Joyful cheers echoed out the cathedral doors as the Rt Rev Anashuya Fletcher (Ana) was installed as Assistant Bishop of Wellington on Saturday.

It was both a sacred and colourful occasion for the hundreds who gathered.

Archbishops, retired and current bishops and diocesan representatives all came to officiate and mark this new season of ministry for Bishop Ana and the Diocese of Wellington.

Some of the wonderful highlights of the day included:

• Hearing Bobby Lander complete his Bingo card and yell “Bingo!” while all was quiet. (and he’s still waiting for his prize!)

• The lions dancing around Bishop Ana at the end of the service.

• The amazing kids pack. Seeing the tamariki wearing their own mitres.

• The delicious Chinese and Indian kai.

The Ven. Scottie Reeve powerfully spoke of the vocation Ana was being invited to.

“While some religions and philosophies encourage us to strive to reach God, followers of Jesus believe in the God who stretches out his hand to reach us,” he said.

“This is the hand that heals, the hand that sends, and the hand that serves.”

Scottie also spoke of Ana’s healing from debilitating illness and how that challenging season has been turned into a new season of serving.

“Over the past year since her healing, many of us have watched as Ana’s sense of call to Episcopal ministry has grown. The same hand of God that stretched out to heal, was now stretching out to send her and commission her to the same ministry of healing and reconciliation.

“Today, as we pray for Ana and lay hands on her, we ask the same hands that healed her, to send her into this new ministry. As he has sent so many of his servants over so many years.”

Finally, we heard how Jesus calls us to a costly discipleship.

“In a sense, there is something strange to Ana’s journey. The hands that have healed her body now call her to serve, and those same hands that call her to serve ask her to place that body back into the path of danger. To serve God’s people, to protect them, and to shepherd them. Even at personal cost.

“Please, do not for a second believe that Ana is receiving a promotion today. She is stretching out her hands willingly suffer for the Gospel,” said Scottie.

Pray for Assistant Bishop Ana, in her ministry and that she would know the fullness of Christ and His life for her, the Church and our world.

Enjoy our selection of photos from the service.