On Saturday, 25 June, in a joyful service at Southwark Cathedral, 16 Deacons were ordained by the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, supported by the Area Bishops, including the Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, who was consecrated on the previous day. Later on Saturday, a seventeenth curate was licensed by Bishop Christopher on Zoom as a lay minister and will be ordained Deacon in September.
Group picture of Deacons with Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, the Bishop of Kingston, the Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham, The Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett and the Bishop of Woolwich, the Rt Revd Dr Karowei Dorgu. (Credit: Eve Milner)
A large Cathedral congregation, consisting of the families and friends of those ordained, as well as members of the parishes where they will be serving as curates, promised the Bishop that they would continually pray for them and uphold and encourage them in their ministry.
The Ordination Retreat was led by the Dean and President of the Seminary of the Southwest, USA, The Very Revd Dr Cynthia Briggs Kittredge ThD, Canon Theologian. In her sermon at the Ordination, Dr Kittredge said, “You are to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns and hopes of the world. Victims of tyranny live without homes, without food, without dignity and love. You will remind the Church of Jesus Christ to feed, house and heal them. You will remind the Church that they need Hope, Faith and Love. And you will take on tyranny with service.”
Bishop Christopher with Ordinands at the Diocesan retreat centre, Wychcroft, after giving his Charge to them on the eve of their Ordination.
Bishop Christopher said, “It was a joy to have time one to one with each of our gifted new Deacons during their retreat. In the Service of Ordination I said the moving words to them to ‘remember always, with thanksgiving, that the people among whom you will minister are made in God’s image and likeness. In serving them you are serving Christ himself, before whom you will be called to account’. I commend them all, and the parishes in which they are serving, to your prayers.”
