In a joyful service attended by persons throughout eastern Massachusetts and far beyond, the Rev. Alan McIntosh Gates was consecrated as the 16th Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts on Saturday September 13th at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Glorious music, provided by a choir of almost 600 singers, a beautifully designed altar, and the gladdened hearts of several thousand persons created a holy place for this significant moment of transition in the diocese. Retiring Bishop Tom Shaw was present, handing over his crozier (a shepherd’s staff, symbolic of the office of bishop)  to the new bishop. The Rt. Rev. Gates comes to his new position from St. Paul’s Church in Cleveland Heights, and a group of around 200 persons from his parish and the Diocese of Ohio were present for what was for them, a poignant and bittersweet occasion. Bishop Mark Hollingsworth of Ohio, who once served here in Massachusetts, was the preacher for the service.

Bishop Shaw and Bishop Gates as the new bishop receives the crozier

Among those from St. John’s participating in leadership in the liturgy were choristers Douglas Witte, Alice Krapf, Louise Ambler Osborn, Jim Anderson, Maureen Lavely, Dan Simpson, and Jane Struss. St. John’s folks who are in the ordination process, MIchael Bousquet, Emily Garcia, Charles Stang and Jay Jordan, all served as paten bearers or chalicers during Holy Communion,  and Tom Mousin assisted in distributing communion elements to all the servers. A number of St. John’s members were also in the congregation.

It was a memorable day in the life of our larger common life. Click here to read more and see photos of the day: http://www.diomass.org/diocesan-news/diocese-massachusetts-celebrates-new-bishops-consecration