The ordination to the Transitional Diaconate of Paul Laverty will take place on Saturday 13th April at 10.30am in the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome.

Paul (35) will be ordained a Deacon for the Diocese of Paisley, together with Aidan Matheson for the Diocese of Aberdeen and Christopher Furmage for the Diocese of Motherwell. He will be ordained by Bishop Joseph Toal, the Bishop of Motherwell.

Speaking ahead of his ordination, Paul said:

“As I prepare to become a Deacon, I give heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported me on my journey. I thank everyone who has prayed for me and ask that they continue to pray for me in these days ahead. Inspired by the words of St Thomas Aquinas, “Nothing but you Lord, nothing but you,” I hope to serve the Diocese of Paisley in all that I do.”

The Diaconal Ordination will be followed on Sunday 14th April by a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva at which clergy from the Diocese of Paisley will be present. 

Commenting on the ordination, Bishop Keenan said:

“My prayers and the prayers of the clergy, religious and people of the Diocese of Paisley are with Paul and the other young men who will soon be ordained. The ordination to the Diaconate is a uniquely special moment on the path to Priesthood, and one which these men have prepared for over many years. I encourage everyone in the diocese to keep Paul in their prayers in a special way in these last days before his ordination. May Saints Paul and Andrew intercede for them.”

Paul grew up in St Andrews parish in Greenock and attended St Gabriel's Primary school and St Columba’s High School, Gourock. Following 6 months at the Scots College in Salamanca, Spain, he became a seminarian at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome in 2018, where he is currently undertaking a Diploma in Spiritual Theology which will finish in June.

He has been involved in the scout movement since he was 5 years old, eventually becoming a leader in the 33rd Greenock & District Scout Group and gaining the Queen Scout Award, the highest award available in 2012. He has had summer pastoral placements in St Joseph’s, Clarkston, St Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley, St Charles, Paisley, St Peters Glenburn and St Patricks, Greenock.