In a festive day filled with centuries-old religious traditions and pageantry, as well as joyful singing, the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer was installed this month as the seventh rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Teaneck following a nationwide search.
The church was overflowing with parishioners, friends, clergy from other churches and family - including the new rector's husband and 3-year-old daughter, Maggie - as the Right Rev. Mark Beckwith, Bishop of Newark, formally installed Bailey Fischer as the congregation's spiritual leader.
In his sermon, the Rev. Canon Gregory Jacobs, canon to the ordinary of the Newark Diocese, advised parishioners that as they "begin that holy walk together" with their new rector, they should remember that this is "a mutual calling, a calling of priest and congregation."
