John. It is wonderful that the Lord is continuing to call forward servants to care for and serve God’s people. It has been a privilege to walk with them both on their journey of formation, and to celebrate this special day with them. We ask that the Lord Jesus continue to bless these new deacons and their ministry; and that they may know true humility and be faithful in their service to the Lord and his people.”
Deacon Tony Strike
PHOTOS
By Bob Rae
