Earlier in June, the Revd Kat Marjoribanks was licensed as Associate Priest (Interim) of Emmanuel Loughborough and The Good Shepherd during a service of thanksgiving and commitment to shared ministry.
The Institution and Induction took place at Emmanuel Church and was conducted by the Venerable Claire Wood, Archdeacon of Loughborough.
We spoke to Revd Kat about her journey to this point, and her joy in taking on the role.
Tell us about the licensing and service…
The service was beautifully led by Archdeacon Claire Wood. It felt poignant and meaningful, as well as being full of life and joy. I found myself weeping in the first songs of worship with a deep sense of longing for all that I am going to be in response to the love of God in Jesus Christ. And when we got to the final song, I found myself laughing with a sense of being full of joy and love. It seemed like a beautiful thing that the service for me was book-ended with tears and laughter! A real sign and symbol of life in church ministry!
What has been your route to this role, in the diocese, through ordination and curacy?
I am blessed to have been at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough for almost 10 years as congregant, ordinand, curate and now Associate Priest. It is an honour to serve both God and his church at Emmanuel, the Good Shepherd and our new church plant- Beacon Church Shelthorpe, and I am excited to be continuing to work alongside other apprentices of Jesus as we seek to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord in our town.
How does this role reflect your calling?
I visited the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024 and one of the church pastors there was explaining how the ministry of a church leader is really very simple: to love God and to feed the sheep. This has stuck in my mind since then and it is something I resonate with. I long to love God ever more deeply and to serve his people and those who are lost and searching for meaning and love. This role is a blessing because we can continue with relationships, ministry and serving that we are already a part of.
What are your hopes for ministry in the parishes and the wider community?
That our fledgling church plant - Beacon Church Shelthorpe continues to deepen and grow as we invite people to explore what a life according to Jesus looks like, and as we become a place of loving service to the local community.
Our hope is that this church becomes a place where people who live in those streets, in that community, can come to find meaning, love and belonging in Jesus.