Ordination of Richard Ballard

After serving for nearly ten years as a deacon at OLR, on May 26, 2019 Richard Ballard was raised to the priesthood by Bishop of Charleston SC, Robert Guglielmone.

The Pastoral Provision

Both priests at OLR are married men. In the late 1970’s a group of married Episcopalian ministers petitioned Pope Paul VI requesting dispensations from the vow of celibacy which would allow them to be ordained although they were married. Pope John Paul II set up a process allowing this to happen. Fr. Longenecker, as a former Anglican, was permitted to take advantage of this exception, and Fr. Ballard, as a former Lutheran minister was also admitted. This unusual exception to the discipline of celibacy for Catholic clergy is a powerful witness to the Catholic church’s call for unity.

Priests of God

For an ordination the priests of the diocese gather with the bishop to welcome the new member of the priesthood.