After the disruptions of the lockdown last year, we are delighted to have guest preachers with us this year. From Palm Sunday until Easter Day, sermons will be preached by the Rev. Dr. Katherine Grieb. The Seven Last Words from the Cross will be preached by the Most Rev. John O’Hara.
The theme of Dr. Grieb’s sermon series is taken from the text of a hymn by Charles Evans: “Made like him, like him we rise, ours the cross, the grave, the skies”.
The Rev. Dr. Katherine Grieb
The Rev. A. Katherine Grieb, Ph.D., is the Meade Professor of Biblical Interpretation. She joined the VTS faculty in 1994. Her areas of expertise include Greek language, New Testament Interpretation, Romans, Hebrews, social justice, Biblical storytelling, and theatre. Before coming to VTS, she taught at Bangor Theological Seminary.
Dr. Grieb received her B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Hollins University, her J.D. from Columbus School of Law (Catholic University of America), her M.Div from VTS, her Ph.D. (with distinction) in Religious Studies (Theology) from Yale University, and her L.L.M. (with distinction) in Canon Law from Cardiff University School of Law.
Ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in the Diocese of Washington in 1983, she serves part-time at St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.
Dr. Grieb co-founded the Pauline Soteriology Group at the Society for Biblical Literature and has served on several related committees, including a term on the Board of the Journal of Biblical Studies. She was President of the Mid-Atlantic Region SBL in 2006-2007. She is currently on the board of the Journal of Theological Interpretation and a member of the SBL group on Theology and the Bible, as well the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars and the Society for the Study of Anglicanism. Dr. Grieb is a member of the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church and represented the Episcopal Church at the World Council of Churches Plenary Session in 2009. She was one of seven theologians asked to write To Set Our Hope on Christ, in response to the Windsor Report. She was a member of the Anglican Communion Covenant Design Group.
Currently, Dr. Grieb is a member of IASCUFO (the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity Faith and Order) of the Anglican Communion and teaches regularly at the Canterbury Scholars program at Canterbury Cathedral. A popular preacher and teacher, she leads retreats and Bible studies for diocesan clergy days and other church groups.
Dr. Grieb has authored many articles and book chapters related to the New Testament, theological interpretation of Scripture, and preaching. She published The Story of Romans in 2002 with Westminster John Knox. She Co-edited The Word Leaps the Gap, published with Eerdmans in 2008. She is presently writing on Hebrews and on the Sermon on the Mount.
Preacher for the Seven Last Words from the Cross on Good Friday: The Most Rev. John O’Hara
The Most Rev. John O’Hara is Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of New York, working with Cardinal Dolan. An old friend of our parish, he was very close to Fr. John Andrew – XI Rector. He is an accomplished musician, a wonderful preacher, and a member of the Knights of Malta. Living on Staten Island, he is very involved in the lives of local communities.
Bishop O’Hara was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was educated in Catholic elementary and high schools there. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Seton Hall University and then worked in broadcast journalism for 13 years before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie. Bishop O’Hara was ordained a priest by Archbishop John O’Connor on December 1, 1984. His pastoral assignments included St. Charles parish on Staten Island from 1984 to 1992, and St. Teresa parish, Staten Island, from 1992 to 2012 as both parochial vicar and pastor. Bishop John served as the director of strategic pastoral planning for the archdiocese from 2012 to 2014, where he led the “Making All Things New” parish planning process.
O’Hara was named the Titular Bishop of Ath Truim and Auxiliary Bishop of New York by Pope Francis on June 14, 2014. He was consecrated a bishop by Cardinal Timothy Dolan in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on August 4, 2014. Bishop O’Hara’s Pastoral Staff was used by the late Cardinal Terence Cooke who had served as New York’s archbishop and who was also a good friend of Saint Thomas and Father John Andrew.
