St. Andrew’s Church in Nogales is celebrating their new Priest in Charge, Reverend Alison Lee. Rev. Lee’s personality is energetic, effervescent, and joyful. She believes deeply in living with gratitude in all that life has to offer.
Lee was ordained into the Anglican priesthood in 2018, starting as a postulant in 2016. She received a Master of Divinity degree, attending the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. She is also a graduate of The University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater.
Rev. Lee worked in theater in Calgary, was an office manager, owner of a small business, a construction assistant, a cabaret founder/director showcasing local talent in Virginia, manager of Foothills Gastroenterology, and Senior Warden at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson. She completed the rigorous training for the priesthood over a six-year period.
Her first calling to the priesthood was at the age of seven while attending the Sisters of Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Convent in Quebec. Her parents sent her to school for first through sixth grades at the convent to become fluent in French. Even at the age of seven she realized that the priesthood was a completely male dominated field.
She lost interest in church at the age of sixteen, forgetting the calling she felt at the age of seven, but once again felt a calling in 2013 and began the long process of becoming an Episcopal priest. She is married to Dr. Robert McCallum. They have raised three children who still live in the Tucson and Phoenix area.
She does not care what title is used in addressing her. “Titles cause barriers. It is about evangelism. People can call me Mother Alison, Mama Lee, or just Alison or whatever makes someone comfortable,” she said. “All are welcome here, to lay down our burdens and be sustained and supported, strengthened and hopefully transformed as we go forth into a world of division and pain where souls are in need of hope and healing.”
St. Andrew’s sponsors the Casa Blanca Mission which meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The service is held at the Sonoita Hills Community Church, 52 Elgin Rd. Elgin, AZ. Rev. Lee will usually be officiating the Casa Blanca Mission services.
Services are held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 969 W. Country Club Dr. Nogales, AZ at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. each Sunday. For more information on the many activities and services, go to standrews@standrewsaz.com , www.standrewsaz.org or call 520-281-1523