Issue 65 - The Pilgrim - October 2017 - The newspaper of the Archdiocese of Southwark

The Pilgrim October 2017
Focus on faith
From butler to deacon
Deacon Kevin Dunne fondly remembers James Foley, one of the first
permanent deacons in Southwark archdiocese, who died in August
In 1985, when I was selected by
Archbishop Michael Bowen to start
training for the diaconate, it was the
custom to join the annual retreat for
the already ordained deacons. This
was when I first met Deacon James
Foley.
The evenings were always a time
to socialise and get to know each
other. James usually led with his
snippets of his life and how he
became a deacon. These were always
very amusing and interesting.
In my three years of formation, the
annual retreat became even more
interesting because we all wanted
more and more of James’ life. He
was a natural after dinner speaker,
with the added bonus that he could
mimic of some of the personalities he
encountered.
After all of this, I suggested to
James that he ought to write down
all these stories for the benefit of all
and particularly us new deacons.
Time went by and I was appointed
assistant director for the diaconate,
with responsibility for Kent. This
meant visiting students and ordained
deacons.
It was on one of these occasions
when visiting James that a serious
discussion took place about writing
his memories. Just be yourself, I
said, and recount those marvelous
stories you have told us.
A year later he phoned to say it
was all done and he invited me to
visit him and read it. I went to Herne
Bay the next day and, over a cup of
tea, I read through the manuscript.
He had called it A Road to the
Permanent Diaconate. It captured
perfectly his life.
James Foley was born in County
Cork in Ireland. He left school at 14
years of age, and worked on a horse
farm for seven years and then
became a hall porter at the Railway
Hotel in Sligo. It was there that he
met Mary McManus, who was a
waitress in the hotel. They became
engaged in 1948 and married in Sligo
cathedral in 1949.
They moved to England and James
acquired a position with the Duke of
Bedford as a footman and went on to
become a butler. When the Duke
died, James had to leave, and he got
a job selling shoes with Russell &
Bromley, at their Bedford branch. He
was then promoted to manager at
Herne Bay.
James was a great man for the
Church. He spent much time training
altar servers and would take them on
retreat to the Passionist retreat
house in Scotland most years.
Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican
Council issued a statement on the reintroduction
of the diaconate as a
permanent order for mature men
single and married.
When James went on a pilgrimage
to Rome, he found himself at the
chapel of St John in the Basilica of St
Paul Outside the Walls. And while
praying he had what he called an
awareness that he was going to be
called to be a deacon.
On his return from Rome James
read Pope Paul VI’s apostolic letter
Sacrum diaconatus ordinem, which
restored the permanent diaconate in
the Latin Church.
He was so overjoyed by this and his
experience in Rome. Without delay
he wrote to Archbishop Cyril
Cowderoy, who wrote back to say he
was not planning any such thing as
having permanent deacons.
When Bishop Michael Bowen of
Arundel & Brighton was appointed
Archbishop of Southwark in 1977,
James wrote to him and got a
favourable reply. But it was not until
1978 that Archbishop Michael gave a
directive that the work of training
suitable married candidates should
begin.
After being recommended by his
parish priest and the dean, James
and Mary went for an interview with
the archbishop. During the interview,
the archbishop said, “I want to tell
you that I accept you. I accept you
right here and now.”
James said it was effort to hold
back the tears. “He was so very kind
to us both.” The long years of waiting
were over. It was one of the happiest
days of his life.
James was ordained to the
permanent diaconate at Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart in Herne Bay by
Bishop John Jukes on 19th March
1980.
(above) Pope Paul VI reintroduced
the permanent diaconate.
(below) Amgad Gerges being
ordained to the permanent
diaconate in June by Bishop Pat at
St William of York, Forest Hill.
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