September 21, 2009
By Mary Frances Schjonberg

GREENVALE, NY – The Rev. Lawrence Provenzano was ordained and consecrated as bishop coadjutor in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island September 19.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was the chief consecrator for the service, which took place at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale, New York. Other consecrators included Newark Bishop Mark Beckwith, New Jersey Bishop George Councell, Long Island Assisting Bishop David Joslin and Western Massachusetts Bishop Gordon Scruton.

Beckwith and Councell served with Provenzano in Western Massachusetts before being elected bishop. With his consecration and ordination, Provenzano becomes the fifth active bishop who was elected out of Western Massachusetts. The Rev. John Tarrant will be the sixth when he is ordained October 31 as the next bishop of the Diocese of South Dakota.

The Rev. Mpho Tutu, founder and executive director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage, preached the sermon during Provenzano's ordination and consecration. There was a special collection of non-perishable food items that will be distributed by the diocese's Episcopal Community Services agency. The diocese's clergy continued their tradition of purchasing the bishop's ring, which was presented during the service.

Provenzano, 54, was rector of St. Andrew's Church in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, when he was elected March 21.

He will become the diocese's eighth bishop during Long Island's diocesan convention November 13-14 when Bishop Orris J. Walker Jr. will retire. Walker, who has served the diocese since January 1991, has been on a leave of absence since June 1 of this year due to health issues. Joslin, former diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Central New York, has been assisting bishop of Long Island and Walker gave him all administrative and pastoral duties.

Provenzano, ordained an Episcopal priest in 1984, holds a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York and a master of divinity degree from Christ the King Seminary.

Prior to becoming rector of St. Andrew's, Provenzano was curate and priest-in-charge of Christ Church in Westerly, Rhode Island and rector of St. John's North Adams, Massachusetts.

He is married to the former Jeanne Ross, of Waterford, Connecticut, who is an assistant district attorney for Hampden County, Massachusetts. They have three children – Katy, age 25; Mary, age 23; and Christopher, age 19.

Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service.