The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano The Right Reverend Lawrence C. Provenzano was invested as the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island on November 14, succeeding the Right Reverend Orris G. Walker, Jr. who has retired. On Sunday, November 22 at 3:00 PM, Bishop Provenzano was formally admitted, welcomed, and seated at the Cathedral of the Incarnation by the Dean, the Very Rev. Theodore W. Bean, Jr., the Cathedral Chapter, and the clergy and people of the Diocese of Long Island.

The traditional ceremony began when the Bishop Provenzano knocked on the massive doors of the Cathedral with his pastoral staff and requested admission from the Dean. Once admitted, a series of prayers and blessings preceded a grand procession to the cathedra, the bishop’s chair. Bishop Provenzano was then presented with the great crozier of the Diocese (the bishop’s pastoral staff) by the Rt. Rev. George Councell, the Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey, represented the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Once Bishop Provenzano was formally seated, the Dean presided and preached at a service of Solemn Evensong for the Feast of Christ the King. The Cathedral choirs prepared special music for this historic occasion. Following the service a reception honoring Bishop Provenzano and his wife Jeanne was held in the Cathedral House.

The new bishop was the Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, Massachusetts before being called to the Diocese of Long Island as its bishop. His ordination to bishop was held at the Tilles Center of the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. The facility was filled to overflowing. A large delegation from his former parish was present as a tribute to his service to them. Bishop Provenzano was given his pectoral cross by eight chaplains of the Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains. Before coming to Long Island Bishop Provenzano was a very active member of this group. The cross contains steel fragments from Ground Zero. During September and October of 2001, 30 chaplains from the Corps, including Father Provenzano, provided sacramental and pastoral care at the temporary morgue at the World Trade Center. The new bishop has expressed what a life changing experience this was for him. Marshal Stephen Coan, State Fire Marshall of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts presented the cross and said, “Long Island is lucky to have Larry. He will take care of you just the way he took care of the firefighters.” And that is how the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island feel, blessed as Bishop Larry assumes his duties of leading them in ministry and mission.