Ordination of Deacon Michael Montocchio

by Admin · February 3, 2026

Deacon Michael Montocchio was ordained at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Westville, Durban, on January 17

By Dawn Haynes, photos: Richard Cholwich – Michael Montocchio was ordained a Deacon at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Westville, Durban, on January 17 by Archbishop Siegfried Mandla Jwara, CMM.

Michael Montocchio is the oldest of three brothers who grew up on a tobacco farm near Harare in Zimbabwe. His journey to the Diaconate has been interesting and sometimes challenging but the blessings he has gained and shared along the way have made it worthwhile. Like the landscape of Zimbabwe, there are long, flat walks, steep hills to climb, lakes to refresh in and many interesting people along the way.

His father and grandparents laid the foundation of Catholicism in him by taking him to mass every Sunday. At the age of five, he went to St Michael’s school in Harar,e where the nuns continued to build his faith. His mother’s death, when he was only ten, was challenging and difficult to cope with.

High school, followed by two years of compulsory service in the army, was a time of hills and valleys which challenged his faith. However, moving to Durban after military training allowed him to register to study for his articles and to meet a new community.

In 1989, he met his wife-to-be, Karen, and was introduced to Fr Des Nair, the Parish Priest at Our Lady of Fatima in Durban North. Fr Des encouraged both Karen and Michael to join RENEW. Michael reached the top of a peak, and Karen was with him! He started teaching catechism and was a lector. Michael has a love of learning and teaching. He says:

“I enjoy reading and learning. I have learned best through formal commitment to study. Formalising my role in the Church raises its priority in my life.”

Michael and Karen grew together in their faith.

There followed a winding path as they moved to Johannesburg, their daughters were born, returned to Durban for the children’s baptism, then back to Johannesburg to St Charle’s parish and other churches, finally returning to Durban in 2007 when they moved to Our Lady of Lourdes. Although he was not involved in parish activities at that point, attendance at mass was regular, and the girls attended catechism. Karen started attending RCIA with Michael and converted after their daughter Megan’s Confirmation.

This was a steep turning point leading to pools of knowledge and deepening faith. The ALPHA course was a miracle for both of them as was the book on “Divine Renovation” recommended by Fr Peter Lafferty.

From then on, the journey of faith led to Michael gaining an Honours degree in Human Resource Development, followed by an online course in Biblical Studies at St. Augustine’s in Johannesburg. This course was the final stepping stone towards his goal as a Deacon. It was Dc Mark Wardell who encouraged Michael to continue and Fr Des Nair who involved Michael more and more in parish activities. Michael is an active member of the Knights of da Gama in Durban and is known to many as “Monty”.

And so the path ahead is now open to so many more interesting adventures as Michael is ordained and devoted to his calling as a permanent Deacon in the Catholic church. He states:

“Answering God’s call to the Diaconate is an opportunity for me to make a formal, conscious, deliberate and visible transition from the first half to a second half of life, building my relationship with God through bringing Jesus to others.”