On the afternoon of Saturday 5th May 2012, the Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Reverend Peter Smith presided at Mass in St George’s Cathedral to admit four aspirants into Candidacy for Holy Orders and for the Renewal of Diaconal Commitment for those already ordained as deacons.

The rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders comes at the end of the propaedeutic period which is a time of further discernment and spiritual development. They will now commence their formal formation at the diocesan seminary at Wonersh later this year.

The four aspirants were

• Julian Burling – Wimbledon
• Michael Butt – Wimbledon South
• Simon English – Tooting Bec
• Tom McCarthy – Tooting Bec

The rite of Candidacy for Holy Orders was followed by the Renewal of Diaconal Commitment where the ordained deacons repeat the promises made at their ordination. The text of the two rites can be found here.

Archbishop Peter Smith with Fr Peter Edwards and Deacons Mathew Manoharan and Peter Rennie

Breda McKinney sings the psalm

Archbishop Peter Smith with Deacons Mathew Manoharan and Peter Rennie during the rite of candidacy

The assembled deacons of the archdiocese and family of the aspirants

The four aspirants are examined by the Archbishop

Julian Burling receives his crucifix

Michael Butt receives his crucifix

Simon English receives his crucifix

Tom McCarthy receives his crucifix

Archbishop Peter with the four candidates

Archbishop Peter with the four candidates

Full size versions of these images can be found on the RCSouthwark Flickr page.