Church of the Ascension

An announcement made today by Russ Braley, the Warden on Duty for Sunday, Nov. 10:

“This is an exciting time for our parish. Over this past year, we have been well looked after by Rev. Jim Garey and Rev. Karen Nelles, during the interim period after Rev. Canon June Hough’s retirement.

Karen was never going to be here in the long term, and I’m sure she wants to get back to being retired before the winter weather makes her commute from Strathroy a challenge.

I’m happy to be able to tell you that, as of Jan. 1, we will have a new rector. Bishop Todd Townshend has appoinrted the Ven. Dr. Osita Oluigbo, currently rector of St. John’s, Tillsonburg, as rector of Ascension and of St. Mark’s. As of that date, Archdeacon Osita will step down from his current role as the Archdeacon of Eastern Huron and will be styled the Reverend Canon Dr. Osita Oluigbo.

Before moving to the Diocese of Huron, Osita was rector of a church in Sidney, B.C., for several years, and before that served in Nigeria, where he was ordained.

Your selection committee met with Bishop Todd and later with Dr. Oluigbo and we agreed that he is the right person to lead us into the next stage of our life together.

We will be sharing his ministry with St. Mark’s on a ratio of 3/4 Ascension, 1/4 St. Mark’s. We will not be a 2-point parish, but rather 2 separate parishes sharing a priest. However, I have no doubt that as this relationship progresses, we will be expanding the co-operation that already exists between ourselves and St. Mark’s.

Rev. Karen’s last Sunday with us will be Dec. 29. Chances are there will be cake! So please come to thank her and wish her well.

Anyone interested in being in the Christmas Choir at Ascension, you can pick up your sheet music from our music director, Alex Baerg, after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Nov. 10. Rehearsals start the next Sunday after the service!