Church celebrates priest's anniversary

NORWALK — On April 12, the Second Sunday of Easter, family, friends and cherished companions on the way gathered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norwalk to observe the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilbert's ordination to the sacred order of priests. The parish leadership at St. Paul's, Norwalk, rolled out the red carpet for visiting worshipers. Fr. Wilbert grew up in Elyria and was a product of the Elyria City Schools, graduating from Elyria West High School in 1978. He received a bachelor's degree in music from Kenyon College in 1982, a master of theology degree from the Bexley Hall Seminary in 1985 and a doctorate from the Seabury Western Theological Seminary in 2002. Fr. Wilbert was ordained by the Rt. Rev. James R. Moody, ninth bishop of Ohio, on April 12, 1986, at St. Michael's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Toledo. A number of guests at the anniversary celebration were present 40 years ago at Fr. Wilbert's ordination service includin his mother, Linda, siblings, aunt, cousins, college friends, church family and the Rt. Rev. Arthur B. and Lynette Williams. Forty years ago, Bishop Williams was serving the Diocese of Ohio as the archdeacon. He was elected bishop suffragan in June and consecrated in October 1986. Bishop Williams presided at the Eucharist on April 12. The preacher for Fr. Wilbert's 40th anniversary celebration was the Rev. David Hefling, a retired priest from the Diocese of Rochester who grew up in Ohio and went through the ordination process in the Diocese of Ohio. A string quartet from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music helped to make the Eucharist on the second Sunday of Easter more festive. The string players also performed "salon music" during a catered lunch, which followed the service in the Benedict Chapel at St. Paul's. The offering at the celebration was designated for the summer camp scholarship fund at Bellwether Farm and raised more than $1,500. Bellwether Farm is the Camp, Conference and Retreat Center for the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. Fr. Wilbert retired from full-time ministry at the end of 2022. He has been serving with the people of historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Norwalk, since October 2023. Fr. Wilbert also serves as the archivist for the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio.