Stiklestad Old Church was packed for the Solemn Mass. Most of the clergy in Trondheim Diocese were con-celebrants and there were several visitors from abroad. Åse Presterud, vicar for the parish priest in Stiklesatd, conveyed greetings from the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

Egil Mogstad received his candidature for ordination exactly one year ago from Bishop Eidsvig, also in Stiklestad Old Church. In his address, the bishop reminiced about the time when both he and Mogstad were students in Oslo. Mogstad impressed, not only because of good exam result, but also because he had the courage to stand forth as a follower of Christ in what was a very radicalized student setting. The bishop also presented greetings from fellow student Ole Christian Kvarme, the present Lutheran bishop in Oslo. The highlight of the ordination was when Mogstad was robed in the dalmatica and immediately started to serve among the celebrants.

Mogstad will be ordained to the priesthood early in the new year. The bishop reminded the congregation that becoming a priest does not mean you cease to be a deacon, since that office is for life.

Mogstad is a mature man who with good conscience could have opted for a peaceful life as a pensioner. It is with great joy and gratitude that the Church receives his vocation and his will and desire to serve as deacon and as priest.