Pastoral Letter on the Ninth Anniversary of My Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood
To the Clergy and Faithful of the Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George, and to all who share in the life and mission of Christ's Church:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As I approach the ninth anniversary of my ordination to the Sacred Priesthood, my heart is filled with gratitude. This anniversary is not simply a remembrance of a day in my own life, but an opportunity to give thanks for the faithfulness of God, whose mercy continues to sustain those whom He calls into His service.
When the time came to choose the day of my ordination, I intentionally selected the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. It was not because she was among the most powerful of the saints, nor because she held earthly prominence, but because her story is one of grace. She reminds us that God delights in taking imperfect people and making them instruments of His perfect love.
Mary Magdalene knew both brokenness and redemption. She encountered the transforming mercy of Jesus Christ, remained faithful even at the foot of the Cross when many had fled, and was entrusted with the first proclamation of the Resurrection. The Church has long honored her as the Apostle to the Apostles, not because of her perfection, but because of the perfect work of Christ within her.
That truth has remained close to my heart throughout these nine years of priestly ministry.
I have never believed that God calls only the flawless or the exceptionally gifted. Rather, the history of salvation teaches us that the Lord calls ordinary men and women, each bearing their own weaknesses, failures, fears, and scars. The miracle is not the worthiness of the servant but the faithfulness of the Master.
As I reflect upon these years, I am keenly aware of my own imperfections. There have been moments of joy and moments of sorrow, seasons of confidence and seasons of uncertainty. There have been successes that could only be attributed to God's grace and failures that have become opportunities for repentance, growth, and deeper dependence upon Him. Through every triumph and every trial, Christ has remained faithful.
Priesthood is not a reward for holiness already attained. It is a lifelong invitation to be continually transformed into the likeness of Christ while serving His people with humility, compassion, and love. Every celebration of the Holy Eucharist, every baptism, every bedside prayer, every funeral, every confession heard, every sermon preached, and every soul entrusted to my care has reminded me that this ministry belongs first and foremost to Christ Himself. I have simply been privileged to share in His work.
No one answers God's call in isolation, and I have been continually reminded that my priesthood has never been mine alone. My family has walked this journey beside me every step of the way. They have shared in the joys of ministry and quietly borne its sacrifices—late-night hospital visits, interrupted family gatherings, countless miles traveled, seasons of uncertainty, and the many unseen demands that accompany the care of Christ's flock. They have celebrated with me in moments of great blessing and have stood beside me through seasons of disappointment, grief, and challenge.
To my beloved wife, Heather, thank you for your steadfast love, unwavering encouragement, and faithful partnership in the Gospel. Your strength, wisdom, and sacrifice have sustained me more times than I can count. Whether in moments of celebration or seasons of trial, you have faithfully walked beside me, reminding me daily of God's grace and faithfulness.
To our children—Caitlyn, Isabella, Noah, Madeline, and Abigail—thank you for sharing your husband and father with the Church. You have accepted the unique rhythms of ministry with remarkable grace, often making sacrifices that few ever see. Your patience, understanding, laughter, and unconditional love have been among God's greatest gifts to me. Each of you has taught me something profound about the love of our Heavenly Father.
The priesthood is often described as a personal vocation, yet it is also a vocation lived within the embrace of a family. Whatever good has been accomplished during these nine years has been supported by their prayers, their encouragement, their sacrifices, and their enduring love. I thank Almighty God for each of them and pray that He will continue to bless our home as together we seek to follow Christ wherever He leads.
These nine years have also taught me that ministry is never undertaken alone. I have been blessed by faithful clergy who labor alongside me, by devoted lay faithful whose prayers sustain me, by mentors who have guided me, by friends who have encouraged me, and by countless individuals whose faith has strengthened my own. To each of you, I offer my deepest gratitude.
As Bishop, I have witnessed our Ordinariate grow in ways I could scarcely have imagined. New ministries have begun, new clergy have answered God's call, new communities of faith have been planted, and new opportunities to proclaim the Gospel continue to unfold before us. We remain far from finished, yet every step reminds me that the Church belongs to Christ, and He continues to lead His people with wisdom and mercy.
The witness of Saint Mary Magdalene continues to shape my own prayer. She teaches us that our past does not define our future; Christ does. Our failures are never greater than His mercy. Our weakness is never stronger than His grace. What God accomplished in her life, He continues to accomplish in all who surrender themselves to His loving will.
As I enter another year of priestly ministry, I pray not for greater recognition or accomplishment, but for greater faithfulness. May I love Christ more deeply, serve His people more generously, preach His Gospel more boldly, and reflect His compassion more completely. If my ministry points others toward Jesus rather than toward myself, then it will have fulfilled its purpose.
I ask your continued prayers for me, as I assure you of mine for each of you. Pray that I may remain faithful to the vows I made before God and His Church. Pray that I may always be a shepherd after the heart of Christ. And pray that together we may continue to proclaim the hope of the Gospel to a world longing for truth, mercy, and redemption.
On this anniversary, I give thanks not for what I have accomplished, but for what God has accomplished through imperfect hands surrendered to His perfect will. Like Saint Mary Magdalene, I stand only because of the grace of Christ. If these nine years have taught me anything, it is that God's call is always accompanied by His grace. He does not wait for us to become perfect before He invites us into His service; rather, He perfects us day by day through His mercy. My prayer is that I may continue to be shaped by that grace until the day I stand before Him, and that my life and ministry will always bear witness not to my own strength, but to the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
May Almighty God bless you, keep you, and fill you with His peace. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Faithfully in Christ,
The Right Reverend Brent Edward Whetstone
Bishop
Anglican Ordinariate of Saint George