In Loving Memory
The Rev. Canon Mary Goshert Ekenstam

With deep sadness, we announce the passing into eternal life of The Rev. Canon Mary L. Goshert Ekenstam. Mary holds a very special place in our hearts, given that she was ordained to the priesthood here at St. Martin’s on February 2, 1980 and was the first woman ordained to the priesthood in this diocese. Although she was a candidate for ordination in the Diocese of Los Angeles, she had come to St. Martin’s to take a position as assistant to then rector, the Rev. William Burrill.

To read about Mary’s interesting and often challenging journey toward becoming a priest at a time when there was still resistance to allowing women to be ordained as priests, see our website HERE. Mary returned to St. Martin’s on various occasions in recent years.

In February 2020, she was here as we celebrated the 40th anniversary of her ordination to the priesthood. She was also here just last year when she spoke after our screening of the documentary The Philadelphia Eleven (about the first eleven women ordained in The Episcopal Church in 1974). Mary had most recently been serving as associate priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Benicia.

At this time, services are pending. Please keep Mary’s husband Gene and their whole family in your hearts and prayers. We at St. Martin’s will be forever grateful for Mary’s ministry among us and the others she served. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.