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New deacon to be ordained Kevin Allerston Northern News Services Published Friday, January 27, 2012
Joey Royal, 30, will be ordained as a deacon by Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk Sunday, a step toward his goal of entering the priesthood and possibly replacing the church's minister of seven years when he retires. Royal has been a lay leader at the church since April 2011.
"Ordination is an honour. Ordination means that you get a particular role in a group of people in the church to serve those people," said Royal. "In thinking of being ordained I feel a lot of joy in it. Yeah, I'm a little nervous. It feels a little bit like before I got married. I felt the time was right to do this and I did want to do this but I was a little nervous."
The new role means Royal will be able to preach before the congregation and baptize people into the church, however, the leading of wedding ceremonies and the Eucharist, the consecration of bread and wine, are the responsibilities of a priest.
"He won't be able to do that because he's still in training," said McLean. "That's what a deacon is, basically, is a priest in training."
Royal, originally from northern Ontario, has a master's degree in theology and first became a member of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church when he moved to Yellowknife in 2007. He left to continue his studies in Manitoba, but returned in 2009. While in Yellowknife he has worked with seniors at Aven Manor.
Douglas Doak, a member of the Holy Trinity congregation, said he appreciates the work Royal does in the community.
"He's got a younger person's perspective. He's already started a reading group that works out of Northern United Place. He's recently become a member of the board of directors at the SideDoor Youth
Centre, and he can relate more to younger people given his age," said Doak.
Royal said he would like to one day become a priest and be the minister at Holy Trinity, but recognizes the decision is ultimately up to Bishop Atagotaaluk and the congregation.
McLean and Atagotaaluk said they both support Royal's goal and feel he will make a good priest eventually.
"We felt that his personality and the commitment that he shows, we all felt that he was meant to be ordained as a deacon and I think the commitment will continue to go on into the priesthood maybe a year from now," said Atagotaaluk. "I think he has shown a very positive performance in the parish and that he could benefit the parish and the diocese."
McLean didn't say on when he plans on retiring, but said he is humbled by the support he has received from the community and is retiring to spend more time with his family.
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