St. Thomas' Church welcomes first female Priest-in-Charge

For the first time in its 130-year history, St. Thomas' Episcopal Church in Farmingdale has a female priest at the helm - to the delight of the congregation and the greater community.

In August, The Reverend Christine Petersen- Snyder formally accepted leadership of the congregation, succeeding former Rector, The Reverend Theodore Bean, Jr. She is overjoyed at her appointment to St. Thomas' by the Diocese of Long Island.

Raised by her mother in the Roman Catholic faith in 1970's New York City, Mother Christine recently observed, "I felt a spiritual attraction to the church. There is an intangible mystery and aura that has always surrounded it for me." At the same time, churches became more progressive by offering folk masses, where contemporary music was employed to raise interest in attending mass. Many times, in order to spend more time around the church, Mother Christine would attend both the traditional mass and the folk mass on the same day.

Though she spent time working in the business world, Mother Christine found that working to help people gave her the most satisfaction. While earning her undergraduate degree in social work, she completed an internship with an inpatient unit at South Beach Psychiatric Center in Staten Island, NY. Following that, she was the Coordinator for Recreational Therapy at Metropolitan Jewish Geriatric Center's Adult Day Health Center in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to her regular duties there, she led a weekly service and Bible study session for Christian clients. While she enjoyed this work, she also became more involved in parish life and realized her calling to become a minister in order to serve God and all of God's people.

Mother Christine met her husband, Daniel, when she was 16 years old. Daniel, who now runs a clinic and Day Treatment Program at Queens Children's Psychiatric Center, was raised Episcopalian. In fact, his father is an Episcopalian priest. It was through this family connection that Mother Christine became increasingly involved in church life as time passed, first serving as an acolyte, and later as a Eucharistic minister in her church. Since meeting him, she has followed the faith and found a home for herself. In the late-1990's, Mother Christine finally decided to follow her calling and enter the priesthood. Her decision was fully supported by Daniel and daughters Éowyn, a college student, and Coriander, a New York City public school teacher.

Mother Christine earned her Masters in Divinity from The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Prior to her appointment to St. Tho- mas', she served for two years as the Associate Rector and Chaplain of the D a y School at S t . Peter's by the Sea Episcopal Church in B a y Shore.

F a t e brought her to the p r i e s t - hood, and u l t i - mately to her new home in Farmingdale. "It's such a charming and delightful town," explained Mother Christine, who was ordained to the priesthood in 2004 at St. Peter's by the Sea. "Growing up in New York City, we walked everywhere and saw everybody all the time. The intimacy of the village here in Farmingdale allows me to have that ability to interact with the community and live a more 'urban' suburban life."

And in terms of her appointment to St. Thomas', Mother Christine says, "I look forward to leading my new parish and building strong spiritual relationships with each and every congregant. As a priest, it's wonderful to join a church whose parishioners are dedicated, spirited and welcoming."

Over the course of her career, Mother Christine has led retreats, quiet days and adult Christian formation programs; she has served as the Diocesan Administrator of Young Adult Retreats; and she currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Program and Services for the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. Among the parishioners at St. Thomas', the common sentiment is that the compassion and kindheartedness demonstrated by Mother Christine throughout her career are a welcome addition to this landmark religious institution. According to one parishioner, "She has an inspiring ability to move each and every congregant whenever she speaks."

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
News: March 25, 2008	1
PLEASE MEET: Candidates for Fire District Commissioners' seats in...	1