Ordination of the Revd Cat

Thanks be to God for the ordination of the Revd Cat, our assistant curate, who was made a priest on Saturday 27th June by the Rt Revd Joanne Grenfell at a service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. She was accompanied by members of the congregations at St Mary's, Haverhill and St Mary's, Withersfield, who made the journey to Bury St Edmunds to witness her ordination, alongside twelve others from around the diocese.

Cat has already been with us for a year as a deacon, and continues to minister in Withersfield and Haverhill as a priest. She expects to complete her curacy with us, which will last another couple of years. As a priest, she will be able to preside at the Eucharist, offer blessings, to marry couples and to hear confessions, as well as continuing to officiate at baptisms and funerals, to preach, to teach, to offer pastoral support and to serve the needs of the benefice.

In the evening on the same day as her ordination, Cat presided at the Eucharist for the first time. The service was at St Mary's, Withersfield, and was offered in thanksgiving for her ordination. This was a chance to thank God for his call on her life and his blessing in the form of this new ministry. The guest preacher was the Revd Sarah Geileskey, who reflected on Cat's call to bless, to live a life of blessing, and to be blessed in return.

On the following morning, the parish gathered again for the Eucharist, which is offered every Sunday for the parish. Cat was welcomed in her new identity as a priest by the congregation and her licence to serve was read out publicly. She then presided at this principal Eucharist of the week.

Afterwards, Cat was presented with a gift: a white chasuble and stole with Marian blue orphreys, along with flowers, a book token, and a card. This rounded off a wonderfully joyful weekend of blessings and thanksgivings for the whole community.