HE may not be able to devote every day to his new role but there's nothing part-time about Peter Tibke.

Mr Tibke will swap his business suit for Deacon's clothes when he is not balancing the books at a busy firm of solicitors.

The finance manager has been appointed as permanent deacon to work at the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Droitwich, following his ordination by the Bishop of Birmingham.

The father-of-two says his new role is a dream come true.

"It's something I have been thinking about for 20 years," revealed Mr Tebke, who lives in Grosvenor Way, Droitwich.

"I was working in Liverpool where I was born and brought up and was considered too young for the role because I was only 35. I had to put my plans to one side.

"My dreams have been realised and I relish the challenge of taking on a different role in Christ's ministry of evangelism."

Mr Tebke was relocated to the Midlands in 1994 and settled in Droitwich where he received a lot of help from Father Tom Kelly at The Sacred Heart.

His wife, Anne is senior medical secretary at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Plans to officiate

Mr Tebke plans to help officiate at weddings, baptisms and funerals and assist at mass on Sundays. He says his appointment is unusual because there are not many Catholic clergy who stay in their full-time jobs.

Already chairman of the parish council of the Sacred Heart Church, he has a vital role in the Catenian Society which is a Catholic business group.

He sits on the national vocational panel which is currently working with the Bishops of England and Wales to appoint a chaplain in Birmingham's city centre.

"They obviously recognised that I had talents," said Mr Tebke.

"All deacons are different and I have spent a lot of time working with groups of people. I am also chairman of governors of St Augustine's High School in Redditch."

The ordination ceremony took place in front of a congregation of 700 at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham.

It was presided over by the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols.