Dear friends,

I have some exciting news to share.

The Rev. SuEllen Pommier will join us as Curate in January, 2024.

Bishop Akiyama will appoint SuEllen to a six-month placement as Curate at St. Michael’s next year. A curate is a newly-ordained or soon-to-be-ordained priest who serves a first call in an established parish to work with a mentoring priest. A curacy placement is meant to be mutually beneficial, in that our parish will receive some much-needed clergy support and SuEllen will be in safe and healthy context to learn and grow into her new ministry as a priest.

SuEllen’s work with us will be on a non-stipendiary (unpaid) basis, so her position will not be full time, and she will enjoy flexibility to continue her work as a chaplain. Along with sharing liturgical leadership and preaching, SuEllen will support pastoral care and help to develop adult formation opportunities.

SuEllen is an accomplished scientist and researcher who began discerning a new vocation in the church several years ago. She completed an M.Div. (Master of Divinity) degree at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 2020, and is currently serving as Deacon at Ascension Parish in NW Portland. She will be ordained as a priest on January 19 at Trinity Cathedral. (I hope that many from St. Michael’s will plan to attend the ordination to bear witness and support SuEllen in her ordination.)

SuEllen will be with us for her first Sunday on December 31 for introductions, and she will officially begin the position on January 1.

This is an exciting opportunity for SuEllen and for St. Michael’s! Pray that we will be a blessing to SuEllen as she begins this new season of ministry. I am confident that we will be blessed by her ministry among us.

With you,

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector
Email: ScottP@stmaa.org