Blackburn Diocese to ordain 27 new priests and deacons this year.
Ordination weekend is approaching fast and our 27 new Deacons and Priests – the largest cohort for several years – are currently on retreat at Whalley Abbey, writes Ronnie Semley, Diocesan Communications Manager.
Before the retreat began, and together with their families, they were all hosted for lunch by Bishop Philip at Bishop’s House on Wednesday (pictured).
Please be praying for all our ordinands. You can find them named here, while on this page you can get to know them a bit better through short biographies and ‘Q and As’; also being shared with the local media.
You can follow what happens over the weekend, with post-service coverage and pictures early next week, on all our communications channels, including the news pages of the Diocesan website. The actual services will also be livestreamed on the Cathedral YouTube channel.
If you are involved in any way across the coming days, and are on social media, please use #newrevs and @cofelancs @churchofengland for reposts.
You will also start to see coverage in local, regional media and national church press as well, while next week each parish where our ordinands will serve will also be sent an official photograph and background information about their ordinand to use in their own local communications channels.
Our usual official ordinations video, issued on the run-up to the Petertide Weekend, is now available to watch here.
It features five of this year’s 27 ordinands, as well as Bishop Philip and Bishop Jill. Please share with others on social media and consider playing it at services and other parish events to inform and to inspire.
In the video, the ordinands give some insight into their journey to this point while our Bishops reflect on the importance of being called to ordination and encourage YOU to consider what God may be calling you to do in His church at this time.
Bishop Philip says: “We need leaders who are confident in the gospel and can use the gifts that God has given them. That’s why the ordination season is so exciting. I’m also hoping that, as we ordain these 27 men and women, many people around the Diocese of Blackburn will also be saying, what is God calling me to do?”
Bishop Jill adds: “My prayer is that, through these ordinations, more people across Lancashire will encounter Jesus for themselves. Enjoy the stories that you’ll hear in the video, and maybe as you watch and listen you’ll find that God is calling you.”
