Relationship between dioceses deepens

As “Partners in Christ, united in mission,” the companion relationship of the Diocese of Toronto and the Diocese of Brasilia is now well into its second year. Since June 2024 (continuing until 2031), we have experienced moments of great joy, but also some disappointment along the way. It is a true relationship! We continue to thank God for the deepening of our friendship as we journey together in our different parts of God’s world, as siblings in Christ’s Church.

Online monthly meetings of our companion partnership group give members the opportunity to continue to plan – in both English and Portuguese – and to pray together. The co-chairs, the Rev. Canon Maurice Francois from Toronto and the Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Espiúca from Brasilia, together with Bishop Andrew Asbil and Bishop Mauricio Andrada, lead the small committee of clergy and laity into dreaming and realizing new ways to deepen our shared understanding of what it means to be Anglican Christians in two different contexts, and how to participate in the life of each other’s Church.

The online theology day for clergy and lay theologians on March 25, featuring the Rev. Dr. Christopher Brittain from Trinity College, Toronto and Dr. Paulo Ueti, a Brazilian theologian, discussed liberation theology in a Zoom event that attracted more than 200 clergy and lay leaders from both dioceses. On Oct. 18, the annual Outreach & Advocacy Conference of the Diocese of Toronto welcomed the Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Espiúca from Brasilia as its keynote speaker. Dr. Espiúca is the Coordinator of Advocacy Strategies for Brasilia, and the Anglican Communion’s Communion Forest facilitator for the Americas. A viewing party of Brazilian Anglicans watched online during the outreach conference, making the event a shared experience. The annual Toronto Clergy Conference at Trent University in late May 2026 will welcome Dr. Ueti back to our diocese as the keynote speaker, and we hope that some clergy will make the trip with him so that we can offer hospitality to clergy colleagues from Brazil.

A disappointment came when the planned youth delegation from Brasilia – seven teenagers and three leaders – had difficulty attaining visas to travel to Canada in time to attend the ReCharge Youth Retreat in late September. We had looked forward to having them join in the fun and energy of our own youth gathering. Because this event is annual, however, we are working towards their visit next year with renewed vigour. If any young people in our diocese have some skills in speaking Portuguese, we’d love to hear from you! It would be wonderful if our Brazilian guests could speak to young Anglicans in their own language.

We continue to look for video greetings from your parish to the Diocese of Brasilia. If you would like to film a brief video on your phone to introduce your parish or an interesting ministry to our Brazilian siblings, send your clip to our Communications department, and they’ll take care of adding the translations for you. Videos continue to be an effective way for us to get to know each other more and more. Messages from Brasilia will punctuate our Synod gathering in November, and we are looking forward to warm words of friendship and some wonderful music.

Please continue to pray for this growing relationship and for our siblings in Christ in South America and their work and ministry for the Gospel.