Local Woman Ordained as Episcopal Priest

LENOX, Mass. — The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher, bishop of Western Massachusetts, ordained the Rev. Virginia Vogel-Polizzi to the Sacred Order of Priests on Saturday, June 17, at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Friends, family and the local community gathered to witness and celebrate this ancient rite of the church. After the bishop laid his hands on her head, the new priest was vested with the stole by her husband. The Rev. Janet Whaley Zimmerman, rector of Grace Church, offered the sermon.

Vogel-Polizzi was awarded the master of divinity degree from Andover Newton Seminary. During the final six months of her preparation for priesthood, Vogel-Polizzi served as deacon for Grace Church, an Episcopal community in the Southern Berkshires. Her home parish is St. Helena’s Chapel, Lenox.

St. Helena's encouraged Vogel-Polizzi to prepare for ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. She begins her service in September as Chaplain Resident in the Pastoral Care Department of Albany Medical Center. Concurrently, Vogel-Polizzi will do advanced studies in bioethics.

MassDOT: Lenox Temporary Lane Closures on Route 7 Northbound