The diocesan community’s prayers and virtual presence are invited for the upcoming ordination of deacons, June 5 and 6. Because of current public health circumstances, the ordinations will be taking place in a new way this year.
The Liturgy of the Word portion of the ordination service, including presentation of the ordinands and sermon by Bishop Alan M. Gates, will be conducted as an online gathering via Zoom on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m.
The examination and laying on of hands for the nine ordinands will take place as separate events at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston throughout the following day, Saturday, June 6. Only the primary participants will be present in person, to accommodate physical distancing protocols. Family members, friends, sponsors and the wider diocesan community can join the proceedings via live webcast.
Links for joining the proceedings online, for both Friday and Saturday, will be posted on the event page at www.diomass.org/event/ordination-deacons-2020
The schedule for Saturday, June 6 is:
- 10 a.m.: Marilee Comerford, Valerie Cowart, James Thomas and Natalie Thomas
- 11 a.m.: Lawrence Civale
- 12:30 p.m.: Luke Ditewig, SSJE
- 1:30 p.m.: Melissa Howell
- 2:30 p.m.: Tammany Hobbs-Miracky
- 3:30 p.m.: Lauren Lukason
An offering will be collected for the Diocese of Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, to which gifts can be made online via www.diomass.org/give-now, with a dedication note indicating thanksgiving for the ordination of a particular individual or all the ordinands.
Prayers are invited for the ordinands (sponsoring congregation or community listed in parentheses):
For the Diaconate—Marilee Comerford (Trinity Church, Marshfield); Valerie Cowart (All Saints’ Church, Chelmsford); James Thomas (St. John’s Church, Sandwich); and Natalie Thomas (St. Christopher’s Church, Chatham).
For the Transitional Diaconate—Lawrence Civale (Church of the Advent, Boston); Luke Ditewig, SSJE (Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge); Tammany Hobbs-Miracky (St. Paul’s Church, Brookline); Melissa Howell (Trinity Church, Boston); and Lauren Lukason (St. Paul’s Church, Brookline).