The Rev. Peter Akicmeir
Class of 2025
Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX
Transitional Deacon the Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota
To the Beloved Community of God at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin, TX
May 14, 2025
Dear People of God at St. James’,
Greetings to you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we say in Sudan, “إرادة كل كائن حي هي أن يلتقي مرة أخرى,” which translates to “The will of every
living being is to meet again.”
The last two years of being with you as your Seminarian have been the most enriching
years of my seminary training. Coming from various places such as Sudan, Egypt, and Fargo,
North Dakota, to this vibrant community of faith has been transformative. Our time together has
not only helped me grow in my faith, but it has also allowed my family to experience the same
love of Christ that I have felt here. You have positively changed my life. Through my
imperfections, you have shown me that serving Christ means recognizing and celebrating the
beauty of our differences. We must see Christ in everyone and share His love and peace with
others, regardless of where they are in their faith journey. I am humbled to say that you have
made me a better priest and, above all, a beloved follower of Christ.
During my six months as a Deacon, I made mistakes during worship—sometimes I read
the wrong Gospel, forgot the second chalice, or even dropped the host. Yet, all I received in
return was grace and encouragement. With my accent, you welcomed me to teach the adult
formation class and preach to the bright and intelligent members of your beautiful congregation.
The joy, love, and support from you all have been incredible. All the blessings I have received
from you over these two years will remain in my heart as I, Maria, and Gloria return to Fargo,
North Dakota, to serve the people of God in whatever opportunities He provides us.
I want to conclude by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all of you, especially my supervisor,
The Rev. Eileen O’Brien, who patiently coached me in developing my preaching voice, teaching
style, and role as a Deacon. Thank you so much, Rev. O’Brien, for your dedication to nurturing
future priests for the Church of Christ. I also extend my thanks to my clergy colleagues in ministry, The Rev. Jim Harrington, The Rev. George Porter, The Rev. Robby Vickery, The Rev. Addison
McMillan, and the members of the Vestry for their mentorship. We shall meet again.
In Christ,
The Rev. Peter Akicmier, Maria Ayiat, and Gloria Akicmier.
