It’s 3:30 pm on Superbowl Sunday, January 28, 2001 and am I in front of the television with my fellow Americans?  Of course not!  I’m at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Park Avenue getting ready to attend the Ordination of Mary Elizabeth Haddad to the Sacred Order of Priests.  Episcopal priest, that is.

Otherwise knows as the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, I’m here to see the final step of a long journey of a remarkable woman, one whom I first met more than seven years ago as the verger of All Saints, Beverly Hills.  I’d met her then through my friend David Littler, the man who is most responsible for where I am today, theologically at least.  [That said, he most modestly defers to being the “unworthy servant” of the Holy Spirit … quite proper, don’t you think?]

But back to where I am geographically.  At the door of  St. Bart’s are two priests; one, the Rev. David A. Stout looks familiar but really isn’t except for name.  The other, the Rev. Andrea R. Maier, recognizes my name.  But not from any normal method.  She’d just done a Google search for ‘Mary Haddad’ the other day and the search engine had led her to my web site.  The reference was a dinner that Mary attended along with Dr. Ellen Yetzer, my boyfriend, Bryan Johnson, the Rev. Canon Tony Jewiss (now working at the General Convention office at 815) and Frank Tedeschi, now my boss at Church Publishing.  She even saw the picture of us at dinner at Pangea.  [Interested in a sermon by her?  Or one by Fr. Stout?]

As they say, it’s a small world.  Upon entering the sanctuary, I expected to see people I know but don’t.  Therefore, I take a seat by myself about a dozen rows from the front.  But not five minutes go by before the pew becomes so crowded that I move off to the side; this turns out to be propitious as this ordination requires a good five or six Kleenex.  A high water mark, if you will!  So I’m glad to have a touch of privacy to witness this most moving event.

About ten minutes before the hour, William K. Trafka, the church’s Director of Music and organist, begins with Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A Major followed by Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Prelude on 'Rhosymedre' – VW being not only one of my musical heroes but certainly one of the fathers of Anglican hymnody.

At the stroke of 4, with punctuality being one of the cornerstones of Anglican manners, Mr. Trafka segued into Hymn 370, I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity (to the tune of St. Patrick’s Breastplate).  I might take a moment to make mention of the wonderful selection of hymns and anthems throughout the service.

I wondered if Tony Jewiss + was going to make it before I realized that he’d be part of the procession.  Sure enough, along with a dozen other priests of the church followed by the St. Bartholomew’s Choir and the St. Bartholomew’s Boy and Girl Choristers, the procession made its way around the nave and up the center aisle.  Then the Bishop of Los Angeles, the Right Reverend Frederick Houk Borsch, Ph.D. (nearing the end of his episcopate and the beginning of his retirement), began the proceedings and started the Presentation.

Allow me a moment to name some of the other people involved:  The Bishop’s Chaplain is the Rev. Canon Mark Kowalewski (Tony+ preceded him in that position); the Minister of Ceremonies, the Rev. Jay Sidebotham; Litanist, Jennifer Reddall; Lectors, Raymond McGarrigle and Amy Russell; Gospeller, the Rev. Thomas Breidenthal; Deacon, the Rev. Chloe Breyer; and Thurifer Richard Lawson.  This also allows me to mention that incense is rarely used at St. Bart’s but an exception is being made in Mary’s case.

As the bishop and people sit, the Presenters [including the Rev. Carol Anderson (the rector of All Saints, Beverly Hills is affectionately known at “Herself+”); the Bishop of Indianapolis, the Rt. Rev. Catherine M. Waynick (greatly responsible for much of Mary’s early spiritual journey) and her husband Larry Waynick; the rector of St. Bart’s, the Rev. William McD. Tully; Ian Grimshaw and Ellen Yetzer] present the ordinand on behalf of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

After the lessons (Isaiah 6:1-8 and Philippians 4:4-9) and two more hymns (#469 There’s a Wilderness in God’s mercy and #382 King of glory, King of Peace), the gospel (John 10:11-18) is read and the sermon begins.  This is appropriate time to mention that a rather longer period of silent reflection is observed after the readings.  Later, Fr. Tully says that it is something that Mary has brought to the church and a welcome one at that.

