REGINA — Jessie Leigh Johnston and Bryan Kenwell were ordained priests during a joyful service in St. Paul’s Cathedral on All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1. Bishop Helen Kennedy celebrated and preached.
The Scriptures were those for All Saints’ Day, and were read by Diane Peters from Coteau Hills, Blake Kelly from Saskatchewan Gateway, and Deacon Susan Haacke from the cathedral. Later, Dean Mike Sinclair sang the litany during the service.
In the sermon, Bishop Helen spoke of a “beautiful intersection of faith” where at the same service, we remember all the saints who have gone before us, and create two new priests to continue the work of the saints into the future.
“What makes a saint?” asked Kennedy. “It’s not to be perfect,” she replied, but to bear witness to the love that will not let us go. “Saints are ordinary people who lived with extraordinary faith. Sainthood is the calling for every believer,” she continued. “We are called to be stewards of this inheritance from God.” She said Christians are called to usher in the kingdom of God, “one act of blessing at a time.”
Speaking to the ordinands, Kennedy told them to “stand with God’s people, not above them.”
Johnston was presented by Dean Mike Sinclair, and lay people Blake Kelly and Rosanne Kelley, from the parish of Saskatchewan Gateway. Kenwell was presented by Canon Dr. Grayhame Bowcott and Rev. Gille Haché, both from Kenwell’s home diocese of Huron, and lay person Jennifer Wells from Coteau Hills Parish.
After the two ordinands had been presented, the service calls for the bishop to ask the congregation, “Is it your will that these persons be ordained priest?” and the congregation is to reply, “It is.” Bishop Kennedy thought that the initial response was a bit weak, so she asked again, and then the congregation replied loudly and enthusiastically!
The service continues with the bishop asking, “Will you uphold them in this ministry?” and this time the congregation replied with gusto, “We will!”
Following the consecration, the new priests were dressed in priests’ (rather than deacons’) robes, and each was presented with a Bible and chalice and paten.
The new priests assisted the bishop in the celebration of Holy Eucharist.
David McIntyre was organist for the service, and played several of his own compositions during the Prelude and Postlude.
Johnston had been deacon-in-charge of Saskatchewan Gateway, and Kenwell deacon-in-charge of Coteau Hills. Each has become incumbent of their respective parishes.
