On the Memorial of St Henry, 13th July 2024, Bishop Philip Egan ordained two men to the priesthood to serve in the Diocese of Portsmouth. 

St John’s Cathedral was full of family, friends and supporters from around the Diocese who came together to participate in this joyful day and to pray for Father Tom Hiney and Father Ambrose Chou as they prepare to serve the Diocese in the months and years to come. 

Reflecting on a momentous day, Father Ambrose remarked:  

“On Saturday, I had the most life-changing and awesome day of my life as I experienced priestly ordination for the Diocese of Portsmouth alongside my brother, Fr Tom Hiney. 

The day marked the completion of my formal formation for the priesthood – although priestly formation is a lifelong journey and commitment that will remain with me in perpetuity. 

It was genuinely humbling to encounter so many people in the Cathedral and feel their support – from my friends, family and most especially from my sister Anjulie. I grew up in the Diocese and have attended many Youth Ministry events – from camps to pilgrimages and World Youth Days.  I simply felt surrounded by the love of the family of God.  To have the people who I have grown up with alongside me, to support me, was so moving.  

For me, the most memorable and moving part of the Ordination was when I laid prostrate before the Bishop, before the Altar, when the Litany of the Saints was being sung.  I had this sense of giving myself up to Him and I could feel the prayer all around me. Following that, when my brother priests came to lay their hands on me, I felt empowered for the life of service that lies ahead.  

After the Mass, and at our reception at a local secondary school, we were able to give first blessings. What an experience – I remember looking up at the size of the queue. But as time went on, I felt confident to offer more personal and individual blessings to those who wanted one. It was wonderful engaging with people, asking them about their favourite Saint or their prayer intention and I was able to incorporate that into the blessing. I truly relied on the grace of God to get me through.  

One of my formators gave be a word of advice a while ago. He said to me, when you are ordained, turn around and just look at your wife – the people of God.  That was my first thought when I turned around after my Ordination. I savoured the moment and  thought to myself: ‘ I am going to minister with and live for these people. How blessed am I’.” 

Father Tom Hiney summed up his experience as follows: “I am very grateful to Bishop Egan for taking me seriously when I first approached him six years ago. Having come back to faith while living in Africa in my late 20s, I was working as a Protestant Army chaplain when I met him, but the saints and sacraments of the Catholic Church (St Therese of Lisieux in particular) and the serenity of the doctrine had drawn me in. Discovering Marian devotion still makes me weep! The whole thing has been like entering a new world, and to now be a priest within it is an inestimable privilege.” 

The Diocese currently has seminarians training in four seminaries – Oscott College in Sutton Coldfield; Allen Hall, Chelsea; Venerable English College, Rome and at the Beda College, in Rome. Students who need some time to transition and prepare for seminary life also spend a year in pre-seminary at Valladolid in Spain. 

Further ordinations over the Summer include Stephen Patterson and Zacharias Parambi will be ordained to the diaconate on Saturday 27th July in the Cathedral and Ryan Browne, a student for the priesthood, who was ordained deacon at the English College Villa at Palazzola on Wednesday 10th July. 

Image credit – Ana Dobeson