The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Long Island gathered at the Cathedral of the Incarnation for a day of worship, reflection, and celebration.
The day opened in the Cathedral nave with the Book of Remembrance Mass, a solemn liturgy of thanksgiving for women whose lives and ministries have strengthened the church across Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk. Names read aloud during the service recalled generations of faithful witness and love.
The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, presided and preached, offering words of gratitude and encouragement. “It is always a joy to be part of this remembrance and to honor the hard work and dedication of the women in our diocese today,” Provenzano said. “The witness of the Episcopal Church Women strengthens the life of each parish and our diocese as a whole, and continues to serve as a shining example of the love of Jesus Christ in the world around us.”
Following the service, participants reconvened in the Cathedral’s newly renovated undercroft for the ECW’s annual meeting and luncheon—their first on the Cathedral campus in several years. The gathering included an ECW Information Gallery curated by Angie Morris in the Cathedral Art Gallery, highlighting the organization’s mission work and outreach across Long Island.
The keynote address was delivered by the Rev. Mark S. Nestlehutt, President and Executive Director of the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), who spoke about the Institute’s global ministry to mariners and their families. He was joined by Joanne Bartosik, Director of SCI’s Christmas-at-Sea program, who shared stories of the program’s long-standing partnership with ECW volunteers.
During the luncheon, ECW President Debbie Richberg presented two special honors: the Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbara Taylor, recognizing her many years of dedicated service, and the Woman of the Year Award to Sharon Tucker, marking her 15 years of leadership on the diocesan ECW board.
The event was a joyful celebration of faith, service, and community—hallmarks of the Episcopal Church Women’s continuing mission to uplift and empower women throughout the Diocese of Long Island.
Photo Gallery
Photography by: Matthew Pritchard