Hundreds of people, some from as far away as Broken Hill, have packed St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the ordination of 48 men and women for ministry.

The group includes 31-year-old Jonathan Lilley, the first Aboriginal candidate to complete the full four-year course at Moore College.

Lilley, who is married with three young children, says he found the course academically challenging.

He says he he didn’t come to college with a degree as many of his colleagues had, but had been encouraged greatly by friends along the way.

He will take up a position with the Anglican Church in Nowra, and will be involved in ministry to the South Coast’s Aboriginal community.

The Diocese has several aboriginal workers, but Jonathan is the first to complete the full Bachelor of Divinity degree.

Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen described Jonathan as a man with a great heart for his own people, but said his training meant he could be posted to any ministry, aboriginal or not.

Sydney’s labourers begin their journey

Others to be ordained included several deacons from Anglican ministry families, including Edward Loane, the grandson of Former Primate Marcus Loane, and John Forsyth, son of the Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth.

The ordinands will take up positions in churches ranging from Holy Trinity, Adelaide to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.

As well as the 48, John Lee was commissioned as a Diocesan worker for church planting in Sydney’s Georges River region, planting a new congregation in the parish of Brighton/Rockdale.

Archbishop Peter Jensen said it was a point of great thanks to God that such large numbers had been presented for ordination for three years running.

Principal of Moore Theological College, John Woodhouse, told the congregation the numbers have stretched college facilities to the limit.

He said “When you look at the city and the numbers of people, the words of Jesus make a lot of sense - the labourers are few but the harvest is vast.”

Minutes after he spoke, another 49 full-time labourers officially began their ministry journey.

Our favourite photos

Peruse our favourite photos for your favourite ‘Reverend’, courtesy of photographer Ramon Williams.

Photos in order of appearance:

1. Visitors mill around St Andrew’s Cathedral before the service.
2. The large crowd files into the cathedral, and spills over into the Chapter House.
3. Having taken their seats, visitors wait for the action to start.
4. Ordinands prepare to enter the cathedral for the ceremony.
5. Archbishop Peter Jensen
6. The Rev Rick Lewers, rector of St George’s, Engadine, gives the address.
7. Mr Lewers emphasises to ordinands the importance of making Christ the centre of their ministry.
9. Bishop Peter Tasker looks on as Archbishop Peter Jensen lays hands on Diocesan layworker, John Lee.
10. Archbishop Peter Jensen presents Diocesan layworker, John Lee to applauding visitors.
11. Bishop Peter Tasker commends ordinands to the Archbishop and visitors.
12. Ordinands line up to take their vows.
13. Rows of ordinands declared “I do” to the ministry vows asked of them.
14. Visitors applaud 2008’s new Reverends.
15. This year’s crop of happy ordinands with Archbishop Peter Jensen, Bishops Glenn Davies, Robert Forsyth, Peter Tasker, Al Stewart and Ivan Lee, Diocesan registrar Philip Selden and the Rev Rick Lewers.
16. This year’s five women ordinands - (l to r) Chooi Kok, Caroline Litchfield, Alison Napier, Kara Gilbert and Bec Watson - celebrate with Archbishop Peter Jensen and Archdeacon Narelle Jarrett.
17. A generation of ministry sons and grandsons: (l to r) the Revs John Forsyth, Martin Kemp, Matthew King, Marty Telfer and Ed Loane.
18. Canon Peter Kemp with newly ordained son, the Rev Martin Kemp.