“The Bible is the foundation in all I do,” says the Rev. Richelle Duchano who has just become the pastor of the 200-plus Christians worshipping together at the now merged Auburn United Methodist Church, 99 South St. “In the Bible we find how God restores hope to the hopeless and how Jesus gives us grace upon grace through each day.”
Duchano was born in Syracuse. After graduating from Cicero High School, she was blessed to be able to earn her Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University, where she majored in psychology. Realizing her vocation was to be in the ministry, she spent the next four years earning her Masters of Divinity at The Methodist Theological School in Ohio.
After earning her master's, she served for three years as an associate pastor at an inner-city church in Columbus, Ohio. Most recently, Duchano has served the Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church and also the Martville UMC in Cayuga County.
When asked how she believes people can find out what is the Will of God for them, Duchano acknowledged that this is a sticky question because each personal relationship with God is different.
Yet, in staying grounded in the Weslyan tradition she suggests that people use Scripture, tradition, experience and reason in discerning God's direction in their lives. She suggests people simply ask themselves whether the pending action makes sense and is it in keeping with their experience of God's grace in their life?
“What I believe is that one's circumstances in life are never so overwhelming or hopeless, because we can get through anything with God's help, and help from those people who surround us in our lives.”
Her hope is that the Methodist community, as disciples of Jesus Christ, will do their best to be a reflection of God's grace, love and mercy in the community of Auburn and in the world. Duchano invites people to come hear her insights about the Christian walk in life at the Auburn United Methodist Church. All are invited to come to share worship at the services held at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the Methodist Church building on the corner of South Street and Fitch Avenue.
Also, guests may come to the 8:30 a.m. outdoor Summer Garden Services to meet her and enjoy the friendly Methodist coffee hour in between services.
Duchano is excited to begin her ministry in Auburn and looks forward to the journey ahead.
In other news:
€ Our Lady of the Snow Parish also has a new parochial administrator, the Rev. John Gathenya. This parish is made up of St. Patrick's in Cato, St. John's in Port Byron and St. Joseph's in Weedsport.
Gathenya comes from Kenya, where he was ordained in 1986. Following ordination, he served the Church in Kenya in various capacities, which included being a pastor as well as a lecturer in philosophy and mystery of Christ in the national major seminary of Kenya.
He came to America after six years of post graduate studies in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. His first assignment here was at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community in the Diocese of Rochester. In October 2007, Bishop Clark incardinated Gathenya in the diocese of Rochester, making it his home diocese.
“My greatest passion and desire is to celebrate faith in all its dimensions and well planned liturgies of the Catholic Church,” he said. “I strive to make the celebration of the Eucharist the source, center and peak of not only the communities' life but also my own.”
Gathenya has also led Bible studies for the last eight years here in the United States and hopes to continue to share this with his new friends at Our Lady of the Snow.
“I love to see children and young adults given the opportunity to witness their faith to us by occasionally leading us in worship and liturgies,” he said. “I have come to the realization that the highest measure of civilization is how we treat our children and the young.”
Welcome to our community Father John Gathenya and Pastor Richelle Duchano. May God bless you both and all the good work you do in his name.
Have a good week everyone and remember, God loves you so much.
“To become a real boy you must prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish.”
- “Pinocchio”
Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com
After earning her master's, she served for three years as an associate pastor at an inner-city church in Columbus, Ohio. Most recently, Duchano has served the Oswego Trinity United Methodist Church and also the Martville UMC in Cayuga County.
When asked how she believes people can find out what is the Will of God for them, Duchano acknowledged that this is a sticky question because each personal relationship with God is different.
Yet, in staying grounded in the Weslyan tradition she suggests that people use Scripture, tradition, experience and reason in discerning God's direction in their lives. She suggests people simply ask themselves whether the pending action makes sense and is it in keeping with their experience of God's grace in their life?
“What I believe is that one's circumstances in life are never so overwhelming or hopeless, because we can get through anything with God's help, and help from those people who surround us in our lives.”
Her hope is that the Methodist community, as disciples of Jesus Christ, will do their best to be a reflection of God's grace, love and mercy in the community of Auburn and in the world. Duchano invites people to come hear her insights about the Christian walk in life at the Auburn United Methodist Church. All are invited to come to share worship at the services held at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the Methodist Church building on the corner of South Street and Fitch Avenue.
Also, guests may come to the 8:30 a.m. outdoor Summer Garden Services to meet her and enjoy the friendly Methodist coffee hour in between services.
Duchano is excited to begin her ministry in Auburn and looks forward to the journey ahead.
In other news:
€ Our Lady of the Snow Parish also has a new parochial administrator, the Rev. John Gathenya. This parish is made up of St. Patrick's in Cato, St. John's in Port Byron and St. Joseph's in Weedsport.
Gathenya comes from Kenya, where he was ordained in 1986. Following ordination, he served the Church in Kenya in various capacities, which included being a pastor as well as a lecturer in philosophy and mystery of Christ in the national major seminary of Kenya.
He came to America after six years of post graduate studies in the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. His first assignment here was at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Community in the Diocese of Rochester. In October 2007, Bishop Clark incardinated Gathenya in the diocese of Rochester, making it his home diocese.
“My greatest passion and desire is to celebrate faith in all its dimensions and well planned liturgies of the Catholic Church,” he said. “I strive to make the celebration of the Eucharist the source, center and peak of not only the communities' life but also my own.”
Gathenya has also led Bible studies for the last eight years here in the United States and hopes to continue to share this with his new friends at Our Lady of the Snow.
“I love to see children and young adults given the opportunity to witness their faith to us by occasionally leading us in worship and liturgies,” he said. “I have come to the realization that the highest measure of civilization is how we treat our children and the young.”
Welcome to our community Father John Gathenya and Pastor Richelle Duchano. May God bless you both and all the good work you do in his name.
Have a good week everyone and remember, God loves you so much.
“To become a real boy you must prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish.”
- “Pinocchio”
Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com
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