Like many other events involving the gathering together of people, the ordinations of priests and deacons, which normally take place in the Summer at Petertide, were delayed due to Covid. This Sunday the delayed ordinations of twelve priests took place across three services. Hazel Aucken, Ivan Bennett, Jon Berry and Wilma Colley were ordained at 1:00pm, Sarah Collins, Mark Cooper, Matthew Gough and Ann Hall at 3:30pm, and Laura Jackson, Emily Sharman, Chris Szejnmann and Jon Tearne at 6:00pm in Leicester Cathedral. Bishops Martyn and Guli shared in the leading of the services, in line with the five guiding principles, and Rt Revd Dr Graham Kings (formerly Bishop of Sherborne), who had conducted the ordination retreat, was the preacher.
Despite the congregations being restricted to thirty people (in accord with government guidelines) the services were joyful occasions. Revd Canon Paul Rattigan, Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Leicester Cathedral’s Canon Chancellor, commented that the services were “Different but still very moving as we celebrated what God is doing in these new priests, and the start of a new chapter in their ministry in the diocese.”
Bishop Guli said "Ordination services are always special occasions and these were no exception. With such small numbers rather than a Cathedral brimming with people there was an added poignancy. A stark reminder of the strange times we live in but also a reminder that God is at work regardless of our circumstances. I hope those ordained will carry this certainty with them throughout their ministry and I wish them every blessing."
Each of the services was filmed, and they can be viewed on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel here.
There will be similar services to ordain ten new deacons in the Cathedral on 27 September, while our service to licence new Lay Ministers is scheduled to take place on 23 January.