Now Officially In Charge

(The following is adapted from an article submitted for publication in the newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Belize.)

Early in September clergy from all parts of the Diocese came to Punta Gorda to welcome a fellow priest newly arrived from Canada. They were an impressive group lined up outside beautiful little St. Joseph’s Church in Punta Gorda for the Service of Institution and Induction. The church is located on Main Street in the centre of town, just a stone’s throw from the Town Square. Along with a gathering of faithful parishioners, they heard Dean Lloyd Neal welcome the Rev. Stanley Isherwood as the new Priest-In-Charge. Moments later Fr. Stanley received from members of his new congregation the symbols of his office and calling. He then knelt before the altar and prayed, “O Lord, my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called your servant to stand in your house, and to serve at your altar”.

There is no musical instrument in St. Joseph’s, but a musician from the town brought his keyboard and led in the singing of the hymns, including such favourites as Bind us together with love and Here I am, Lord. Representatives of the Roman Catholic and Methodist Churches were present and represented the other Churches in Punta Gorda.

Following the service the women of the parish presided over a delicious meal, but Fr. Stanley, not too long from Canada, and somewhat overcome with all the excitement, ate sparingly. As he wrote afterwards in his dairy, “It seemed to be a joyful service and I was able to follow the directions of the Dean and others so that I was usually where they wanted me at the appropriate time. I felt somewhat emotional, both thinking of the call here and also missing those at home.”

It should be noted that the clergy were gathered not only for the Induction but also for meetings to discuss such items as the proposed ministry among the Maya of Toledo District and the thorny question of the Church’s stance on varieties of human sexuality.