The Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome is the burial place of the great apostle after whom it is named. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart (19 June), the beautiful basilica was bustling with crowds of pilgrims and tourists as it always is. An orchestra tuned their instruments in readiness for a rehearsal in honour of the Year of St Paul which was set to close on 29 June 2009, and in welcome of the Year of the Priest, so proclaimed by the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, for the benefit of the universal Church.

The eight deacons ranged in ages from their early forties to their late sixties, having come from a variety of backgrounds and personal circumstances. Some candidates had grown children of their own, who were in attendance this day, and fittingly they prayed during the ritual to the memory of their deceased wives. Those to be ordained were representative of five continents – two Englishmen, two Australians, an American, a citizen from Zimbabwe, one from Malaysia and a candidate for a monastery in Mexico. John Purnell, the candidate from the Diocese of Broome, has now completed three years at the Beda College. After his ordination he will have one year of studies to finish, in Rome, in preparation for priesthood.

John, who once studied for Ministry in the Anglican Church, hails from Newcastle in NSW, is the only son of Jacqueline and the late Herbert Purnell. Having experienced a number of different jobs John presented as a volunteer at Balgo where he worked with Father Matt Digges. During his preparation for ministry, John has also spent time in Derby Parish in addition to accompanying the Cross and Icon through the Diocese in preparation for World Youth Day last year. Rev Deacon Purnell made a major contribution to the administration of the WYD pilgrimage when he showed outstanding leadership of the one hundred and twenty pilgrims from the Kimberley who attended the festival in Sydney in July 2008