The clergy and members of Gilroy’s St. Stephen’s Episcopal
Church, 651 Broadway, invite residents of South Valley to join them
in a special celebration.
The clergy and members of Gilroy’s St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 651 Broadway, invite residents of South Valley to join them in a special celebration.
On Sunday, the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves will make her first official visit to the local parish.
Once each year an Episcopal bishop is to make a “visitation” to each church in the diocese.
These visits are marked by both colorful pageantry and joyous good spirits.
The three usual Sunday services at St. Stephen’s will be combined into one bilingual service held at 10 a.m.
Bishop Mary will preach the morning’s sermon, celebrate Holy Eucharist, confirm two people and officially “receive” several more into the Episcopal Church. (This is a rite for people who have already been baptized and confirmed within certain other denominations.).
According to the Rev. Terry Burley, Rector of St. Stephen’s, visitors are encouraged to come and meet Bishop Mary, hear inspirational music, and enjoy a delicious luncheon with the congregation.
As in the Catholic and Orthodox churches, Episcopal bishops lay claim to “Apostolic Succession,” the belief that each bishop is consecrated by the hands of another in an unbroken chain back to St. Peter and the Apostles. Bishops play key roles in the Episcopal Church. (“Episcopal” comes from a Greek word meaning “overseer” and now refers to the office of bishop.)
They are responsible for ensuring that the faith proclaimed in parishes is the faith of the historical church; they ordain priests and deacons; they administer the sacrament of confirmation; they serve as symbols of unity and continuity of the faith. Bishops are also responsible for all the administrative and financial matters of their dioceses.
In June Bishop Mary was elected to serve the Diocese of El Camino Real, a group of 60 churches stretching along the California Coast from Palo Alto to San Luis Obispo.
She was officially installed as the Diocese’s third bishop in November during an elaborate consecration service at San Jose’s Trinity Cathedral before a capacity crowd which included many interfaith and civic leaders.
Father Terry has become quite impressed by his new bishop during the past year: “Although she is very bright and capable, I find her to be self-effacing and down-to-earth, possessing a winning sense of humor.”
He feels that she is “very respectful of differences with a good appreciation of people. She will make a good reconciler during this time of some contention.”
Before being elected as bishop, Gray-Reeves, 44, served as a priest in several parishes in Southern California. She also held the office of Archdeacon for Deployment in the Diocese of Southeast Florida before returning to California.
Bishop Mary will have the privilege this summer of participating in the Lambeth Conference. Once each decade, the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of some 77 million Anglican Christians around the world who trace their heritage to the Church of England, hosts an important gathering in Canterbury, England.
There he meets with all bishops and archbishops for a two-week event where participants discuss theological and moral issues facing the Church.
Bishop Mary will represent the 14,000 Episcopalians in this diocese.
Speaking of Bishop Mary’s visit, Father Terry welcomes visitors to come meet her and the people of St. Stephen’s.
“Come, see who we are,” he said. “We’re building a church family here and having a great time while doing it.”
For more information, call (408) 842-4415.
