Hello from a very unofficial member of the office staff at the Diocese of Southeast Florida!

Church Mice have long been a familiar part of Anglican tradition, recognized as the faithful (if a trifle threadbare) companions of sextons, sacristans, altar guilds, eager young curates, and faithful (if a trifle threadbare) aging vicars.

Now your Diocesan Office adds a new rodent to this honored tradition: hungrier than an acolyte after the 8:00 am Eucharist; busier than the parish secretary on Friday afternoon; more tenacious than a stewardship chairperson on the trail of a pledge; not a pest, not exactly a paid employee--it's EpiscoRat!

EpiscoRat made his first appearance in the Diocesan Office several years ago, beginning his efforts by trying to take a bite out of the workload in Social Concerns. He is also a great supporter of Canon Silla's efforts to make the Diocesan Office a place of hospitality, and is a frequent contributor to the hospitable atmosphere of the office kitchen. (In order to sustain himself through his lengthy work day, he has been known to drink vast quantities of office coffee. It is noted, too, that since EpiscoRat has been in residence, no leftovers go to waste.)

ER assures us that he is vitally interested in everything of concern to people--especially Episcopalian people--in this diocese, and that he would be happy to hear opinions other than his own (particularly clever ones).

(Note: Although EpiscoRat does appear in a clerical collar, we have been unable to verify that he is indeed a deacon; we have on occasion heard a bishop described as a rat, but we haven't yet known of any bishop who claimed to have ordained one!)

(c)Mary W. Cox, 1996.

To email the EpiscoRat kindly click here.

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