Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

Deacon Hamilton (second left) and wife Monica (left) stand with children, grandchildren and friends at the anniversary celebrations.

Walderston, Manchester:

A Eucharist celebration for the 25th anniversary of the ordination of Deacon Ronald Arthur Hamilton to the Roman Catholic Deaconate was held at the Sacred Heart Church in Christiana, Manchester, on Saturday, December 16.

This significant milestone in the life of Deacon Hamilton was unique in a historical context as he achieved the distinction of being the longest-serving of the first group of permanent deacons to be trained at St. Michael Seminary.

"After the re-establishment of Deaconate by the Pope, Ronald Hamilton was invited to become a deacon by Father Alwyn Harry, rector of the seminary. At the time he resided at Stony Hill in St. Andrew and assisted at the churches at Stony Hill and Tom's River and taught at St. Mary College at Above Rocks," said Bishop of Montego Bay, the Most Rev. Charles Dufour, in his homily.

"By the time training started, Ron had moved to St. Andrew Technical High School in Kingston," the bishop told The Sunday Gleaner.

Bishop Dufour said that the honouree was from Holy Rosary Church in Kingston and attended St. George's College.

He afterwards attended McGill University in Canada where he was an associate editor of the Newman Clubs Bulletin. He did post-graduate studies at the University of the West Indies.

The Right Rev. Edgerton Clarke, Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston, who ordained Deacon Hamilton on December 13, 1981, was the chief celebrant.

Looking forward to further experiences

In his reply, Deacon Hamilton said, "I thank God for the opportunity to serve the church over the past 25 years and for our Bishop Clarke for ordaining me at a time when many bishops were cautious about ordaining married deacons. The church in the Diocese of Mandeville has grown tremendously over the years and I look forward to further experience."

Deacon Hamilton is also a charter member of the Rotary Club of Christiana and former assistant governor for Central Jamaica, former commanding officer of the first battalion of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force and retired principal of Holmwood Technical High School.

He has been the director of education of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mandeville since 1997.

Tributes came from: the Rotary Club of Christiana; the Rev. Fr. Vernon Scott, on behalf of the Christiana Ministers' Fraternal; the Rev. Ronald Thwaites, on behalf of the Catholic Deacons; Caroline Brown, principal of St. Paul of the Cross High School; and son of the honouree, Dr. Ronald Hamilton Jr., on behalf of the family.

Family members included: wife, Monica, and their six children, Ronald Jr., Paul, Christopher, Sandra, Sharon, and Charlene.