Last month, Balclutha man Iosefa Setu was ordained a permanent deacon of the Catholic Church in a special ceremony at St Mary McKillop Church in Balclutha.
Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Michael Dooley presided over the ordination, assisted by 15 priests, in a ceremony attended by 150 people.
Samoan-born Mr Setu is married to Fania and they have four young children.
He said he was the first permanent deacon in the South, and he hoped his ordination would "open the door" for other lay Catholics to step forward and offer themselves in service to their communities.
"I went to Fiji to complete my studies to become a priest in 2017, but I got married to Fania.
"The following year we began the journey towards me becoming a permanent deacon."
The process involved four years of academic and practical studies, under Fr Mark Chamberlain, of Dunedin.
"Fania is very important to me, and has been a central part of this journey towards becoming a deacon.
"Many people think of Catholic Church officials and only of priests.
"But if you’re already married, becoming a permanent deacon is a way for you and your family to serve God and your community through the ministry of the church."
Permanent deacons could perform many functions of a priest, including baptisms, weddings, funerals and burials.
South Otago Parish priest Fr Jacob Thevasahayampillai, who will oversee Mr Setu, said the ordination was an invitation for the "ordinary people" of the community to fill an important role.
"There are about 45,000 permanent deacons worldwide, but only some 35 in New Zealand, all in the North Island until now," he said.
