Saturday, Sept. 13
Boston University's Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane,
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine and President of Province I of the Episcopal Church,
chief consecrator*
The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth Jr., Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, preacher.
Seating is at 9:30 a.m.; processions begin at 10:30 a.m. A reception will follow the service.
Everyone is welcome.
*Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will be unable to attend on Sept. 13 because of a family memorial. She will still be attending the clergy gathering at Emmanuel Church, Boston on Sept. 12.
Ticketing
The service and reception are open to all, but everyone who plans to attend (including participants and volunteers) must have a ticket.
A limited number of tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at a will-call table at the Agganis Arena on the morning of the consecration.
Webcast
There will be a live webcast available for those who cannot be at the celebration in person. Please check this page for a link. The service booklet is available for download here. Get Adobe Reader here.
Vesting
The festival color is red. Clergy: Red stoles. Bishops: Rochet, chimere and tippet.
Arrival
Everyone must have a ticket for admittance. (E-mail confirmation of your online ticket registration will not serve as a ticket). A will-call table will be staffed at the arena on the morning of Sept. 13 to assist with ticketing questions.
General seating begins at 9:30 a.m. All general admission guests should arrive in time to be seated by 10:30 a.m. when the processions begin. Unless instructed otherwise, all participants in the service should arrive at the arena no later than 9:30 a.m.
Entrances
The main entrance to the Agganis Arena is at 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. The main entrance will open at 9 a.m. General seating begins at 9:30 a.m.
Bishops, clergy in processions, choir members and all other participants will use the Feld Entrance (second entrance on the Harry Agganis Way side of the building). The Feld Entrance will open at 7:30 a.m.
• Bishops will gather in the Burke Club room.
• Clergy in processions will gather in the North Shell Space upstairs.
• Unless otherwise instructed (altar party, etc.), all other procession members will gather in Team Rooms 1-4 on the lower level.
• Choir members will gather at section 103 inside the arena. Other musicians will receive instructions with their materials.
Agganis Arena Regulations
• No bags larger than 12”x12”x6” are permitted inside the arena. There is no place to check oversize bags. Please note: Choir, clergy and participants may bring garment bags for robes/vestments through the Feld Entrance only. Bags will be inspected by Agganis Arena security.
• No outside food or beverages are permitted inside the arena. The refreshment stands will be open prior to the celebration.
• Other items not permitted inside the arena include but are not limited to: alcoholic beverages, bottles or cans of any type, coolers, weapons or firearms, illegal substances, noisemakers, backpacks, large banners, sticks or poles, folding chairs, stools, etc. Arena management reserves the right to remove any items it deems a violation of its building policy and security guidelines. No check-in services are available for prohibited items.
• No reentry is permitted
• If you have further questions, please review the Agganis Arena building policies.
Public Transportation
We encourage guests to use public transportation if possible. There are two Green Line stops just steps from the Agganis Arena (the St. Paul Street stop or the Pleasant Street stop) and the MBTA is an easy alternative to Boston driving and parking.
Please note that the Government Center station is closed for construction. During construction, all Green Line trains will pass through Government Center but will not stop there.
• From Lechmere, Science Park or North Station, take any Green Line train to Haymarket. At Haymarket, transfer to the westbound "B" train.
• From Cleveland Circle or Riverside, take any train inbound to Kenmore Square. Transfer to the outbound platform and board the "B" train.
• From Heath Street, take any train inbound to Arlington station. Transfer to the outbound platform and board the "B" train.
• Take the "B" train to either the St. Paul Street or Pleasant Street stop; both are approximately one block from the arena.
• Take the Red Line to Park Street.
• Once at Park Street transfer to the westbound Green Line "B" train.
• Take the "B" train to either the St. Paul Street or Pleasant Street stop; both are approximately one block from the arena.
• Take the Blue Line to State Street. Transfer to the Orange Line (northbound toward Oak Grove) and go one stop to Haymarket. At Haymarket, transfer to the Green Line westbound “B” train. (This is the recommended path while the Government Center station is closed for construction.)
• Take the "B" train to either the St. Paul Street or Pleasant Street stop; both are approximately one block from the arena.
• Take the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing.
