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News
Reflections on an Ordination
Joe Bjordal
January 24, 2006
Reflections on an Ordination
"Yes, indeed. She is supposed to be a priest."
by Bronwyn Clark Skov
The Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson, Jr., Bishop of Upper South Carolina, asked Mary Catherine Enockson, Transitional Deacon from Minnesota, “Will you be loyal to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this church has received them? And will you join in accordance with the canons of this Church; obey your bishop and other ministers who may have authority over you and your work? “
The young woman I know as Mary Cat replied, with great respect and solemnity, “I am willing and ready to do so; and I solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church.”
The Bishop then addressed the congregation of over 400 persons gathered at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina, and asked if it was our will that she be ordained a priest. We replied that it is. He then asked if we will “uphold her in her ministry.”
“WE WILL!” we cried out.
The Rev. Mary Catherine Enochson, center, was ordained to the priesthood on January 20
by the Right Rev. Dorsey Henderson (rear, third from left) on behalf of the Right Rev. James Jelinek of Minnesota. Among the participants at Trinity Cathedral, Columbia, South Carolina, was the
Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks (front, second from left), the Rev. Mary Cat's sponsoring priest, from
St. Luke's Church, Rochester.
Photo by Will Hawkins, Church of Our Savior, Rock Creek, South Carolina
The liturgy then moved smoothly through The Ministry of the Word, The Examination, and The Consecration of the Priest. This magnificent ritual was facilitated by another friend, mentor, and colleague to Mary Cat and me, none other than The Rev’d L.Sue von Rautenkranz, a deacon formerly of this diocese. Sue currently serves as the Canon for Youth Ministry in Upper South Carolina and assists her bishop in planning and organizing diocesan liturgies. R.C. Laird, a musician and vocalist from Minnesota, was also a participant in the liturgy as the cantor singing Veni Sancte Spiritus at the beginning of the Consecration of the Priests. It was a sacred gathering of Mary Catherine’s family, friends, and colleagues from Minnesota, and her new diocesan and parish families in South Carolina. I was moved by the reverence and integrity of our worship together, thankful for the familiar formality and flow of the ordination liturgy, especially given the extraordinary circumstances which complicated the situation for Mary Cat.
On the weekend preceding the January 20 ordination service Mary Cat was with her Youth Group, from the Church of Our Saviour, Rock Hill, for their annual skiing expedition in the mountains of Virginia. Mary Cat, exclusively a Minnesota skier, had her first experience of mountain skiing. She found it to be exhilarating and tiring; the runs longer with softer snow than that to which she is accustomed. Unfortunately, she also learned the dangers of trying to fly while skiing and took a tumble that resulted in a fractured ankle. Her broken appendage requires a fiberglass cast and ZERO weight upon it for at least four weeks.
Her family, acolytes, and colleagues were very gracious and helpful in assisting her with a wheelchair, her crutches, and a wooden stool upon which she could sit to distribute the Host during Holy Communion. I found myself at one point completely tuned out from the sermon and fervently praying for the Holy Spirit to hold her left leg strong as she was called to stand to receive a priestly charge from the homilist. “Come Holy Spirit,” I prayed, “hold her left leg strong. Let her not wobble or fall. Thank you, Jesus.” I also offered prayers of thanks for her sponsoring priest, The Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks, Rector of St. Luke’s, Rochester, Minnesota, who was quietly compassionate and invaluable in his assistance to her as she navigated the sanctuary for The Great Thanksgiving. Crutches are not a great combination with chasubles, albs, and stoles on tile floors with heavy traffic of clergy and acolytes. We were blessed with grace.
At her home congregation in Rock Hill on Sunday we met with the acolytes before worship for last minute instructions and a prayer. Mary Cat calmly and confidently informed the acolytes that she had picked them specifically to assist her at her first occasion as Celebrant of the Holy Eucharist. She explained that things would be paced a bit slowly and deliberately to accommodate her mobility issues and to help her maintain focus. She instructed the acolytes to be attentive and prepared to move crutches quickly. She introduced me as the preacher for the day, Sue Von as the Deacon of the Liturgy, and R.C. as the soloist. We prayed and went to worship.
The Liturgy of the Word went without incident; Mary Cat offering the Opening Acclamation, R.C. singing Morning Has Broken as the Introit, Sue proclaiming the Gospel, and my story-telling sermon style seemingly well received by the congregation. Once we moved from The Peace through the Offertory to the Liturgy of the Table I was struck with a deep sense of comfort and gratitude.
Mary Cat’s clear-as-a-bell soprano voice rang out as she sang:
“The Lord be with you.”
And we responded, singing of one spirit:
“And also with you.”
So often I find myself singing or saying those words at worship without really engaging in the moment and its meaning. On this day, January 21, the Spirit infected my heart with love and respect and pride and anticipation of this newest priest in the Church, my friend, Mary Cat. A flood of thoughts and memories rushed through my brain; all moments with Mary Cat . . .
. . . her tears after a particularly challenging day at Cass Lake Episcopal Camp as a counselor, having been put through the ringer by an unhappy seventh grade girl
. . . her joy and leadership serving as the adult Wheat Team leader at Southern Minnesota Teens Encounter Christ, teaching the importance of prayer to teens
. . . her admitting that she shouldn’t be driving the 15 passenger van on our mission trip to Illinois after backing it out of a driveway and unexpectedly hitting a curb
. . . her wise reflections on a confirmation curriculum we were about to engage for a regional program
. . . dancing and singing to The Time Warp at TEC
. . . engaging in deep reflections during the discernment process
. . . her amazement when she said to me during her discernment process, “Bronwyn, I think I’m supposed to be a priest!”
Yes, indeed. She is supposed to be a priest.
It was never so clear to me than it was in that moment on Sunday when she sang her way through The Great Thanksgiving with integrity, sincerity, confidence, and intentionality. My heart and my tear ducts were bursting with thanksgiving and pride for this capable young woman. Her presence was appropriately reverent and joyful simultaneously as we celebrated the Lord’s Supper. Crutches? Not a problem. Sue and the acolytes made it seem as though she’d been serving at the Altar for years using crutches and a wooden stool. It was one of those Sacred experiences that felt completely like a right and good thing. I feel so blessed to have been a part of her formation, discernment, and the celebration as she moves into a new phase of her ministry. Thanks be to God!
"Almighty Father, we thank you for feeding us with the holy food of the Body and Blood of your Son, and for uniting us through him in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants for the ministry of your Word and Sacraments. We pray that Mary Catherine may be to us an effective example in word and action, in love and patience, and in holiness of life. Grant that we, with her, may serve you now, and always rejoice in your glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."
- concluding prayer from the Ordination of a Priest, BCP p. 535
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