Deacon Martin Lewis, 5 December 2024
Martin Lewis is a brand-new deacon, just ordained by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane, on November 16. In some ways, nothing has changed for Deacon Martin. If so-and-so says to him, “Hello, Reverend Martin,” he responds with, “Hello, Reverend So-and-so.” He knows that he is still an “idiot, flawed, karaoke-lover, cricket tragic, Brisbane Broncos fan, husband, father, soon-to-be grandfather, dog-lover…I’m not pious or holy.”
However, in some ways, everything has changed. Martin says that through any of these things, “I can be a conduit for people seeking the truth.” He brings his humanity to his mission and vocation and, in so doing, touches and encourages people. As the Archbishop told him, and has since said publicly, deacons can go where priests can’t, both physically and metaphysically.
Other changes are more visible and practical. Martin looks different to the community because of the parts he plays in the liturgy and the vestments he wears. He now uses his hand gestures during Mass to “embrace the people” and help them feel loved. Martin values the opportunity to break open the word, a process he says is led by the Holy Spirit. He feels that what comes from him as a “married, flawed and sinful” person can really make an impact.
This was obvious less than 24 hours after his ordination, when Martin was asked to lead Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion and preach on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time. With the mostly elderly community, he was able to share about the things that people may have lost in their lives – such as long-term relationships, energy and flexibility. “But,” he said, “the two things you have gained are wisdom and miracles.” The miracles are the things we can look back on over our lives that changed things for the better. Then Martin asked the older people to “let people know about your wisdom and miracles” and the younger people to ask about them. The next weekend, Martin received wonderful feedback as he had helped people to appreciate the things they had taken for granted.
Martin is clearly someone that relates easily to many people. He grew up a cradle Catholic in the strongly Irish-background community of Ipswich. Everything centred around parish life and in his parents, priests and parishioners he had “fantastic role models for faith and life.” Martin did think about the seminary, but fell in love and went off into a teaching career, eventually taking several principal roles. However, there was always a nagging “what if” feeling he had about ministry.
While Martin wondered if there was more in life, he “put it into the hands of the Holy Spirit.” Then he saw an advertisement for the Archdiocesan Director for Catholic Mission. Showing his wife, she said, “I think this job has been made for you.” And Martin has never looked back. He loves the work, though to him it doesn’t feel like work – it is “so rewarding.” He is able to act “as a missionary disciple of Jesus every day.”
And Catholic Mission is where Martin sees himself primarily living out his ministry as a deacon. He is not attached to a parish at the moment, but he lives right next to the Cathedral and has been asked to assist at Masses, preside at baptisms and benediction. Martin is excited by the prospect of other sacraments such as weddings in future. He wants to show that if a “normal” guy like him can be part of the Church, then everyone can be comfortable in it too. Martin’s vision is inclusive – and he is a great example of living out God’s mission as a deacon in our world today.
Liturgy on the Margins 