Vocations Spotlight: Deacon Anthony Reilly

As the Diocese of East Anglia continues to celebrate its 50th Jubilee Year, we are shining a spotlight on the people who live out their vocations in service to our diocesan family. Each month, we meet a member of our clergy or someone in formation, reflecting on their call, their ministry and their hopes for the future.

This month, we hear from Rev. Dr Anthony Reilly, Deacon at Our Lady & St Walstan’s Parish in Costessey, who shares how his vocation first took shape, what inspires him in his ministry today, and why fostering vocations remains vital to the life of our diocese.

I grew up in Ireland but stopped practising my faith as a teenager. I came back to the Church when I was living abroad and got involved in my local parish. I really felt drawn to the liturgy and eventually I had the idea of being a priest in the back of my head, but did not really think it was possible or right for me. As my faith became more important, I started praying for a vocation (any vocation!). What really helped me think about priesthood seriously was getting to know priests and their lives more, and particularly the encouragement and validation of friends, and even some strangers. That helped me to be open to taking the first steps and saying yes to God’s call.

Since I’ve started my discernment, my love of the liturgy has certainly deepened and even in the last few months as a deacon it has been a joy to proclaim the Gospel, preach and give Benediction. However, I’ve also found that chaplaincy has become very important to me. Placements in hospitals and prisons, places I thought I would struggle, have given me the moments where I’ve most felt the presence of God in my life and ministry.

I’m here in East Anglia firstly because I worked in Cambridge for several years and became very involved in my local parish. Beyond that, it was in the diocese that my vocation was encouraged and nurtured and where it felt that it made “sense” to discern priesthood. Priests are incardinated at ordination into a particular local Church or diocese and, while we benefit enormously from the great pastoral care of priests from outside the diocese and religious orders, that connection with the local Church is important. The best solution to the shortage of priests, albeit longer term, is to encourage more vocations in our diocese.

I would say to those considering a vocation that my own journey involved many little steps and moments. If you’ve any sense of a vocation or feel drawn to the priesthood, talk to your parish priest, talk to those around you and explore it – it is a journey and it takes time. Each little step can build up to a clearer picture of what God wants you to do.

The support of others around me has been vital for my discernment. I think parishes can make an enormous difference. I have found a wonderful welcome in various parish placements in the diocese as a seminarian. I have genuinely felt prayed for and the grace from prayer during a few difficult times. Having set times for prayer in parish (for example, periods of adoration or regular bidding prayers for vocations) can really make a difference. I think it is also vital for parishes to talk about vocations, to suggest to people that they might have a vocation. If it was not for others encouraging me, and a vocation being positive in their eyes, I think it would still be just in the back of my mind!

Vocations take time to nurture but I’m hopeful for the future. I’ve met many people around the diocese who would make great priests, deacons or religious and I pray that as many people as possible will consider what their vocation is or encourage others in theirs.

Picture credit: Oscott College (Oscott College | Flickr)

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