Bishop Alan M. Gates announced on March 25 the appointment of the Ven. W. Michael Hamilton to serve as archdeacon in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Along with the Ven. Patricia Zifcak, Hamilton will assist the bishops and the canon for ordained vocations, the Rev. Canon Edie Dolnikowski, with the formation, deployment, supervision and support for deacons and deacons in formation.
Hamilton succeeds the Rev. Geof Smith, who served as archdeacon from 2011 to 2014 and now resides in the Diocese of New Hampshire.
Tracy J. Sukraw
The Ven. Michael Hamilton and The Ven. Patricia Zifcak
Hamilton will help oversee discernment and placement of deacons in congregations, deaneries and special diocesan strategic ministries, matching the deacons' passions and gifts with the mission goals of the diocese and congregations. Hamilton will also help to coordinate pastoral care and continuing education opportunities for deacons serving in the diocese.
Hamilton was ordained to the diaconate in 2007, and since then has served at Grace Church, Newton and St. Paul's Church, Bedford. While working as a diocesan coordinator of disaster relief planning, Michael served at the altar of the Order of St. Anne in Arlington. He has assisted Zifcak in the diaconal formation program. Most recently, Hamilton served at St. Mary's Church in Newton Lower Falls.
Hamilton will be commissioned as archdeacon at the March 31 Holy Tuesday service of the blessing of the oils and the renewal of ordination vows at Emmanuel Church in Boston.
More information on the diaconate in the Diocese of Massachusetts is available here.