Today finds me 40 days from the end of my ministry as bishop diocesan in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. It’s a sweet spot indeed. I relish these remaining days with the same joy and curiosity with which I await the next season of my ministry.
For now, I say yet again, you meet the most amazing people around the diocese, including Canons Gail Urquidi, Clare Zabala-Bangao, and Anilin Pulido Collado, at an au revoir lunch they hosted for Canon Kathy Hannigan O’Connor and me…
…the Rev. Canon Melissa McCarthy, our brilliant former canon to the ordinary, now priest in charge at The Parish of St. Matthew – The Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades, recently surrounded by love at a dinner in her honor…
…Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Armenian Apostolic Church, whom I had the honor of introducing to Bishop-elect Antonio Jose Gallardo Lucena…
…my wise friend and colleague the Rt. Rev. Franklin Brookhart, bishop assisting, who spreads joyous gospel love at each mission and parish he visits…
…Harvard Westlake School President Rick Commons and Head of School Laura D. Ross at my last board meeting, where Rick again invited me to offer a word of reflection and, this time, a farewell blessing…
…Chris Kanoff and Jamie Montgomery, devoted lay leaders at St. Matthew’s, smiling notwithstanding my violation of the Los Angeles Country Club’s rules against on-site photography, which I had failed to absorb in time…
…IRIS Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service, Los Angeles Executive Director Hilda Sarkisians and the Rev. Canon John Watson, interim diocesan canon, for a bracing conversation about Hilda’s brilliant oversight of our refugee resettlement agency in terrible political times…
…Bishop-elect Gallardo L. and Canon to the Ordinary-designate the Rev. Jon Feuss with my classmate the Rt. Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe, bishop of Central New York…
…the bishop-elect among new colleagues at his first Diocesan Investment Trust board meeting, including trustees Ryan Nakano-Harlow and Peter Reinke and consultant Maggie Ralbovsky;
…and diocesan colleague Julie Kelly, with Kathy.
