44th Anniversary of Ordination To The Priesthood: “By God’s Mercy.”

Ordained on The Feast of The Conversion of St. Paul, January 26, 1981

As I celebrate the 44th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, I am drawn to the words of the apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, a text that is both deeply personal and profoundly relevant for all communities of faith. Paul writes: “Since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.”

These words, spoken so long ago, echo through the corridors of time and speak with clarity to the heart of any priest called to this sacred vocation. But not just to priests. Recently I came across this profound saying:

“God sends each person into this world with a special message to deliver, with a special song to sing for others, with a special act of love to bestow.”

Each of us has a personal calling that no one else can fulfill. We all are invited to share the ministry of reconciliation, of healing the world, and of witness to the good news of God’s immeasurable love. There is a wideness in God’s mercy.

On this anniversary, I write these words with a heart full of gratitude for all those with whom I have shared the journey, in the parishes I have served. I am remembering the promises made, the challenges faced, and the grace that has carried me—and all of us—through the years. I was just 28 years old. Tomorrow I turn 72!

As I look back, I see faces, voices, and stories that have enriched my life in ways I cannot fully express. There are moments of profound joy—seeing someone discover God’s love in a new way, witnessing healing and reconciliation, Weddings, Baptisms, and of above all, sharing the Eucharist. But there are also moments of profound sorrow—standing with people in grief, bearing witness to pain and injustice, struggling to find hope when it feels lost.

And in the midst of it all, there is a constant truth: because of God’s mercy, we do not lose heart. This is the wellspring from which we draw our courage and our hope. Not because we are sufficient on our own, but because God is sufficient.

In the days before us, may we not lose heart, for it is by God’s mercy that we have been called, and it is by God’s mercy that we will continue in this journey and ministry together. As I have invited you many times celebrating the Eucharist:

“The Lord be with you”

“Lift up your hearts.”

“Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.”

With you on the Journey and The Way,

Rob+

With Fr. Jonathan Turtle, Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, as I was Celebrant on the 44th Anniversary of my Ordination to The Priesthood.