Anam Cara - A Bishop's Motto

Photograph by Reverend Steve Waites

When I was consecrated as a Bishop in 2019 as a part of the Ekklesia Epignostika Church and Seminary, we were tasked to determine our personal motto. My genetic lineage is Celtic and I hold a special place in my heart for St. Patrick and St. Bridget. I've spent several years doing a reasonably deep dive of Celtic Christian Traditions and frankly have just touched the surface.

Their connection to the planet and all life forms on it as well as their deep abiding love of the Divine in all of creation speaks to me, so when I came across this reference from John O'Donahue and several other scholars it seemed that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.

"In the Celtic tradition, there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the idea of soul-love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. So anam cara in the Celtic world was the “soul friend.” In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed, revealing the hidden intimacies of your life." John O'Donohue,  Anam Cara, A Book of Celtic Wisdom

My ministry has been as a Pastoral Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Critical Incident Stress, Medical Advocate, Chaplain and teacher.  Through all these walks my model has been to be a friend, to listen and to help give voice for others when needed. I believe that this is why Anam Cara as my motto resonated so deeply with my soul.

Most Reverend Sophia Angela DeBry S.T.L., M.Th, D.D.

Associate Dean Ekklesia 

Epignostika Church and Seminary