FROM walking out of the doors of St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Holsworthy, as the town’s Pretty Maid to now becoming a Deacon — Mother Elizabeth Flaherty had a calling and followed it.
The day of her ordination on Saturday, July 4, was the culmination of many years spent in prayer, following her faith.
It was an auspicious occasion for Lizzy, who has dedicated years of her life to her local church. She said the laying on of hands by the priest was perhaps the highlight of her ordination at Exeter Cathedral — but added that the lead up to the event itself had also been illuminating.
“You actually get to go to Exeter three or four days before your ordination, just to become acclimatised and take some time for reflection,” she said. “It was a great blessing and feeling of fulfilment for something I have wanted to do for a long time.”
Explaining more about what led her to take up ministry and follow this path, Lizzy said: “I grew up in the church and as I got more involved I felt it was God saying to me I needed to make this my whole life, not just a part of it.”
Her ordination came just a week before Holsworthy’s beloved St Peter’s Fair week. At just 13 years old, Lizzy became the 173rd Pretty Maid as part of the celebrations – an honour bestowed only on those who meet specific criteria, one being ‘good attendance in church’.
Wishing this year’s chosen Pretty Maid well, Mother Elizabeth said: “Just make the most of it! I think being involved in your community is a really positive thing.”
Mother Elizabeth now has her eyes firmly fixed on priesthood and will spend the next year preparing at St Peter and Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Barnstaple, for this momentous step in her faith journey.
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