Preparations are now well underway for the upcoming ordination services at Manchester Cathedral. This Petertide, 32 people are being ordained in the diocese - 18 as deacons and 14 as priests.
Rehearsals took place in Manchester Cathedral for the Ordination of Priests yesterday followed by lunch, which offered an ideal opportunity to catch up with fellow ordinands and clergy from across the diocese including Bishop Matthew Porter, Bishop Mark Davies, and Archdeacon Rachel Mann.
The soon-to-be Priests will now spend the next few days on retreat; we wish them a peaceful and prayerful time together as they prepare for Ordination and look forward to welcoming them back to Manchester Cathedral on Saturday.
The rehearsal for the Ordination of Deaconstook place on Thursday, ahead of services on Sunday. Bishop David Walker will ordain 17 deacons and Bishop Stephen Race will ordain one deacon.
See the full list of candidates here: Services for the Ordination of Deacons and Priests
The services will be livestreamed on Manchester Cathedral's Facebook page and we'll be sharing photos early next week.
Ahead of the ordination services, The Rt Revd Prof. David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, encourages us to pray for those being ordained, their loved ones, and those who support them:
"Please pray for all those to be ordained this year and especially for these candidates who will serve in our Diocese. Pray for them in these final days of preparation and for a rich outpouring of God’s grace for them and for the whole Church.
"Please pray also for their families, friends, for all those who have supported and encouraged them on their journey and for those with whom they will serve.
"Finally, I ask you to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest, that God will raise up vocations among us and that many will respond with generosity and obedience."
