On a friday evening, in a crowded church Alan Neville said yes to the call of God.The church was filled with family, friends and parishioners of all ages. Representing Alan’s journey to-date were people from Ireland, Africa, Venezuela and St Alban’s parish.

The singing of the choir enhanced the liturgy. The  thought-provoking homily of Bishop George Stack gave all a deep insight into what Alan was undertaking “He (Alan) is called to have his own heart pierced so that the love of God can pour out for the weak, the poor, the hungry, the unborn and all his people. As a deacon and a priest his heart will no longer be his own". The ordination was followed by a celebratory barbecue and cultural evening hosted by the parish.

MSC Ordained Deacon

Excerpt from Bishop George Stack's homily:

If human beings can show such unselfish love for each other, how much more true is that of God himself? In Jesus, we see the innermost life of God revealed to us and for us in order to show how we should love one another. The cost of that revelation of love took Jesus to rejection, suffering and death. "Kill the messenger and we don't have to listen to the message" was the logic of the crucifixion. But on the cross, Jesus does not withdraw God's love. He does not say "these people do not deserve what I have done for them. They are unforgivable". On the cross, Jesus goes on revealing, goes on loving, goes on forgiving. The lowest point of human history thereby becomes the highest point of God's revelation. "Where is God in the midst of human suffering? " Here", says Jesus with arms outstretched on the cross.

The missionaries who are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus embrace these truths. They take their biblical inspiration from the piercing of the side of Jesus by the spear of the Roman soldier. St. John tells us that from the wounded heart of Jesus there poured blood and water - symbols of the life of the church. The charism of the founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Fr. Chevalier, teaches that the heart is shorthand language for that which is deepest within the life of a person. It is the heart which motivates us, gives identity, meaning and purpose to our lives. It is no accident that the bible refers to "the heart" no fewer than 1100 times. The prophet Ezekiel puts it well when he says "I shall give you a new heart .. I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead". (Ezek 36:26) .

The two foundation stones Alan Neville's missionary life is to contemplate the love of God made visible in Jesus, and show the compassion of Jesus to those who are in any need whatsoever. Contemplation is not looking at Jesus from the outside. It is engaging with him heart to heart. Cardinal Newman put it well when he said "Cor ad Cor Loquitur" "Heart speaks to heart in the silence of the Heart". And it is this communion with Jesus which empowers the missionary to have compassion- to com passio, to suffer with those who are marginalised,or dispossessed,or lonely,or lacking dignity for any reason whatsoever.

It is this com-passio that Alan commits himself as a Deacon today. He is called to have his own heart pierced so that the love of God can pour out for the weak, the poor, the hungry, the unborn and all his people. As a Deacon and a priest, his heart will no longer be his own. That is why he will commit himself to celibacy "for the sake of the kingdom" .His heart will burn with love for his local church, for his mission, for the people who will look to him as a personification of loving service. He knows he cannot do this alone. He in turn will need the love and support of his family, his friends and the fellowship of the 2000 members of the missionary brotherhood to which he belongs, who are working in fifty four different countries throughout the world. That is why he is surrounded by such prayer, love and affection tonight. When he prostrates himself in front of the altar we will pray that the example of the saints will inspire and sustain him in the gift he makes of himself to Christ and his Church. He will be clothed with Diaconal vestments, not as a sign of power and authority, but to cover up his human frailty. These vestments remind him that he is not alone, but is bound to and strengthened by the solidarity of the Order of Deacons which exists to "serve at table". He will be given the Book of the Gospels from which he will preach. But all of us who are ordained will tell him that there is more to preaching than standing in a pulpit, or indeed sitting in a chair. As one who preaches and lives by the Word of God, he will listen to the warning of the English poet Edwin Muir when he complained: "the word made flesh is here made word again". He must preach Jesus living in him and he in Jesus. That is why, Alan,you will take to heart the words of the Bishop in the "Traditio" the handing on of the gospels which concludes the ordination of a Deacon: Receive the gospel of Christ whose herald you now are.Believe what you read, imitate what you believe and practise what you preach.