Bishop Alan M. Gates has announced that, beginning this winter, priests will be ordained individually in the parishes to which they have been called, rather than at one ordination service in January which has been the recent practice.
“While all Christian leaders are called to represent Christ and the Church in the world, priests are accorded a particular responsibility to serve as pastors in congregations. The tradition of ordaining priests in the parishes that have called them allows priest and congregation to celebrate the new ministry in the place where they will share it together, in the same way that the installation of a rector celebrates a new relationship in the ongoing ministries of priest and congregation,” Gates explained in an Oct. 1 letter to clergy and parish and diocesan leadership.
Ordinations to the diaconate—both transitional and vocational—will continue to take place in a single service at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, underscoring the role of deacons in serving the whole diocese.
Dates and locations for priesthood ordinations will be announced as they are finalized.
“We urge your supportive presence, as you are able, and we invite your prayers for all of our transitional deacons in this time of preparation and continuing discernment of their call to serve Christ in the Church,” Gates said.