Revd Matthew Gaw reflects on his deacon year
Congratulations to Revd Matthew Gaw who has been ordained presbyter for the curacy of Donaghcloney & Waringstown. Bishop David ordained Matthew along with Revd Kyle Flanigan in Down Cathedral on Sunday 14 June 2026.
Matthew reflects on his deacon year
Over the past year, serving my deacon year in Donaghcloney Parish has been deeply formative, reinforcing my conviction that faithful presence and service lie at the heart of ordained ministry. I am incredibly grateful to God for the opportunities, relationships, and personal growth that this season has brought.
I am blessed to share this journey with my wife, Natalie, and our three young children. We live in Lurgan, and throughout this past year, we have all experienced the love, encouragement, and support of the parish community. Ministry is never undertaken alone, and I am thankful for the way my family has walked alongside me during this important season of discernment and service and how they have been supported by this church community.
I have had a fantastic year of learning and serving in parish ministry. I have had the opportunity to experience many of the joys, responsibilities, and realities of ordained ministry. It has been a privilege to walk alongside families during times of grief and loss through funerals, to celebrate new life and faith at baptisms, and to pastorally journey with parishioners in the everyday moments of the Christian walk.
Working under the guidance of Revd Mark Lennox has also been a great joy. His mentorship, encouragement, and leadership have helped guide and shape me as I continue to grow in both faith and leadership. I am deeply thankful for his wisdom and example, and for the way he has invested in me throughout this year.
My whole family has been blessed through our time in Donaghcloney Parish, and we look forward with expectation to what God will continue to do in me, in my family, and in the church over the next two years.
Throughout this year, I have often returned to the words of Psalm 86 as a prayer and guide for my ministry:
“Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths.”
These words continue to remind me of my dependence upon God’s faithfulness and my desire to glorify His name in all that I do.
Revd Matthew Gaw