• Once at Downtown Crossing, follow the underground concourse to the Park Street station on the Green Line.
• Board the westbound "B" train.
• Take the "B" train to either the St. Paul Street or Pleasant Street stop; both are approximately one block from the arena.
MBTA Bus
• Take any of the following bus routes to Kenmore Square: 8, 57, 60, 65, 8A (Schedule)
• Board the Green Line westbound "B" train,
• Take the "B" train to either the St. Paul Street or Pleasant Street stop; both are approximately one block from the arena.
Driving Directions
From the north
1. Take I-93 or Route 1 South to Boston. Exit onto Storrow Drive.
2. Continue on Storrow Drive to the Kenmore Square Exit.
3. At the first set of lights, turn right onto Beacon Street.
4. Bear right at the far end of Kenmore Square onto Commonwealth Avenue.
5. Continue on Commonwealth Avenue to Agganis Arena (approximately 1 mile).
From the south
1. Take I-93 Route 3 (Southeast Expressway) North to Boston. Exit onto Storrow Drive.
2. Continue on Storrow Drive to the Kenmore Square Exit.
3. At the first set of lights, turn right onto Beacon Street.
4. Bear right at the far end of Kenmore Square onto Commonwealth Avenue.
5. Continue on Commonwealth Avenue to Agganis Arena (approximately 1 mile).
From the west
1. Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) East. Take Exit 18 on the left (Brighton/Cambridge).
2. Follow signs to Cambridge. At the second set of lights, turn right.
3. Continue on Storrow Drive to the Kenmore Square Exit.
4. At the first set of lights, turn right onto Beacon Street.
5. Bear right at the far end of Kenmore Square onto Commonwealth Avenue.
6. Continue on Commonwealth Avenue to Agganis Arena (approximately 1 mile).
To find directions from your location, use the Google Map on the Agganis Arena Web site. Click on "To here" under "Get Directions" and input your starting address.
Parking
The Agganis Arena provides four parking lots for event use. A map of the locations is available here.
Parking on the day of the event is $15 per vehicle. In the event that the arena garage and surface lot become full, vehicles will be directed to auxiliary parking lots within a short distance to the arena. These locations are Lot B on Babcock Street and Lot F at 808 Commonwealth Avenue.
From the arena garage, use the East Elevators or any of the garage stairways.
Accessible Parking and Drop-off
Accessible parking spaces are available in all parking lots associated with the arena. The accessible drop-off location is located on the corner of Harry Agganis Way and Commonwealth Avenue. The main lobby entrance is accessible to guests with disabilities as are all arena entrances, hallways and pathways.
Accessibility
The Agganis Arena is a fully accessible facility. Guests with disabilities receive preferential access to elevators during all arena events. All 15 public restrooms in the arena are equipped with accessible sinks, stalls and amenities. Please see the parking section above for information on accessible parking and drop-off.
Assisted listening devices will be available in the main lobby.
Language interpretation
A limited number of headsets for simultaneous Spanish-language translation will be available in the main lobby. Un número limitado de auriculares para la traducción simultánea en español estará disponible en el entrada principal.
American Sign Language interpretation will be offered; please check in at the will-call table to be seated in this section.
Refreshments
No outside food or drink is permitted inside the arena. The refreshment stands in the arena will be open prior to the start of the service so guests may purchase snacks and beverages.
Photography
No flash photography is permitted. Cameras will be allowed inside the arena, but they must conform to the bag regulations.
News media
News media professionals covering the event must be credentialed in advance with the Diocese of Massachusetts’ Office of Communications. Contact Tracy J. Sukraw, Director of Communications (tjs@diomass.org).
Accommodations
The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau has an extensive guide to hotels. September is high tourist season in Boston so accommodations should be booked as soon as possible.
About the Rev. Alan M. Gates
Our bishop-elect, the Rev. Alan M. Gates, is the former rector of St. Paul’s Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he served since 2004. He is a graduate of Middlebury College and undertook graduate studies at Georgetown University. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 and served congregations in the Episcopal dioceses of Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts and Chicago prior to his call to Ohio. He and his spouse, Patricia J. Harvey, have two adult sons.
Read more in the April 5, 2014, election announcement.
A printer-friendly PDF of the consecration information, including directions, is attached below.