Charles Hyson can trace the start of his journey to becoming a deacon to a snow trip with his family in 2017.
But his desire to serve at the altar “close to Jesus” began many years before that in India when he became an altar server when he was very young. It continued after he and his wife Maria moved to Australia in 1996, and he became an acolyte at their first parish in Auburn. Then when they moved to St Andrew the Apostle Parish in Marayong, and their two girls joined their family, he maintained this service as an acolyte, as well as taking on other ministries.
All that changed at the snow, however, when the “deep desire” to become a deacon started.
Charles remembers he and his family had returned from the slopes on a Saturday and had decided to attend Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration.
“During the Eucharistic celebration I heard that still, small voice asking me, ‘Charles, what will you do for me?’,” he says.
When he got back to Sydney he spoke to Monsignor Ron McFarlane, the Parish Priest at Marayong at the time, about the possibility of becoming a deacon. “He said give it a go, but keep praying. If it happens, it happens,” Charles says.
Now seven years later Charles will be ordained to the permanent diaconate at a Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday, 7 December.
“Ever since migrating to Australia I have experienced God’s blessings very much, and I wish to share God’s blessings with others while I have the strength and energy,” he says.
‘He sees the importance of us’
The permanent diaconate is an ordained ministry separate from the priesthood and the laity. Permanent deacons – as distinct from deacons who are ordained on their path to the priesthood – can be married or single, and help in the liturgical and pastoral work of the Church.
They distribute the Eucharist, baptise new Catholics and assist at weddings and funerals. They can also be involved in social justice, prison, aged care and youth ministries.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, is a strong supporter of the permanent diaconate in the Diocese, and Charles says this support “encourages us, and he sees the importance of us”.
Bishop Vincent formally installed Charles as acolyte in 2021, as part of his path towards the diaconate.
“You could feel something different that happened there,” Charles says of that Mass. “I felt something very, very special, being called and being blessed by Bishop Vincent. The graces that flowed through it is something special that I can’t explain.”
Charles Hyson, pictured bottom right, with others who were in formation to become permanent deacons and lectors in 2021, with Director for Formation for the diaconate in the Diocese of Parramatta, Deacon Tony Hoban (second left) and Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta (centre). Pictured are back row (L-R) Charles Abela, Batsirai Maringehosi and David Dowling, and front row (L-R) Jerome D’Rozario and Alan Skofic. Image: Supplied
Being open to God
Now as he reflects on his impending ordination, Charles says he is struck by how God has guided him to this point – allowing him to fit in all the study required for the diaconate around his busy life.
His job as a project manager at a freight forwarding company requires frequent travel. And with his duties at St Anthony of Padua Parish in Toongabbie, where he has been an acolyte since April 2023, and his family life with wife of 28 years Maria and their two daughters, aged 21 and 17, there is little time left in the week.
Charles says he has always put his marriage and family before anything else, and when it came to the extra commitments of the diaconate he had to place his trust in God that he would be able to manage.
“It’s pure grace that with my work, I managed to do two subjects a semester.
“If you’re open to God and if you listen and if you’re willing to do your part, He will do His part.”
‘A prayerful support’
Not that he’s had to do it all on his own. Maria has been by his side during his formation, attending sessions and retreats with him.
Being the Sacramental Coordinator at St Andrew the Apostle, as well as a teacher at St Andrews Primary School Marayong, she is also deeply involved in church and parish life.
“I believe my role is that of a prayerful support firstly, and the other is just to have a listening ear,” Maria says.
“I’m able to have dialog with Charles all the time. I read all his assignments, so that way I get to understand where he’s coming from.”
Charles says once he is ordained a deacon he hopes to continue to develop and grow deeper in his spiritual formation, to be more and more attentive and aware of the needs of the parish and the people he serves.
“More importantly I want to continue to be the reflection of Jesus to His people, by being His hands, feet, eyes, ears and heart.”
All are invited to attend the Ordination of Charles. For more information:
https://parracatholic.org/events/ordination-to-the-diaconate-of-mr-charles-hyson-7-december/
If you would like to know more about the permanent diaconate, visit www.parracatholic.org/contribute/discern-my-vocation/diaconate/
