Pastoral Ministry and Formation Click here

Catholicism is the most ancient and enduring Christian Church.  Jesus established his Apostles under the authority of St Peter to go and proclaim his love to the world.  Today the Catholic Church continues this same mission guided by the Bishops, who are the successors of the Apostles, and under the leadership of the Pope, who is the successor of St Peter.

Permanent Diaconate

Might God be calling you to serve as a permanent deacon within the Clifton Diocese?

  • Do you have a deep commitment to your Catholic Faith and your prayer life?

  • Are you committed to your family and work – faithful to your responsibilities and generous with your time?

  • Do you have a strong desire to serve others, in the Church and in the wider community?

  • Have others suggested that you might consider the permanent diaconate to be a vocation for you?

Perhaps God is calling you.

We would always recommend that you have a chat first of all with your own parish priest. He will be able to help you to understand what the permanent diaconate is about. Next do have a talk with Deacon Steve Boughton who can help you with the initial discernment and whether or not you might consider applying to be accepted onto the formation programme for the permanent diaconate. — or if you know someone who might — please speak to

Canon John Cunningham Parish Priest or

Permenant Deacon Rev Michael Wilson-Smith in the parish

or contact Deacon Steve Boughton at diaconal.formation@cliftondiocese.comwww.cliftondiocese.com/vocations/

Click Here For the Diocese vocations page,

which covers vocations to the Priesthood, Permanent Diaconate Consecrated Lay Life Religious Life.

Permanent Deacon: Rev. Michael Wilson- Smith  

Contact michael.wilson-smith@Cliftondiocese.com

Rev Michael lives in Chard Junction with his wife Sue and is a member of the English Martyrs Parish covering the churches in Chard and Ilminster. Michael is a member of both the Parish Liturgy Committee and Pastoral Council. Michael is also the President of the local SVP Conference. and volunteers at the local Food Bank. In his leisure time, he enjoys participating in music groups both singing and playing mandolin, walking in the countryside with Sue and their two dogs and gardening when time allows. Michael began his diaconal formation in September 2022 and was ordained on 19th september 2026

Diaconal Ordination of three new Deacons

Three new Deacons were Ordained at Clifton Cathedral on Saturday 19th September 2026.

Kwame Adoku will be at St John the Baptist in Trowbridge, Michael Wilson-Smith will be at the English Martyrs in Chard and Krzysztof Lus will be at the Polish Church of Our Lady of Ostrobrama in Bristol.

 All the pictures here: Diaconal Ordination of three new Deacons