It was a joyful service of welcome and commitment to shared ministry in the Benefice of Broom Leys, as the Revd Steve O’Rourke was licensed Vicar of St David’s Church.
Steve was surrounded by family, friends, colleagues and congregations from the neighbouring parishes, including those who have journeyed with him, prayed for him, and championed him along the way.
Bishop Saju led the licensing, assisted by the Venerable Claire Wood, Archdeacon of Loughborough, as Steve renewed his ordination vows and committed to continue ‘as a faithful steward of the mysteries of God’.
During the service, Steve received the traditional symbols of ministry from his ministry team colleagues in the benefice, with whom he will work in partnership.
Reflecting on the service, and his vocational journey to this point, Steve said: “My licensing service was a wonderful celebration - quite an overwhelming one for me, being at the centre of it all - but it's a great privilege to now be Vicar at St David's.”
He continued: “One of the amazing things about my whole vocational journey is that it's not something I've done alone, I've been supported and encouraged by many friends, family and co-workers, and more recently the congregation of St David's, so it felt like a beautiful, shared moment.”
Steve is a well-liked priest in the parish, known to St David’s and the wider community following his secondment to the Broom Leys church in September 2023.
“Stepping into my first post, I feel a healthy sense of responsibility, but as Bishop Saju said in his sermon, we are asking God to do more in us and in our churches than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20), and so every calling from God is much less about our ability and more about our availability to Him,” said Steve.
“In the licensing service, my first contribution as Vicar was the prayers. That felt very appropriate. I love helping people to pray, and I believe everything we do as Christians has to start in prayer.
“One of the verses I keep coming back to at the moment is Psalm 127:1 - 'Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.' and prayer is the best way to put our plans to one side and ask God what he wants. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens in the parish as we pray, and in the wider area as we form a Minster Community.”
One colleague supporting Steve’s journey is the Ven. Claire Wood. Talking about his appointment, she said: “It’s wonderful to celebrate Revd Steve O’Rourke’s appointment as Vicar of St David’s Broom Leys. During his secondment, Steve has worked with and led the church, in the revitalising of their ministry.
“This has seen the service and partnership with the wider community flourish, an encouragement and releasing of people exploring their own faith, and ministry growth leading to new opportunities for prayer and worship. All of this as St David’s Church and Steve prepare to join a Minster Community.
“It is a joy to welcome Steve to this new role, and to pray for his ministry."
Looking to the future in the church and community, Steve added: “There is a strong sense of hope at St David's that together we can build God's kingdom in Broom Leys over the coming years. The church community has a real desire to welcome people - there is a great culture here of generosity and hospitality - but they also want to reach out and share the love of God.
“I see my role as cheering on all the great ministry that is already going on here, so I loved that the licensing service expressed the reality of shared ministry.”
