The celebration of an ordination to the Diaconate for Ashwin was always planned for St Joseph’s Cathedral, where the priests and the people of our Diocese could gather and welcome our new Deacon. Ashwin was ordained in the presence of his family and members of the parish community of the Capricorn Coast who had seen Ashwin grow up in our midst.  We had a wonderful choir and organist, being a mixture of Cathedral Parish members and students from Holy Spirit Seminary.  Members of Holy Spirit Seminary, led by our own Monsignor Grace, were there with of course many, many friends of our very friendly deacon, Ashwin.

Ashwin's parents and family had pride of place and were obviously full of pride and joy.  

Our best wishes and prayers are with you Ashwin, as you begin this new stage of service to the Church of Jesus Christ, here in the Diocese of Rockhampton.

Homily by Bishop Michael for the Ordination

Dear Ashwin, my dear son.

The Review magazine of this Diocese in the early 2015 edition reported the significant events of that year, including the priestly ordination of Fr Andrew.  It also proudly announced that a young man from Yeppoon had entered formation and continued that connection the Rockhampton Diocese has with our seminary, Holy Spirit Seminary.  Ashwin, a teacher from the staff of St Ursula’s, began the journey that today in this cathedral signifies a special moment of history in this cathedral.

My memory of Ashwin was back in 2014 just after I arrived in the Diocese.  There was a group of young students from the colleges of St Ursula’s and St Brendan’s being prepared for the sacraments, and there was Ashwin in the middle of them all, telling them about Jesus Christ.  I blinked and I thought, this is an interesting young man.  After many chats, Ashwin began his formation in 2015.  Here was a young man, ecclesially grounded in the parish community of Sacred Heart, Yeppoon and connected with the mission of the Church through the ministry of Catholic education.  Like the Samuel of today’s first reading, Ashwin heard the call, the call of God, while engaged in the ministry of teaching and the ministry of campus ministry.  There he heard the voice of Eli calling him to something different and new, affirming his gift with young people and invited young Ashwin to consider a vocation in ministry, rather than in mathematics.  And so, the first voice of Eli on this young man’s life.  The voice of Eli continued through the voice of his Parish Priest, who is with us today – Fr Bryan, and these recent years through the formators at Holy Spirit Seminary, and the various parish assignments in this Diocese.  The men and women of our Diocese, the priests, the people of God of this Diocese have assisted Ashwin in his discernment as all of the voices of Eli called him to serve God’s people through leadership as a priest.  Ashwin having heard and been called by God, the Church today through the laying on of hands and the prayer of the Holy Spirit, confirms that call in you and invites you to use your gifts to connect our people with God and with the Church.

Ashwin your brother priests who are with you today, they too have stood at this altar and the altars of their Dioceses and Cathedrals, and gazed into the future with their Bishop, and God invited them to join with Jesus Christ and engage in his mission.  The Bishop prayed, as today the Bishop will pray a very powerful prayer of the Church over you, as given to us through the Apostles.  This day in the Ordo is set down as the dedication of the basilica’s of St Peter and St Paul, basilicas built on the places where those two Apostles died for their faith.  St Peter, the holder and deposit of faith, and St Paul, who gave the faith a pastoral dimension.  St Paul’s Cathedral Basilica is where my predecessor, Francis Rush, was ordained and celebrated his first Mass after Ordination.  And so we link in with the Bishops of this Diocese who have ordained the priests and the deacons of this Diocese ever since the beginning.  But the prayer of the church that will be prayed over you today, Ashwin, the prayer will go like this – Lord, send forth the Holy Spirit, that Ashwin may be strengthened by the gifts of your seven-fold grace, to carry out faithfully the work of the ministry.  Send forth the Holy Spirit.  Ashwin, you have been consecrated to God through your Baptism, your mother has ensured that, and your Dad supporting her, and strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit through Confirmation, to walk with Jesus as His disciple.  And now the Holy Spirit comes upon you again and through the laying on of hands, strengthens you for the mission ahead.

It is not incidental that we listen to the words of the seasoned pastor Paul, as he speaks to a young Timothy.  Paul knew the family well - his mother, his grandmother, the spiritual pedigree – he knew that family so well, as we know your spiritual pedigree of your family who are here in love and support for you today.  But Paul knew the faith of the family and also the enthusiasm of Timothy and his youthfulness.  May the words of Paul spoken to Timothy find a place with you now, as Paul through the ages, invites you to a ministry of love, in your faith and in your purity.  Like the words that are of a friend that were offered recently to you - saying your greatest strength is creativity, and your greatest challenge is containing it.  That friend, by the way, is with us in prayer today.  And with the Lord, Ashwin, may you scale any walls with energy and enthusiasm.  Building on the words of Paul, the church now invites you to excel in every virtue with the love that is sincere, with a concern for the poor and the sick, with self-discipline and holiness and exemplary conduct, so that you may lead God’s people with energy and with love.  The prayer of the Church, which the Bishop prays over you - may you remain strong and steadfast in Christ, and through Christ give to the world a pure conscience as you imitate Christ.

Ashwin, the ministry is about Christ.  The years at the seminary have built on the pastoral experience, firstly of parish life in Yeppoon, teaching at St Ursula’s and being formed in our parish schools of Sacred Heart and St Brendan’s College.  The heart of the shepherd has been under construction for many years, as you have been formed for God’s people in this Diocese of Central Queensland, and being made ready to go firstly to the parishes of our Central Highlands and to proclaim Jesus Christ.

May God who has begun the good work in you now bring it to fulfillment. Amen