The Governor of New South Wales, General David Hurley, was just another proud parent in the over-capacity crowd which squeezed into St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday 7th February to witness the ordination of 37 new deacons.

The governor’s daughter, Caitlin, joined men and women from across the diocese being ordained and taking up a variety of ministries including prison chaplaincy, university chaplaincy, church plants with the Department of Evangelism and New Churches and parish work.

General Hurley and his family were among the parents and family members who were asked to stand as the congregation prayed for their future ministry.

Before taking their vows, Acting Dean, Canon Chris Allan spoke on the parable of the banquet, from Luke 14.

“To my brothers and sisters who’re about to make very serious promises, remember who it is that Jesus has invited..there’s no A-list crowd with Jesus.” Canon Allan said.  “Jesus isn’t interested in reputations or qualifications or the degrees on the wall. Your first-class honours will count against you, If you don’t have a heart for the lost. God’s invitation through Jesus has been thrown wide – as wide as it can be.”

Archbishop Glenn Davies and assistant Bishops laid hands as each candidate was ordained. 

The congregation of family, friends and parishioners from all corners of the diocese broke into applause as the group was finally presented.

For brother and sister Matthew and Rebecca Baines, it was a family affair. “We’re very glad and privileged to have the support of our father, who is also an ordained minister, and my brother Mike who has been ordained for 4 years and my cousin Mark who was ordained 2 years ago. We have come along different paths, it just so happened that they’ve met at the same time. I went to Moore College and Rebecca went to Youthworks College, but somehow we ended up serving God in the Sydney diocese and its a great thrill.”

Caitlin Hurley is headed for ministry in the South Sydney region “The time ahead is going to be very exciting. We are a tiny parish so I have been sent in as a missionary by lots of other people outside the parish to help with reaching 18 to 30 year olds” she said. “It is exciting to have friends and family, aunts and uncles and friends from University at such a gospel-centred event.”

Surrounded by friends and family, the (now) Rev Osea Taito came to Australia from Fiji 37 years ago, and began the path to ordination on the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) in 2007. “The initial plan was to go back to work but I was convicted that I should do extra study and I spent four years at Moore College.” he says.

Mr Taito is a full-time scripture teacher at two local high schools and honorary minister at Rooty Hills.

“It’s a great opportunity, the teachers are really supportive of scripture. They are two of the hardest schools in the state - the children have probably seen more hardship than I have in my lifetime.”

Like most of the ordinands making their way through the crush of family and friends in Sydney Square after the service, the newly ordained Mr Taito was ‘relieved’.

“But at the same time I’m already thinking ahead about what ministry looks like now with the responsibilities and the oaths that I have taken….”

More photos and coverage in the March edition of the Southern Cross, available in all Anglican churches. 

The full list of ordinands is 

Daniel John Anderson
    Macquarie University (Robert Menzies College)
Christopher Luke Anstiss
    Kiama
Matthew Jonathan Aroney
    Newtown with Erskineville
Matthew Charles Baines
    Minchinbury
Rebecca Joy Baines
    Shellharbour
Jonathan Baring Baird
    Wollongong
James Stewart Barnett
    Hurstville Grove
(Angus) Robert Angus Cameron
    Fairfield with Bossley Park
Nathan John Campbell
    Manly
Emily Ruth Carpenter
    Waitara
Timothy Edward Clemens
    Department of Evangelism and New Churches
Murray John Colville
    Toongabbie
Christopher Robert Conyers
    Narellan
Grant Andre de Villiers
    Bankstown
James Peter Delanty
    North Ryde
Michael Wilson Dicker
    Petersham
Stephen David Gilmour
    Moorebank
Cameron Glenn Harte
    Miranda
Roger James Hokin
    Dural
Steven Gregory House
    Anglican Home Mission Society (Anglicare)
Martin Stuart Hughes
    Gladesville
Caitlin Ruth Hurley
    South Sydney
Matthew Ivor Jacobs
    Seaforth
Roger Benjamin Geoffrey Kyngdon
    Windsor
(Alby) Albert Gar Kay Lam
    Department of Evangelism and New Churches
Han Oh Lee
    Enfield and Strathfield
Trent  McGrath
    Minchinbury
Troy Dylan Munns
    St George North
Benjamin Nathan Pakula
    South Creek
Andrew Edward Pearce
    Kirribilli
Brian John Snell
    Hornsby
Belinda Leigh Stead
    Lalor Park and Kings Langley
Osea Tuqovu Sapenafa Taito
    Rooty Hill
Matthew Roger Taylor
    Sutton Forest
Michael Geoffrey Turner
    Ashbury
Catherine Louise Wynn-Jones
    Darling Street
Michael Jen-Ern Mantle
    Under Letters Dimissory for the Bishop of London