2026-01-18 Ordination Severin Lee

Two New Priests Ordained: Erin Richardson Severin and Hannah Lee Sung

[January 8, 2026] The Diocese of Hawai'i is off to a great start for the new year with the ordination of two priests! On Saturday, January 3, 2026, Erin Keakealani Richardson Severin and Gloria "Hannah" Ji-Eun Lee were ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu.

Back in March of 2025, as part of their journey to the priesthood, Erin and Hannah were ordained to the Transitional Diaconate (Chronicle, March 27, 2025) at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Honolulu. Together again, they shared in this most joyful celebration with family and friends in attendance, and over two dozen clergy who vested in support of their newest colleagues.

"Hannah, Erin, and I started talking about the service in August," said the Very Rev. Dr. Heather Patton-Graham, Dean of the Cathedral. "They provided a hymn-of-choice each [for the] Communion Hymns." Dean Heather went on to share, "I am so very humbled and grateful to be trusted to do the 'work I have been given to do' all in the Name of Love. As Dean, it is a profound honor and privilege to work with ordinands in the crafting of the ordination for the Church and for them. And it is a profound joy to walk alongside them in this sacrament. It was a wonderful celebration!"

Under the direction of the Cathedral Music Director Nicholas Keone Lee, the magnificent voices of the Cathedral Choir and Orvis Scholars echoed throughout the great hall as folks gathered. Before the start of the service, Cathedral Organist Mark Wong stepped aside for an organ prelude number performed by Steven Richardson Severin, the husband of ordinand Erin Richardson Severin.

Cathedral Head Verger, Roth Puahala, led the procession, and after opening remarks by Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, the ordinands were presented. Standing alongside Hannah, were the Rev. Dr. Keleawe Malcolm Hee (The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi), the Rev. Canon Aidan Koh (The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles), Mary Carpenter (Standing Committee, The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi), and the Rev. Hansu Park (Postulant for Holy Orders, The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi). Presenting Erin were the Rev. Paul Lillie (The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi), the Rev. Thomas Word Peters (The Episcopal Church in Delaware), Mary Carpenter (Standing Committee, The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi), and Steven Richardson Severin.

Choir members served as the lectors, with readings from Isaiah 6:1-8, Philippians 4:4-9, and the Psalter, Psalm 43. The Venerable Steve Costa read the Gospel from John 6:35-40.

The Rev. Cn. Andrew Arakawa, the Diocese's Canon for Ministry Formation and Dean of Waiolaihui'ia Center for Ministry, delivered the sermon, highlighting the courage, wisdom and humility they displayed while preparing to become priests. "Their sense of being and the way they enter new situations echo the Mary Kawena Pukui ʻŌlelo Noʻeau — Nānā ka maka, hoʻolohe ka pepeiao, paʻa ka waha, hana ka lima (Observe with the eyes, listen with the ears, close the mouth, work with your hands). " Arakawa asked folks to support and deepen relationships with Hannah and Erin, while also imparting words of encouragement and advice to the new priests.

The Examination and Consecration followed, and the Bishop presented Bibles to the newly ordained with much applause! The new priests joined the Bishop at the altar for The Great Thanksgiving, Communion, and closing. Following the service, blessings by the new priests were shared and lots of photos were taken.

A heartfelt message from the Rev. Hannah Lee Sung:

I give thanks to God for guiding me on this humbling and grace-filled journey. I am deeply grateful to Bishop Bob, to my school communities, and to all within our diocesan and parish family for their prayers, love, and support. With faith, gratitude, and a willing heart, I hope to serve God and our community in all that I do. ~ The Rev. Hannah Lee Sung

(Photo by Lauren Sung)

Going forward... Hannah relocated to O'ahu from Guam last year, where she is now serving as one of the chaplains at 'Iolani School and Priest Associate at The Cathedral. Erin is perusing ministry opportunities near where her spouse, Steven, is engaged in his music ministry as a church organist/choir director in a parish outside of Philadelphia.

Congratulations to the Rev. Hannah Lee Sung & the Rev. Erin Richardson Severin!

A Reflection by the Rev. Erin Richardson Severin:

Ordination to the priesthood this January feels like a “full circle” moment. I was baptized at St. Mark’s, Kapahulu on January 8, 2017, and just shy of nine years later, celebrated the auspicious day of my ordination! Not only that, but out of sheer coincidence, the ordination day was also my grandmother’s 92nd birthday - what a delight to share in this beautiful moment with her.

Finally, January is also the month of Queen Emma’s birthday, and I am entirely indebted to the legacy of the Holy Sovereigns, who built the Anglican Church in these Hawaiian Islands and who tirelessly showed “not only with their lips, but in their lives” the abounding grace of Jesus Christ. Baptized in the church honoring Queen Emma’s death on St. Mark’s Day, serving my chaplaincy internship at the Queen’s Medical Center, and now ordained in the Cathedral she planned and established, it is hard not to feel the immense kuleana of serving the church she cherished so dearly.

(Contributed photos of Erin with husband Steven Richardson Severin and grandmother Iris Chung)

As I seek to serve God’s church as priest and pastor, I will never forget the roots of aloha, the God-breathed grace of Spirit that uplifts me in my ministry.

The second half of the service was streamed and recorded, and can be viewed above.

Reporting: Sybil Nishioka, Editor & Communications Specialist
Photos: Sue Ann Wargo, Lauren Sung, and contributed photos from the Cathedral of St. Andrew