East Anglian seminarian Anthony ordained as a deacon

East Anglian seminarian Anthony Asomugha was among five students ordained to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate at the Chapel at St Mary’s College, Oscott on July 2.

Archbishop Bernard Longley was the Principal Celebrant and he was joined by the resident priests and seminarians along with many visiting priests, family, and friends of the candidates.

Bishop Peter said: “We rejoice that Anthony was ordained as a Deacon by Archbishop Bernard Longley. He has now completed his seminary formation and has graduated with high honours.  Please keep him in your prayers as he prepares for parish ministry in anticipation of his ordination to the priesthood next year.

Dcn Anthony said: “I am very happy having been ordained to the diaconate. The ceremony was very moving and at various times I had to remind myself that it was all happening in reality. It was indeed the day which the Lord had made. I was struck by the words from Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus says that whoever preferred father or mother to Him was not worthy of Him. Archbishop Bernard called me a “Herald of the Gospel” – perhaps I should add the suffix HG to my name! I was very moved by rites of vesting where the newly ordained deacon receives the stole and dalmatic. For the rest of the Mass, I assisted the archbishop at the Altar and for the first time gave the liturgical invitations to “offer each other the sign of peace” and to “go in peace”.

“I am very grateful to the many priests, parishioners, friends, and family members who supported me, and who affirmed my sense of vocation through the ups and downs of formation. May God bless them abundantly. I am grateful to Bishop Peter for his encouragement and confidence in me. He has asked me to serve at St George’s Sprowston where I have been based since 2020.

“I became part of the Church in East Anglia through my undergraduate studies at UEA, and now, with the diaconal ordination, I have joined the brotherhood of diocesan clergy. I feel a sense of happiness and fulfilment which I think comes from the being dedicated to God in this special way. And I know that through His grace, I will be a sign of Christ serving His people in East Anglia. I ask for your prayers as I serve as deacon in Norwich in preparation for priestly ordination some time in the future.”

You can watch the ordinations here and  and see a picture gallery here.

Pictured top is Dcn Anthony Asomugha with, from the left, Fr John Ablewhite, Fr Pat Cleary, and Fr Sean Connolly. Pictured below Is Anthony with his father Mr Uchey Asomugha.

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