“It was a lovely, wairua-filled day,” Susan says, describing her ordination ceremony in Te Waipounamu last month. Her path to priesthood had been long and deeply rooted in her Mihinare whakapapa.
Susan grew up immersed in the Mihinare tradition, with both of her parents serving as ordained ministers. From a young age, she came to understand the life of ministry, observing the late-night calls, the demands of the community, and the dedication her parents showed in their service. Ministry was not just a job; it was a way of life, and Susan saw firsthand the delicate balance between family and church obligations.
Despite her deep connection to the church, Susan didn’t initially feel called to ordained ministry. When she became a Kaikarakia (lay minister) in 2013, she believed her role was to continue supporting her parents’ ministry in practical ways. Her focus was on leading change, transformation, and establishing support systems—things that aligned well with her role as a Kaikarakia. She was commissioned by the late Bishop John Gray and found fulfilment in this capacity, appreciating the freedom it gave her as a layperson.
Ordained inside Tumuki
In 2017, her father, The Venerable Richard Wallace, was ordained a bishop, and he encouraged her to work alongside him. “I’ve always loved working with Dad. He was an easy boss—always offering guidance in a way that felt empowering, rather than directive,” she says.
Her father encouraged her to work with Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio. “It was the best thing I ever did. I got the opportunity to connect with whānau along the Coast and gain valuable experience working within my iwi,” she says.
Before becoming a Kaikarakia, Susan had supported her father as a Kaikaranga, always stepping in to help where she was needed.
“In the middle of a report for the Hui Amorangi, Dad sprung on me that he wanted me to become a Kaikarakia. The very next day, I was commissioned. So, there was something dad saw in me long before I recognised it in myself.”
What followed were gentle conversations with her father about ordination for priesthood. “He said, let’s do it now. He wore me down and smiled his knowing smile when I agreed.
“He’d planned to do it and had spoken to Archbishop Don about it. The plan was for me to be ordained a deacon last year and ordained a priest this year.”
Susan was ordained a deacon in March 2024, after her father sadly passed away.
She was ordained a priest in September 2024, in the beautiful little wharekarakia, Tumuki, at Te Pā Mihinare o Te Waipounamu, the original site of Te Waipounamu Māori Girls’ College, a place that held deep significance for her. “As an old girl of the college, it felt like coming home again. When I thought about potential places it felt right to keep it here – the closing of a circle,” she says.
Susan with her new brother and sisterhood
“I was feeling teary thinking about Dad that morning, as I always thought he would be there,” she says. Surrounded by her whānau, the retreat team, and her church community, she found solace and strength.
“During the second part of the ordination, we knelt and recited more karakia while laying on hands. The space was so limited that the circle of hands extended all the way down the church. It created a beautiful sense of connection, like a welcoming into a special brotherhood and sisterhood for others who have been through this process.”
In her first week as a priest, Susan presided over her first Eucharist, a significant moment that underscored how far she had come. She recognises that there is still much to learn and acknowledges that being a priest is a continuous journey of growth and understanding.
Today, Susan serves as Archdeacon and Vicar General of Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Waipounamu, in her role as Manahautū and Education Director, while also stepping into a new leadership earlier this year as Commissary. While she misses her father’s guidance, she is surrounded by a strong support network within Pīhopatanga and beyond.
Celebrating the newly ordained with a hakari
Susan’s journey to priesthood has been shaped by her whakapapa, her family, and her deep sense of service to her community. As she moves forward in her ministry, she remains committed to the pastoral side of her role—being there for people, supporting them, and continuing to learn and grow as a servant of the church.
To all who have supported her along the way, Susan offers her heartfelt thanks. Her journey is far from over, and she looks forward to the road ahead with faith, humility, and a deep sense of purpose.