A Vocation Story: Deacon Paul Griffin

A new permanent deacon has arrived in Salford as this remarkable ministry continues to grow across the diocese.

We are delighted to introduce Deacon Paul Griffin, who has recently moved to Salford Diocese after three years of ministry in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.

Deacon Paul was ordained in July 2021 after a nurturing a deepening sense of faith that emerged from his life as a Cradle Catholic.

“It had always been in the background”, Deacon Paul explained, “I had always practiced right through my life. There were some sparser patches but I always stayed in touch – but in a fairly low-key kind of way.”

The idea of the permanent diaconate was something that was familiar to Deacon Paul, just not in terms of a vocation; but it was perhaps the reprisal of his childhood role of altar server that began his process of vocation.

He said: “I had served as a kid but not for 25 years or so and had been nudged back into it. It’s an interesting thing because being on the Sanctuary makes you think a lot more about the Liturgy. In some ways it’s distracting, I suppose, but in other ways there’s that sense of seeing something afresh from a different angle.”

This surprising return to service was a turning point in Deacon Paul’s faith journey, supported by his career as a teacher, and a shared sense of faith with his wife.

He explained: “I’m a history teacher but was starting to teach more RE. I also have a very wonderful wife, who is much more holy and more of a theologian is than I am. Like lots of couples, we’re more than the sum of our parts and being able to talk about your faith in a really deep way is really healthy.”

The Call to the Permanent Diaconate

However, this ever-deepening faith came to a point in 2015, during a conversation with a friend, who introduced the idea of a vocation to the permanent diaconate in a very direct way.

Deacon Paul remembered: “I was out and having a curry with a priest friend of mine and before we got to the end of the poppadoms, he said, “the bishop has asked us to look out for anyone who might make good permanent deacons. You ought to consider it, you know?”

“It was just the right thing to say, and it quickly became obvious that it was something I should be exploring.”

Spurred on by a dual sense of being called to serve God and community, Deacon Paul approached his parish priest about this sure sense of vocation and, with the support of his wife and children, later enrolled on his four-year formation training.

He said: “It’s slow in terms of the fact the process is slow but it’s important to give yourself that time to work out if this is real or not. During formation, I never had any doubt that I was doing the right thing. It’s just important to give yourself that time.”

In July 2021, Deacon Paul was ordained and he quickly began to settle into his new life balancing ministry with his family and work life.

He said: “The increased challenge of being a deacon is that you often have a wife and children who are on that journey with you, but my family have been great and it doesn’t seem strange to them.

“In terms of time, we tend to worship together anyway; there are Masses where I’ve been assisting as deacon, my wife has been doing the reading, and my son has been the altar server. If you stop and think about it too much, it’s a bit odd, but it’s actually just a normal part of family life.”

In addition to assisting at Mass, Deacon Paul was called to serve in a variety of ways, from leading Bible study groups, helping to deliver sacramental programmes, and leading services that put him at the heart of the highs and lows of human life.

He said: “One of the surprises is funerals, which is something I was very nervous about, but just being there for someone, talking to someone who has lost someone, and helping even just a tiny bit feels like an amazing privilege.

“In lots of ways, sharing in the joy of a baptism or a wedding is an easier task than introducing yourself to someone who is suffering extreme grief but there is a huge sense of privilege in being able to serve people like that, it’s incredible.”

However, it wasn’t just in these key life moments that Deacon Paul found his sense of fulfilment, but in the everyday activities of ordinary parish life.

He said: “I love being involved in the Liturgy and I love the beauty of the Catholic Liturgy, but one of the things I really enjoy is standing at the church door after Mass.

“You just get to talk to people. If you’re having coffee after Mass, you can go and chat to the person sitting on their own, and that’s a wonderful part of it all.”

From this sense of accompaniment, Deacon Paul recognised a powerful aspect of the permanent diaconate in getting to know parishioners and helping them to recognise and unlock their own unique call.

“Everyone has a part to play in everyone else’s vocation”

Describing the permanent diaconate as a ministry of service, Deacon Paul explained that the role of the deacon was “to do what needs to be done”, whether that is moving chairs in the parish hall, pouring tea after Mass, or standing in front of a packed-out church on Sunday.

“And sometimes”, he continued, “you’re the one who’s got someone else to stand at the front, and that’s pretty amazing.

“It’s about animating people and giving people the chance to do things. And that’s where it’s helping that we have families and jobs because it’s easier for people to make that leap: they see what I’m doing and think that they’re not so different to me, so perhaps they can do it too.

“Everyone has a part to play in everyone else’s vocation.”

After three years of ministry, Deacon Paul is just at the start of his vocation journey, a ministry he describes as “fulfilling, inspiring, and surprising”. But as he begins a new chapter in our diocese, Deacon Paul has a powerful piece of advice for anyone considering a possible vocation to the permanent diaconate.

He shared: “When I was first in formation, one of the deacons said ‘You have to be ready and you have to work hard, but when it comes to it, the Holy Spirit will be there with you and you will be amazed at the strength that you get.’

“This wonderful ministry is different for every deacon, in every parish, with every parish priest. There is no one, single pattern. Whatever somebody’s talents or gifts, there is something there. Our job is to trust and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.”

Are you discerning a vocation?

If you are praying about a possible vocation, would like to find out more, or speak to our team, please email vocations@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or visit our vocations page by clicking here.