Ordination*

Last Friday I was ordained to the transitional diaconate along with 5 fellow ordinands. These photos were taken by the awesome Sean Mcconnell.

Hug City

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What am I talking about, Willis? Let's ask the Wikipedia...

In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is undergoing the process of ordination, is sometimes called an ordinand.

In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican churches, ordination is identified with the sacrament of Holy Orders and is the means by which one is included in one of the three major orders: bishop, priest, or deacon. In those churches, ordination can be administered only by a bishop in Apostolic Succession; that is, a historical line of succession of bishops dating back to the Twelve Apostles. Ordination allows a priest validly to administer sacraments, most notably giving that individual the authority to celebrate the Eucharist. It would be proper to think of a priest as acting as a living conduit for Christ, with sacraments being dispensed solely from God through the priest, an imperfect but divinely accepted tool.Ordination should not be confused with becoming a member of a religious order, which makes one a monk, friar, brother, nun, or sister (see Tonsure and Monastic vows).