Deacon Charles Hyson, 2/10/2025
Deacon Charles Hyson speaks about his ministries as a “blessing and a privilege”. Since he became a deacon last year, there is a new quality to what he was already doing. He feels he comes to people with more than just himself: “if there is no Jesus, there is no Charles” and “If you do your part, God will do his part.” While he acknowledges challenges and struggles – such as the balance between family, work and ministry – there is a “flow” in his calling. It is all about being “fully present” – in his marriage, his ministry, everywhere. God gives him the strength and energy to fit his busy life together.
Charles grew up in India, and at the age of 10, he lost his father. His mother raised the three children and grounded them very well in the faith. In fact, without saying the rosary, they would not get dinner! Charles became an altar server at a young age and from there grew his lifelong desire to serve. Yet in his parish, children could be altar servers and adults sacristans, but not acolytes.
In 1995/1996 Charles migrated to Australia and joined the local St John of God Church in Auburn. There his priest gave him the opportunity to be an acolyte. “It was a shock when he called me,” Charles remembers, but he really flourished in the role.
While becoming more involved in the church, Charles was also having new experiences in his professional role. He manages equipment logistics for mining, wind, solar and water projects (this is my shorthand version of how he described it). With it, he travels all over Australia and also overseas. Charles has had the opportunity of being on board ships, for example, with seafarers who are certainly “on the margins”. Often, they are from the Philippines, Catholic and have been away from their families for 9-12 months. In these situations, he finds that “they just need someone to talk to them.”
In the year 2000, Charles and his wife Maria bought a home in the Marayong parish and started to take on more roles. As well as being an acolyte, he helped prepare altar servers, and families for baptism, First Reconciliation and First Communion. Maria is part of the Faith in Action team at her school and is preparing to travel with other teachers from the Diocese of Parramatta for an immersion in Timor Leste.
After five and a half years of theological study and a “very blessed” formation program, Charles was ordained to the Diocese of Parramatta in 2024. Since then, there have been special moments, such as his desire to baptise being fulfilled. Before, he had helped to prepare the families, and assisted with readings and holding things, but now it is a “very unique” experience – again “a blessing and a privilege”. Charles really lights up in talking about it: “You can see the joy not only in the baby, but the parents and godparents; you can see how their faith that was given from their parents is now passing to their child. They are still coming back. That is very, very, very special for me.”
Charles also loves his ministry to the marginalised in aged care. In 2023 he was appointed to St Anthony’s in Toongabbie for his pastoral placement, and has continued on there. Due to a shortage of parish volunteers, the priest asked him to take communion to the aged care facility. Now it is the ministry that he most enjoys. Charles feels that he is just an instrument or vehicle to take Jesus to them, and he shares his life and faith, becoming close to those he visits.
His first visit was to a woman who was blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. She had only been there for a month and was quite angry with her family for leaving her in the Home. Charles came in with trepidation, as his training didn’t quite prepare him for the reality. When he knocked and spoke in a quiet voice, she couldn’t hear him well. She had asked for a communion minister to come, but said, upset, that she didn’t want any prayers, but to just give communion “and then you can go”. Charles offered to do that, but at least to say the Our Father with her, and left the parish bulletin and a children’s colouring-in.
By the time he had been visiting weekly for a month, she started to tell him off if he came just slightly late. She would say, “Deary, why are you late? I have been waiting for you since I woke up this morning.” Charles became very close to her and saw a real change. She became grateful and accepting – she could receive food, shelter, a comfortable bed and Jesus every Sunday. She showed Charles pictures of her family members, and reconciled with them, understanding why they had placed her there. Finally, after 6-8 months, she passed away.
Charles finds that part of the role very challenging, as he develops such strong bonds with those he ministers to. He feels that this is an important role for deacons. The people in the Care Home have been contributing parishioners, and now it is time to give back to them. However, the deacon can also “empower more people”, especially calling on family members to take time to spend with their aged members.
God has clearly called Charles to this ministry. He explains the significance of the diaconate to him: “You are firmly rooted in charity, to proclaim the gospel. You are firmly rooted to serve. Whichever way you turn or look at it, the role is you are called to serve.” Thanks, Charles, for your compassionate service.
Liturgy on the Margins 