The community of First Church in Chestnut Hill and First Parish in Brookline join together to warmly invite you to attend the ordination of Diego Garrido Barreto — a Colombian ministerial candidate and recent Master of Divinity graduate — Sunday, May 17 at 4PM (doors open at 3:30PM) at First Parish in Brookline (382 Walnut Street, Brookline). A reception with food will follow, and a livestream option will be available. The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Diego Garrido Barreto offers a bilingual and multicultural ministry shaped by experiences in migration, spiritual care, and progressive faith communities. His work weaves together preaching, the arts, and community-building across diverse settings in the region.
A highlight of the service will be the sermon delivered by Rev. Verdis LeVar Robinson, an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister known for his powerful, music-infused preaching and leadership in worship and social justice. Rev. Robinson currently serves in congregational ministry in New London CT and is widely recognized for integrating African American spiritual traditions, gospel music, and civic engagement into Unitarian Universalist life.
Ordination in the Unitarian Universalist tradition is a significant communal rite, marking both the recognition of a minister’s calling and a covenant between the individual and the gathered faith community. This service will include music led by Sanctuary Boston and will bring together clergy, congregations, and friends from across the Greater Boston area.
