UPDATE - Ordination in the Holy Church of God
Saturday morning, June 24, 2017, at 10:30am the nave and chancel of Christ Church Cathedral were both filled to capacity with clergy and lay participating in a Celebration of the Eucharist - Ordination in the Holy Church of God by the Right Reverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop of New Westminster.
Ordained to the Diaconate were: Ronald Berezan and Jeffrey Preiss (Vocational); Sharon Smith, Marion Wong and Hyok Kim (Transitional)
Ordained to the Priesthood were: Ross Bliss, Lucy Price and Mark Munn.
The Reverend Ron Berezan will begin his ordained ministry as a Vocational Deacon in his home parish of St. David and St. Paul, Powell River, sharing in the ordained leadership of that faith community with vicar, the Reverend Faun Harriman; honorary assistants, the Reverend Paula Sampson and the Venerable Ian MacKenzie; deacon, the Reverend Stuart Isto.
The Reverend Jeffrey Preiss will continue in his placement at St. Michael's, Vancouver (Broadway) AKA St. Michael's, Multicultural Church with vicar, the Reverend Wilmer Tokoyen and deacon, the Reverend Eric Stroo.
The Reverend Sharon Smith will begin a 1/2 time placement as assistant curate at St. Agnes, North Vancouver joining the rector, the Venerable Stephen Muir and deacon, the Reverend Lizz Lindsay.
The Reverend Hyok Kim will begin a 1/2 time placement as assistant curate in his home parish of St. Anselm's, Vancouver with the Reverend Alex Wilson.
The Reverend Marion Man Wai Wong will continue her ministry but now as an ordained Transitional Deacon at the parish of St. Matthias and St. Luke with rector, the Reverend Vivian Lam and deacon, the Reverend Kathy Yeo.
The Reverend Ross Bliss will begin his life as a priest as assistant curate at Christ Church Cathedral, joining rector and dean, the Very Reverend Peter Elliott; priest assistant, the Venerable Philippa Segrave-Pride; the soon to be arriving Cathedral Vicar (assistant to the rector), the Reverend Helen Dunn; the Reverend Marnie Peterson; deacon, the Reverend Alisdair Smith; deacon, the Reverend Dixie Black, and a number of honoraries.
The Reverend Mark Munn will continue his curacy at St. Anne's, Steveston with the Reverend Brian Vickers.
The Reverend Lucy Price will continue her curacy at St. James' with rector, the Reverend Fr. Kevin Hunt; Street Outreach Inititative priest, the Reverend Fr. Matthew Johnston; honorary assistant, the Reverend Douglas Williams,; deacon, the Reverend Joyce Locht; honorary deacon, the Reverend Sr. Christian Cross.
In 2016 there were 7 ordinations at the June liturgy and this year that number was increased by one.
Bishop Skelton was the preacher and focused on the Gospel, Luke 1:57-80 for her text. Bishop Skelton spoke about the story of the birth of John the Baptist in Luke's Gospel and built on the message that the birth of John is the event that ushers in God's reign, for it is the percusor of God's becoming flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. When a child is born we ask "What in the world will this child become?" We do not know where we will go, what we will be, Bishop Skelton said, "most of these eight ordinands did not see this day coming." But arriving at this place is as much filled with "surprise as fulfillment and joy." From this point Bishop Skelton built on the theme of her homily which was "Here they are!"
(The Bishop's sermon is also available as a separate piece here)
IMAGES
Standard Group Shot - The Venerable Douglas Fenton (Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese of New Westminster, the Reverend Hyok Kim, the Reverend Marion Wong, the Reverend Mark Munn, the Reverend Ross Bliss, Bishop Skelton, the Reverend Lucy Price, the Reverend Jeffrey Preiss, the Reverend Ron Berezan, the Reverend Sharon Smith, the Venerable Bruce Morris (Archdeacon of Deacons)
Lighthearted Shot - Same order