From New York to Cork - ‘living our best lives’

ONE of the things on the Rev. Elise Hanley’s list of things to do, is to go and see Cobh Ramblers FC playing a soccer match.

Rev Elise was instituted as the new Incumbent of Cobh and Glanmire Union of Parishes by the Right Rev Dr Paul Colton at Rushbrooke, Cobh, on February 4.

“My husband, Chris, is very much into soccer so we want to go to a Cobh Rambler’s match, and I want to go to local GAA matches so that I can understand how the score works!” says Elise, who sports a Claddagh ring which indicates her Irish roots.

“My grandfather Hanley was from Beara, West Cork, while my paternal grandmother was from Swinford, Co. Mayo. My grandmother gave me this Claddagh ring when I was very young,” says Elise.

“My grandfather Michael Hanley, sailed out of Cobh a century ago and emigrated to New York, USA, and my mum, Judy, and dad, Bill, who passed away when I was eight, were born in New York.”

Elise, who grew up just outside New York, has gone back to her Irish roots.

“Now I have made the return trip, and both Chris and I have received a great welcome from the people in East Cork and beyond. I am thrilled by my appointment.”

She wants to meet and greet all her parishioners.

“I greatly look forward to meeting everyone and beginning our good work together,” says Elise.

Before she exchanged the bright lights of Broadway for the altar, she worked as a stage and production manager.

“I graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and I worked initially as a stage and production manager on and off Broadway.”

Her work was creative, and it was varied.

“I produced political theatre, I manged Broadway shows, dance shows and grand scale opera, lots of live events, before I graduated in 2004 when I did my first Broadway gig,” says Elise.

“Then I did theatre for a few years, which was not as fulfilling as I thought it would be. I wasn’t doing great freelancing either,” says Elise.

“Broadway shows cost a lot of money. I felt the pull that I wanted to do something more, more for my soul and more for people in general.”

Elise grew up a Catholic.

“I loved going to church,” she says. “In my early 20s, I stopped going to church and when I found a faith and sense of community again, I became a member of the Episcopal Church.

“In May, 2016, I graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of the City of New York, and I was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese Of New York in October, 2016.”

How did Elise feel when she became a priest?

“I realised that I had followed my call through - the same call that I got when I was a young girl,” says Elise.

“Now I felt my call was finally recognised.”

The Episcopal church is similar to the Catholic church.

“The Episcopal liturgy is similar to the Catholic liturgy,” explains Elise. “The styles of worship and devotion are also similar.

“However, in the Episcopal Church you can be married, women can be ordained priests and LGBQ+ are welcomed into the church.”

Was it an issue that Elise was raised a Catholic?

“That did not get in God’s way,” she says.

Elise embraced the church and the people.

“I love the people, rich or poor, old or young,” she says.

What was her first call?

“It was as Associate Rector (Curate) at Trinity on the Green in New Haven, Connecticut, where I also served as Assistant Chaplain to the Episcopal Church at Yale, and as site supervisor to students’ information at Yale Divinity School. The Church was vibrant with a wonderful music programme.”

In the autumn, Elise got an urge to return to New York.

“I got a gut feeling,” she says. “It was like a message from the Holy Spirit telling me I needed to go. I returned to New York in February, 2020, to serve as Associate Rector of the Church of the Epiphany on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.”

What was her role there?

“I provided pastoral support to community in transition, especially during the Covid pandemic.”

She was needed in New York.

“I got a feeling my mum and my step-dad needed me,” says Elise.

“Both of them got ill, mum more seriously. I was grateful that I moved when I did.”

Elise’s husband, Chris, served as a Hospital Chaplain at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

“My mum moved in with me,” says Elise. “She contracted sepsis; 18 months she stayed with me. At the same time the Church was moving into a brand new 35,000 square foot Church building which Covid delayed. That was stressful for the parish. It was a busy time.”

Before being appointed to Cobh and Glanmire Union Parishes, Elise served as Associate Rector at St Ann & the Holy Trinity Church and Pro-Cathedral in Brooklyn.

“My focus there was youth and family ministry,” she adds.

Elise was always interested in her forefathers’ home country.

“I was interested since I was a kid,” she says. “I knew an American priest in Cork city, St Anne’s, Shandon, Rev Meghan Farr, who met a friend of a friend and who wanted to talk to me about the vacancies here in Church of Ireland.

“One thing led to another. Chris and I were due to go on holidays. I met the nominators of the parish and talked with Bishop Colton, who knew my profile and who appointed me. I feel it is a privilege to be here.”

Elise made an unusual journey across the Atlantic.

“I flew Aer Lingus with our four cats in cargo,” she says. “Animals are not allowed in the cabin.

“Chris and his dog, Ted, flew to Cork with KLM.

“When we got here to the rectory in Glounthaune, it was all set up with groceries in for us. It took us a few days to settle in and now we love it here.

“The people are lovely, that is the best part about parish ministry.”

Elise and Chris are becoming familiar with Cork city.

“We enjoy traveling into the city by train from Glounthaune,” says Elise. “It is a short trip. Being a NYC person, I find Cork very walkable and much smaller than New York. It has great resources.”

How is she finding the Cork accent?

“Cork people have a full-on accent. It’s great!” says Elise.

Is she concerned about a decrease in numbers attending church?

“Decreasing numbers affects the Church overall,” says Elise. “I’m all about affecting community positively, engaging with the people and encouraging activities for older people. It is possible for the church to reach people.

“We are a Pioneer Ministry and Pioneers connect with people outside of Church, creating new ways of doing Church together in their community, creating a hub in the parish area.”

Elise and Chris like the area.

“We are living our best life here with our animals,” says Elise.

“In the U.S, we lived in a third- floor apartment surrounded by concrete and noise.

“Here, we have big windows where we can see the water and the birds. It is a nice change. Nature is good for all of us.”

Elise, starting a new life in new territory, lives a full life.

“I enjoy running, travelling and singing,” she says.

And soon she’ll be a GAA and Cobh Ramblers FC supporter!