On the other side of the world from where I live, another journalist has just become a deacon — but will soon enough be ordained a priest.

A paper from Down Under (New Zealand, actually) has this Top Story:

New ground was broken in Invercargill this week with the ordination of a family man to the diaconate, the penultimate step before the Catholic priesthood.

Former Southland Times assistant general manager Vincent Smith was ordained a deacon by the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Bishop Colin Campbell, of the Otago-Southland diocese.

A widower with an adult family of three, Mr Smith has spent the past two years at the Holy Spirit Home of Formation in Parramatta, Sydney, training for the priesthood, studying theology and canon law at the Theological College in Sydney.

He will return to Australia later this week to continue his studies until the end of the academic year, when he will be based in Dunedin doing pastoral work during the summer months as he looks forward to full ordination in the coming year.

Congratulations, Deacon Smith!

Visit the link for more details.

Photo: Vincent Smith, center, with the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Colin Campbell and Deacon Smith’s son Julian. By Robyn Edie / Southland Times