Sixteen new deacons are to be ordained at Lichfield Cathedral this weekend (26 and 27 June).
Saturday and Sunday’s services are being held at the normal time of year, during the Petertide season, after 2020’s ordinations were delayed until last September due to lockdown.
The new curates – eight women and eight men – each have a unique pathway to calling into ordained ministry and bring with them a rich variety of backgrounds in areas such as mental health nursing, local government, college tutoring, school teaching and agricultural engineering.
They will serve in parish ministry including areas such as school chaplaincy in a variety of churches and settings across Lichfield Diocese in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, the Black Country and Shropshire including several in non-stipendiary (self-supporting) part-time roles.
More detail about each of the new ordinands, who have completed either two or three years of training, is here where there will also be live-streaming links to the services.
They will be ordained by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, at the cathedral.
Diocesan Ministry Training Enabler the Revd Dr Jeanette Hartwell said: “As always, the richness of background, personalities and gifts in this year’s new curates is wonderful. Much of their initial training for ordained ministry has been in exceptional circumstances and they begin their ministries in challenging times as we continue to reflect on what it means to be people of hope in these strange and uncertain times. We look forward to them contributing to the Shaping for Mission agenda within the diocese and we rejoice that they are able to come together to celebrate their ordinations in the cathedral this weekend.
“In our ever-changing world, we need people who can serve God and share the Good News of Jesus in their communities, workplaces and local churches in fresh and creative ways. If you would like to explore how God may be calling you to serve in a new way please get in touch with Angela Bruno.“
Meanwhile, last year’s intake of curates are being ‘priested’ at services across the diocese this month. More details are here.
Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, attendance at all of the services is by invitation only.