The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island gathered at St. Gabriel’s Church in Hollis, Queens, for the annual celebration of the Reverend Absalom Jones, the first person of African descent to be ordained in the United States. Clergy and lay leaders from across the diocese joined in worship, music, and prayer to commemorate Jones’s enduring witness and his continuing call to faith, justice, and community.
The service was marked by a striking sermon from the Rev. Kino Vitet, Rector of the Church of St. Mark, Brooklyn, who invited the congregation to reflect not only on Absalom Jones as a historical “first,” but as a faithful servant whose legacy continues to shape the Church today. Fr. Vitet centered his message on what he called a “holy imagination,” reminding worshippers that God meets people where they are and calls them to hope, even in the midst of struggle.
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island, presided at the Eucharist and offered remarks of both gratitude and transition, as he prepares to retire as diocesan bishop this September. During the service, leaders of the Black Clergy Caucus spoke of Bishop Provenzano’s long-standing commitment to the Absalom Jones celebration.
“Someone said to me, ‘Well Bishop, this is your last time at Absalom Jones as you get ready to retire,’” Provenzano shared. “And I said, ‘It’s the last time that I will preside as the diocesan bishop—but I’ll come back every year for this celebration.’” He went on to express deep gratitude for the Black Clergy Caucus and its ministry within the diocese.
“For seventeen years of my episcopate, and for a very long time before that, this caucus has raised the concerns, the needs, and the enthusiasm not only of Black clergy, but of the congregations they serve,” Bishop Provenzano said. “It has been an enormous gift to our diocese.”
As a token of their gratitude, the Rev. Leandra Lambert, president, along with the former presidents of the Black Clergy Caucus, presented Bishop Provenzano with a custom New York Yankees jersey bearing his name and the number 8.
The service also lifted up the leadership of young people, musicians, and lay ministers, and included prayers for the work of racial justice, reconciliation, and healing—central themes of Absalom Jones’s life and ministry.
As the Diocese of Long Island continues to reflect on Absalom Jones’s witness, this year’s celebration offered a reminder that his legacy is alive in the Church today: in faithful worship, courageous leadership, and a shared commitment to justice rooted in God’s love.
The full livestream recording of the service, provided by St. Gabriel’s Church, is available online, along with a separate recording of the sermon. Photo galleries from the celebration are also available at the links below.
Event Photos
Photography by: Jennifer A. Uihlein, Girl in a Camera Productions