Scottish Catholic Observer

Ryan Black was ordained a deacon on Sunday May 5 by Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, who flew out to the college for the occasion.

Milestone

Ahead of his ordination, Deacon Black, 27, said it was ‘an incredible feeling to know that six years of formation’ was coming to a landmark for him.

“You have these little milestones along the way in seminary,” he said.

“You become a lector, and then an acolyte, you become a candidate when you start wearing the clerical collar in Rome, and they’re all important steps along the way.

“Obviously, this is the biggest step that will happen in Rome itself.”

Turning point

A few years back, Deacon Black was a university student and he said he assumed he would end up married with children.

A turning point for him was a trip to South Africa with a priest and volunteers to establish parish links between Scottish and South African churches.

He entered seminary and, six years later, he said he was ‘excited, nervous, afraid, tense, and stressed’ about his ordination to the diaconate, the last milestone before he will become a priest, which he said will be the ‘climax of seven years of formation.’

Gratitude

Deacon Black thanked his parents and brother, Chris, for helping him through his journey that will eventually see him become a priest in Paisley Diocese.

“Back home in Port Glasgow, they have been a huge support to me these past six years, but also throughout all of my life—particularly when I had to make the difficult decision to leave university early to come to Rome,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy time but they were there for me and wanted to make sure that I was happy, so I have to thank them first and foremost.”

The newly ordained deacon extended his gratitude to his wider family, his friends, and the priests he has met along the way.

Vocational advice

He recommended that anyone considering a vocation as a priest, a permanent deacon or as a religious Brother or Sister, should speak to their diocesan vocations director who will help point them in the right direction.

He added ‘the most important thing is to pray, there’s no substitute for it.’

Bishop Keenan

At his ordination, Bishop Keenan said: “We are gathered here for the ordination to the diaconate of our friend and brother, Ryan.

“His ordination gives us much consolation and delight and brings the college an ever-renewed sense of purpose and meaning, as do all its ordinations as the years go by.”