Church of the Good Shepherd Welcomes New Spiritual Leader Mary Curlew
The Church of the Good Shepherd, which has proudly served the Episcopal community in Reading and surrounding towns since 1913, is delighted to announce its new spiritual leader, the Rev. Mary Curlew. Following an extensive search conducted by lay leaders of the parish, Mary was selected to guide the congregation as Deacon-in-Charge, with plans to transition to Priest-in-Charge following her anticipated ordination as a priest this winter.
"We could not be happier to welcome Mary to our church family," said Norma Strack, Senior Warden of the Vestry. "During the interview process, she instantly connected with the members of our Search Committee, and we know her warmth, compassion, and spirituality will touch the lives of all who meet her."
Mary brings a wealth of experience in caring for others, having spent decades as a clinical social worker serving people of all ages, from children to older adults. She recently answered her call to ordained ministry, a calling she first felt as a child. As part of the ordination process, she served as a Pastoral Intern at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Yarmouth, Maine, and was ordained as a deacon by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in June.
"I have felt called to care for God's creation, especially God's children, since I was ten years old," Mary shared. "For the first 20-plus years of my career, this meant supporting people through difficult transitions as a clinical social worker. Now, the joy and contentment I feel as a clergy person, especially as part of the community at the Church of the Good Shepherd, feels so true and right that I can't imagine doing anything else."
Mary will begin her ministry at the Church of the Good Shepherd in August, leading her first service on Sunday, August 17th at 10:00 a.m. The entire community is invited to join in welcoming her.