In a very unusual move (but not unknown in ordinations), the Associate Rector of All Saints, Gabriel Ferrer begins the sermon.  Mr. Ferrer, a lay person who is married to Debbie Boone, is also known as the son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney and therefore the cousin of George Clooney.

None of that is as important as the sermon itself, one of the most stirring and moving I’ve had the pleasure of hearing.  And I’m known for being picky about these things.  If you don't mind reading it, you can click here.  In the meantime, at the time of this writing (early 2001) it's available as an audio file at the All Saints web site.

After the Nicene Creed is sung, as a Russian Orthodox Hymn adapted by All Saints primo composer/organist Craig Phillips, the Examination begins.  Answering Bishop Borsch’s questions with a loud and confident voice, we all sing Hymn 504 (Veni Creator Spiritus or Come, Holy Ghost our souls inspire) and the Consecration begins with the laying on of hands by the bishop and the surrounding priests.

Mary+ (please note the new signifier, which you will see from now on when I refer to her in posts) is vested, then anointed and given a bible, according to the liturgy.

The following day, Monday, she celebrates her first Eucharist in a chasuble designed by her and made by Patrick Boylan (my colleague, Sean Scheller, has graciously just provided me with this information).  This one is red, of course, and, of course, looks lovely on her.

After the Peace and the Welcome by Fr. Tully (which includes a gag calendar for Mary+ listing her as celebrant for every one of the next month’s services), we proceed into the Celebration of the Eucharist with the anthem, C. Hubert H. Parry’s I was glad sung by the choirs at the Offertory.  At the Presentation, the congregation sings Come, risen Lord and deign to be our guest set as a new "hymn tune composed by William K. Trafka in honor of the Rev. Mary E. Haddad on the occasion of her Ordination to the Priesthood" called Nova Sacerdos.  Featuring an oboe introduction/interlude, it’s not only stunning, one can actually sing it!

We move along through the Great Thanksgiving and are greatly rewarded by Harold Friedell’s Sanctus and Benedictus and Agnus Dei as well as Jeffrey Smith’s Adoro Devote (all from Modal Service) sung by the choir.  The two last hymns sung by the congregation are #324 (Let all mortal flesh keep silence) and #477 (All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine).

Mary+ blesses the people and to the triumphant strains of Charles Marie-Widor’s Final from his Symphony II the service has ended.

But the party’s just begun!  I take a moment to say hello to Michael Haddad, the brother of Mary+.  We’d met at a dinner in August at the home of Tony Jewiss+.  After a quick hello to Ellen, it’s off to the reception where I find I know no one!

Well, that’s not quite true.  One of my temps, Rick Miranda, comes up to greet me.  This surprises me until I realize that he works at St. Mary the Virgin (“Smokey Mary’s”) where Mary+ was a seminarian.  But no one else appears.  Feeling somewhat dejected, I prepare to leave but decide to go back through the sanctuary where I’m greatly rewarded by seeing Tony+ and Mary+ together.  And he encourages me (not that it took much doing) to receive one of the first blessings by our new priest.  OK, you know me, I was a touch over-whelmed and grateful; Tony+ actually had to put a hand on my shoulder and suggest kneeling!  Yes, I was moved!

Then it was back to the reception and with Tony+ along it was easy to meet people.  By then Carol+ was there so I said a quick hello on behalf of David Littler, informing her that my lot in life was all his fault!  Also present were Brother Francis Andrew; I last saw him almost four years ago when David had come to visit me in New York.  BFA is now working up in Boston.

When Tony+ introduced me to Ian Grimshaw, I realized that we had met before, about six years ago.  Ian had been living in Los Angeles when I was living in Laguna Beach.  I went to going away party for him a couple of days before he returned home to England; if I recall correctly, there were many margaritas at a local Mexican restaurant!

Friends of the new priest from General Seminary included Michael MacDonald, who now works here at Church Pension, and Robert who I believe is still at GTS.  As time goes on, I hope to remember those I’ve overlooked but I think I’ve got the main people that you might know.  Any other questions you should ask Mary+ !!!

Take me back home ... take me the January page for this month ... Molten Soul ... "Communion"