July 2002 In This Issue: Our Big Summer Repair Project The Circle and the Spiral: Symbols of the Spiritual Journey Another Ordination? Confirmation Reflections Three Great Years as Director of Children's Education St. A's Goes to the Mountains (Again!) Wow! What else can I say? Kate Lewis How Do I Listen to God? My Confirmation Reflection on L.A. Works Day

by Kate Lewis

I am so grateful to have been ordained to the transitional deaconate from this place-St. Augustine's rocks!

You welcomed me home so warmly,
you invoked the Holy Spirit so powerfully,
and, you threw a great party!

The experience of being ordained at St. Augustine's was so much more than I expected. The most powerful moments were the two times I was on my knees. First was while I listened to Pat chanting the litany and to you singing the responses. Back and forth, back and forth-it was great to be in the middle of all of that praying. Second was, of course, while you all prayed and sang the Veni Sancte Spiritus. I knelt before the bishop and he spoke a few words to me about the importance of the diaconate. Then he and I prayed together while you continued to sing. It was so awesome to be in the midst of the deep and steady drone of the congregation's refrain and then to hear Bunny's voice soar with the verses. I had plenty of time both to pray in an interior way and to feel myself solidly in the midst of the whole praying Christian community. Finally, the bishop put his hands very firmly on my head and said the words of ordination. Do I feel different? Well, I do and I don't. Certainly a profound change has occurred and I can sense that some things are different now, but on the other hand, I'm still just me, doing my best to do my best, as we all are. We'll see what's next!

It would be impossible to thank you enough for all that you have done to make this day so fantastic. From beginning to end I have been fully supported by all of you at St. Augustine's. Added to all that is the most amazing gift of the New Interpreter's Bible! I had been saving my pennies to begin to purchase my own set and here it is, already on my shelf! I remember one day a month or so ago when Pat and I were at the bookstore at school and I was just about to buy my first volume-she had to really put her foot down to get me to wait until I got home to L.A. Little did I know what a great surprise was in store for me!

Thank you so much!

Copyright © 2002 St. Augustine by-the-Sea