The Diocese of Northwest Texas invites you to join in celebrating two upcoming ordinations to the Sacred Order of Deacons this summer.
On Saturday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m., Austin Hackel and Bikole Mulanda will be ordained to the diaconate at Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene. Austin, a member of Church of the Heavenly Rest, completed a year of Anglican Studies at Seminary of the Southwest. Bikole, also a member of Church of the Heavenly Rest and pastor to the Swahili-speaking congregation, completed his formation through the diocesan School of Ordained Ministry.
A second ordination service will take place at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo on Thursday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m., when Monica Smith Hart and Jack Dupy will be ordained to the diaconate. Monica, from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, and Jack, from St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pampa, both completed their formation through the School of Ordained Ministry.
The diaconate is a ministry of service, compassion, and proclamation, and these ordinations mark an important step in the life and ministry of each ordinand. God willing, each will eventually continue on the path toward ordination to the priesthood.
Please keep Austin, Bikole, Monica, and Jack in your prayers as they prepare for ordination, and we invite the people of the diocese to attend these joyful celebrations as we gather to support and encourage them in their ministries.
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office on Nov. 1 for a nine-year term. In this role, he serves as the church’s chief pastor and CEO. Known for his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change, Rowe is committed to strengthening support for local ministry and mission.
He was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 after serving as rector of St. John’s in Franklin, Pennsylvania, for seven years. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, and from 2019 to 2024, he led a partnership between the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.
Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Grove City College, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University. He has served as a leader of many civic and churchwide organizations and governance bodies, and as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops.
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