Peter Ross senior will be ordained to the permanent diaconate on 18 September at St Margaret Mary church in Knotty Ash.

If the name sounds familiar, it is the father of Fr Peter Ross, who is currently assistant priest of St Wilfrid in Widnes.

Peter Ross senior will be ordained at 7pm, and the chief celebrant will be Archbishop John Sherrington.

Reflecting on his journey of discernment, Peter commented: “When I reflect on the beginning of my journey, I could never have imagined where this journey would lead me.

“Through my ministries in the Church and throughout my working life, I have always had a desire to help people and to be there for others.

“However, it was through particular experiences that this desire began to take on a deeper meaning and gradually led me to recognise God’s call in my life.

“This became very real for me when I was asked to help at the Missionaries of Charity homeless shelter in our city centre.

“The centre is run by the Sisters founded by St Teresa of Calcutta, whose life and witness have inspired so many through a dedication to serving God in the poorest of the poor.”

This encounter would form part of a journey that led him down several paths with his local church. One area that particularly grabbed him was Funeral Ministry, and how he could use his own experiences to help people.

He added: “Through my own experiences of grief and loss, I feel I can offer something of myself to families as they walk through their own grief.

“To accompany someone at such a vulnerable and painful time is a privilege. Equally, it is a joy to be a herald of the Gospel in these moments, bringing to light Jesus’ promise of eternal life.”

Peter believes he is answering God’s call to him by serving in the permanent diaconate, and also believes we all have a vocation to be holy.

He said: “I believe that God has chosen me and I have responded to God’s call. I also believe that we are all chosen by God.

“Each of us has a vocation to be holy, even if we do not always recognise it immediately. Sometimes God speaks through the people we meet, through our experiences and through opportunities to serve.”

Looking ahead, Peter is looking forward to his ordination, and is reflecting on all of the moments that have brought him here.

He said: “As I now look forward to planning and preparing for my ordination, I do so with gratitude for the journey that has brought me to this point.

“When I think back to where I started, I could never have imagined where God would lead me.

“What began with a simple invitation to “come and see” has become a journey of faith, service and vocation. I continue to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide me in the ministry that lies ahead.”