The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Verona is pleased to announce that Katherine Durning Rollo has joined the congregation as a seminarian. Her first Sunday was September 1. She will preach for the first time at Holy Spirit on Sunday, September 22 at both the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services. Rollo will be with Holy Spirit for the upcoming year.
Rollo is in her third year in the Master of Divinity program at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison. As part of the program, seminarians are placed in a variety of settings, such as traditional parishes, hospitals, and prisons to gain real-life experience. In addition to serving at Holy Spirit this year, she will be completing a rotation as chaplain at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston.
Rollo was raised Roman Catholic in Montclair, graduating from Immaculate Conception High School. She graduated from Seton Hall University, entered the Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, but realized that religious orders were not in her future. She began working for New York Telephone and continued working there for many years, as the phone company transformed into Verizon. When she retired early, she recalls saying “Now what?”
With her mother’s health declining, Rollo became her caregiver. During that period, Rollo became involved with Our Lady of Lake Roman Catholic Church in Verona, leading women’s retreats and facilitating a Women’s Spirituality group and shawl ministry.
“One of my goals when I retired was to become a Spiritual Director,” she recalls. In 2014, she discovered a non-denominational two-year program with a curriculum that allowed her to study and care for her mother. “One month after she passed away in May 2016, I graduated from the An Croi Wisdom Institute and became a Spiritual Director.” She began attending St. James Episcopal Church in Montclair regularly with her husband John.
Seeking a way to serve God in ministry, she spoke with the Reverend Melissa Hall at St. James who suggested she consider going to Drew University’s Theological School. “The suggestion seemed a little absurd at the age of sixty-nine, but I had nothing to lose,” says Rollo.
She applied to Drew. Because of her academic studies, her work as a Spiritual Director and life experience in pastoral care, Drew University awarded her a full tuition scholarship. She took her first classes in the Fall of 2017 unsure where the path would lead her. She formerly declared her intention to become a priest in the Episcopal Church and is now a Postulant for Holy Orders with the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.
As part of the Church of the Holy Spirit’s leadership team, Rollo will help lead the two Sunday worship services. She will also work with the Reverend Jerry Racioppi on special projects that they will decide upon together early in her ministry at Holy Spirit.
Says Father Racioppi, “We’re excited to have Katherine with us as our seminarian, especially since she is a Verona resident. Katherine’s spiritual gifts will help us try some new things and see our work through a fresh set of eyes. I am confident that Katherine will help guide us to the work God has called us to do.”
For more on Ms. Rollo’s journey to the priesthood, visit Holy Spirit’s website.
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 36 Gould Street in Verona, opposite the H.B. Whitehorne field. On Sundays, Holy Spirit offers a quiet, contemplative Holy Communion at 8 am in their All Saints Chapel built 90 years ago. The worship, about 40 minutes long, includes silence and Taize chants. At 10 a.m., there is a full worship service with Holy Communion and organ music, followed by coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall. On the third Sunday of the month, Holy Spirit’s 10 a.m. worship service features a Children’s instructional Eucharist. All are welcome!
