On Saturday, 13 June, the Feast of St Antony of Padua, Jonathan Burden was ordained to the transitional Diaconate at Westminster Cathedral. Jonathan (pictured right with Bishop Alan) has been a seminarian for the Diocese of Brentwood and has been serving in the Parish of St George’s in Walthamstow for some time.
He began his studies at Valladolid in 2017 before a spell at Oscott. He completed his studies for the priesthood at Allen Hall Seminary in Chelsea and was ordained deacon with his classmates by the Rt Rev Paul McAleenan, Titular Bishop of Mercia and Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster. Jonathan was ordained with three others: Paolo Gambardella (Diocese of Westminster), Eric Lobsinger (Diocese of Portsmouth) and Tom Mawanga (Diocese of Westminster). Deacon Jonathan said afterwards: “I have really enjoyed serving the parish at Walthamstow. It has been a long journey to get to this point and I am relieved and grateful to become a deacon and serve God in this new way.”
On 4 July, Deacon Andrei Illes, currently studying at the Beda College in Rome, will be ordained to the priesthood at Brentwood Cathedral. He is originally from Romania and was a nurse for 15 years before his studies for the priesthood. Deacon Andrei, who was on pastoral placement last summer in the Cathedral Parish, will be ordained by Bishop Alan in an ordination Mass beginning at 11.30am.
Picture by Claire Bailey
Watch the Westminster diaconal ordinations below.