It’s safe to say that Santosh Marray, the newly installed Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton. is the most diverse leader they have had since its founding in 1866. But you could also say he is one of most diverse in the entire Church with his extraordinary life story.

Having started his spiritual journey while growing up in Guyana, South America, Bishop Marray’s life in the Episcopal Church has since taken him to virtually every part of the globe. And it is this unique background that Marray brings to the Diocese at a time of unique challenges for his church and this country.

In his first Spy interview, Bishop Marray talks at great length about his experience in some of the farthest corners of the world as well his role with his church in Eastern North Carolina and Alabama. The net result of this extraordinary depth and range of experience can be found in his vision for the diocese, as well as his confidence that his church will be seen as he says as a wreck and ceiling reconciler. In our post-election America

This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For more information about the Episcopal Diocese of Easton please go here.

That’s right, Millington, one of the smallest towns on the Mid-Shore, is in line to have one of their natives sons be turned into canonized saint soon. That’s if Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, has his way since he formally the canonization process in September of last year.

The son of Episcopal priest, Father Paul was born in Millington at the end of the 19th Century. In 1898, twelve years after his own ordination as an Episcopal priest, Father Paul and an Episcopalian nun, Sister Lurana White, co-founded the Society of the Atonement at Graymoor ln Garrison, New York.

In 1908, Father Paul initiated the Church Unity Octave to promote and pray for unity among all Christian communities. Today, the Church Unity Octave is celebrated around the world as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18-25.  And one year later, the Society of the Atonement became the first religious community to be received corporately into the Catholic Church since the Reformation. Father Paul was ordained a Catholic priest in 1910.

In addition to his zeal for Christian unity, Father Paul is known for his great works of charity. He began St. Christopher’s Inn to care for and assist homeless men and those who suffer from addictions. He founded the Union-That-Nothing-Be-Lost to dispense funds to other charitable causes, co-founded the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, and helped launch the Catholic Medical Mission Board.

Father Paul also published a monthly magazine, The Lamp, devoted to Christian unity and missionary work, and produced the popular “Ave Maria Hour,” a radio program that aired nationwide from 1935 until 1969.

“Although he was born five years before the establishment of the Diocese of Wilmington and did most of his ministry in New York, Father Paul is one of our native sons,” said the Most Rev. W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington. “As the first person born on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to have his cause for canonization opened, Father Paul of Graymoor holds a very important place in the history of our Diocese. When one considers all that Father Paul accomplished in his life, work that continues to this very day, it is a source of great pride to native Marylanders like me.”

“Father Paul’s life and ministry has had tremendous international and interdenominational impact,” said Mr. Robert G. Krebs, Chancellor and Director of the Office of Communications of the Diocese. “Our goal was to offer people, especially Catholics from the Diocese of Wilmington, a short, concise telling of the Father Paul story and I think that Father Brian Terry does this well in our video. It is our hope that viewers will become interested in the life and cause of Father Paul and be inspired to learn more about this great Marylander.”

Until Rome gets around to confirming the canonization, Millington will need to settle for Father Paul’s current title, a Servant of God.

A video on Father Paul provided by Diocese of Wilmington

When Bishop Joel Johnson retired as the leader of the Anglican Diocese of The Chesapeake last year, there were a number of projects that he listed as top priorities for his “golden years.” Many fell into the category of continuing his social activism in the community, including his involvement with Talbot Association of Clergy and Laity and more recently helping to facilitate a series of community discussion groups on the topic of race.

But one project, which seemed at first more like a housekeeping task, was figuring out what to do with the Bishop’s 6,000 volume personal library on theology and religion. With most of the books in storage, there was frustration on his part that these extremely rare editions focused on spirituality were not being used by the scholars that needed them.

In his Spy interview, the Bishop talks about the extraordinary circumstances that has led him to his recent decision to use that collection as the foundation of a new interfaith theological library and graduate center to be based in Easton. The new academic center is to be named The Oaks of Mamre, a biblical reference to the location where Abraham had entertained the three angels some 5,000 years ago.

For more information about The Oaks of Mamre Project or contact Bishop Johnson please call at 410-819-0731.