There is a first time for everything, and St. Mark’s and St. John’s celebrated a barrier-breaking installment Sunday.

During the 9:30 a.m. service, Bishop Sean Rowe installed Mother Rebecca Cancelliere as the first female pastor in the church’s 183-year history.

The Episcopal Church as a whole began ordaining female priests in 1974 when the “Philadelphia Eleven” were elevated from deacon status.

In 1976, the General Convention officially approved the ordination of female priests.

“It didn’t dawn on me that it hasn’t happened yet at St. Mark’s and St. John’s, so it was kind of amazing when I actually sat down and thought about it,” Cancelliere said. “I think it’s a sign we’re entering into the 21st century and goes to show anyone is welcome to do whatever job they are called to do. For a long time, churches were male dominated and things evolved slowly. I just happened to be the first female called here as priest.”

Cancelliere is one of four women in leadership roles within the church. St. Mark’s and St. John’s also has women serving for the first time as senior warden, Heather Cassidy; choir director, Karen Horvath; and sexton, Mary Shorten.

“I think it’s tremendous and says to the community, there is no reason someone can’t come and worship here or serve here,” Cancelliere said.

No stranger to St. Mark’s and St. John’s, Cancelliere served as deacon at the church for seven years. She was also priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Lehighton for a year.

In her other part-time role, she works in Carbon County’s Adult Probation office, primarily in the Veterans Treatment Court.

Bishop Sean Rowe installed Cancelliere as pastor this past weekend and has given her his blessing, but it is ultimately the congregation who calls an Episcopal priest to serve their church.

“I’m just so honored to think they would call me to join them going into this unchartered territory,” Cancelliere said.

“We already do some great outreach, but I’d like to see us do more and be a larger part of the community. It’s hard for us. There is another Episcopal Church 3 miles away and parking isn’t the easiest around our facility. A lot of people associate our church with the stained glass windows and almost think of it as a museum, so we’re trying to increase our outreach and have greater visibility.”

St. Mark’s and St. John’s is home to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings five days a week and also hosts monthly community dinners that serve between 100-250 people in two-and-a-half hours. Its next dinner is April 29. For nine years, the church has run an Angel Tree program in conjunction with the Carbon County Children and Youth department, funded entirely through donations, that provides Christmas gifts for children in foster care.

The Angel Tree program is just one tradition Cancelliere looks forward to continuing in her new role.

Sunday’s ceremony was the culmination of a journey and also the start of a new beginning.

“This has been a long road for me,” she said. “I’ve really been going through this process since my 20s, and to have it suddenly all come together like this is very exciting. I hope to serve God’s people and this community well. This isn’t just about me, it’s about our entire congregation, and I’m lucky to be able to walk with them.”