Mr. Cassabon, who started on Sept. 5, sees his role as one of building relationships and getting people excited about the mission and ministry of the diocese. “The more enthusiastic we can all be, the more we can get engaged. That doesn’t mean just giving money; that means engaging our whole selves, our time, our talent, our treasure, the gifts that God has given us to build up the reign of God in our local community,” he says. “That’s what the Gospel calls us to.”

He brings experience in fundraising from his background in the Roman Catholic Church. As a parish priest for 10 years, he spent much of his ministry in South Carolina, where he helped his diocese open schools and churches to meet the needs of a growing Catholic population. He moved to Toronto in 2016 and worships at St. James Cathedral.

As he gets to know the diocese, Mr. Cassabon says he is looking forward to meeting local clergy and lay leaders. “We’re here to support what they’re doing and to help other parishes collaborate with one another,” he says. “We know that none of us are in this alone.”

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The real story is that this pilgrimage was a sacramental experience. It had its “outward and visible signs,” to be sure: sore feet, the drudgery of walking 20 or 25 km a day, closely shared quarters, precious little privacy, and the constant weight of my 9kg pack containing my entire belongings for six and a half weeks away from home. But there were also (thank God) those “inward and spiritual graces” that gave my pilgrimage depth, breadth and life.

Fortunate to have the opportunity to take a sabbatical from my parish after seven years, and still working through what had been a challenging year, I walked. My spiritual director helped me understand the walk as sacramental in itself – an outward and visible walking from a familiar place to a new place and, what’s more, an inward and spiritual journey of rest and renewal (and, yes, endurance).

For me, sacraments are all about encountering. I encounter the living Christ in the ordinary things of life: bread, wine, water, oil and, yes, people – those ordinary things that become, through the grace of God, extraordinary. Out of this world, and yet still very much in it.

The medieval pilgrimage from near the French-Spanish border in the Pyrenees to Santiago, where the remains of St. James are said to rest, has experienced a meteoric resurgence of interest in the past few decades. More than a quarter of a million pilgrims arrive each year in Santiago following one of several medieval routes. The journey needn’t be solitary – unless you choose to walk alone, which I did (at least for most of the time): hours and hours to be alone with one’s thoughts. Balm for an introvert!

My grandparents consumed my thoughts one morning as I walked toward a place called Viana on the seventh day of my walk, pondering what I remembered about each of them. There was a span of 30 years between the shock of my maternal grandfather’s sudden death when I was 10 and the expected death of my paternal grandmother when I was almost 40. About to turn 51 and myself a parent of two adults, the sure and steady passing of time and generations swirled around in my head and, what’s more, my heart. Pondering all this, I looked ahead and saw an elderly woman walking toward me, slowly but confidently relying on her cane. As I approached her, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of love for her, an unexpected welling up of emotion that compelled me to tip my worn and cherished trekking hat to her. To my surprise she stopped, came to me, took my hands in hers, looked straight up into my eyes and spoke directly to me. Having failed in my ambition to learn some Spanish before I left, I understood not a word except “God bless you.”

“God bless you” she said, and then continued her walk out of town.

I stood still for a while and watched as she walked away from me. Even in that instant I knew that this would be one of those profound and unexpected encounters that would animate my Camino pilgrimage. It was neither planned nor expected but was both outward and visible, inward and spiritual.

The word “sacrament” comes from the word “sacred” or “holy,” and this brief encounter was certainly that. But sacrament also means “mystery.” Not mystery in the sense of something to be solved, but rather something so numinous and profound that it cannot be fully contained with words nor dissected by analysis. By God’s grace, the water poured over our heads incorporates us into Jesus’ death and resurrection. The bread and wine placed upon the altar become his very life given for us. In my spiritual middle age, I care not a whit to understand the how and the why of these mysteries. I’m perfectly happy to rest easy “seeing through a mirror, dimly,” as St. Paul puts it.

It remains a mystery to me why this one woman, out of hundreds and hundreds I passed, stopped. Or why I was taken with a deep and spontaneous love for her. Or why I tipped my hat. But it is not a mystery I care to try to understand. I only care to continue to cherish this fleeting encounter on my Camino pilgrimage – knowing that somehow God’s love was made visible for me in the grasp of her hands and in whatever words she spoke. And being thankful that God does work in mysterious ways.

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One of the highlights of my ministry came when I was appointed priest-in-charge at St. Saviour’s in Orono. Although I had held positions in ministry, this was my first time leading a group of parishioners. It has been a blessing integrating myself into the community of Orono through visitation, our outreach activities and fundraising events. St. Saviour’s incorporates into its vision the Five Marks of Mission, including outreach to the Indigenous community and, in 2017, to the migrant farm workers in the area.

My involvement with the ministry to migrant farm workers began three years ago at St. Paul, Beaverton. In 2017, the ministry was extended to the farms in and around Bowmanville and Orono. We introduced services for the workers every Sunday afternoon from the middle of July to the end of September. We alternated between St. John, Bowmanville and St. Saviour, Orono. Our collaboration with farm owners, social agencies and medical staff have enriched and developed our outreach to the workers. Many are extremely grateful for all that the Church does for them and for the spiritual support they have received. We are grateful to the diocese for its support and for the help of the Rev. Canon Christopher Greaves, the Rev. Canon Ted McCullough and the volunteers of both churches who are so willing to help.

My involvement in this work is a response to the call of God in my life. He has called me to serve in his Church, and therefore I find great fulfillment in preaching, teaching and serving others. My vision is to help them to know Christ and to equip the Church to reach others with his love. I believe in the transformative power of God’s Spirit in our lives and the hope that he gives in this life and the one to come. Therefore, I am compelled to share this love of Christ with all – either with my parishioners,  seasonal migrant workers, the poor and the rich. We all need Christ.

In retrospect, my training as a soccer coach, a community chaplain and my ability to communicate in English and Spanish, has facilitated me to be of service in my current position. I believe this is amazing and sometimes unbelievable, and I can say with certainty that God uses the gifts that you have for his purposes as you put yourself in his hands. Of course, there are challenges and growing pains in ministry.  For example, it was discouraging when we saw our numbers decrease for the services in Bowmanville in September, only to discover that during harvest the workers are busy and sometimes too tired to come to our services. Therefore, during these times, we proposed to go to them and hold the services on the farms.

I was born in Peru, in a city called Callao, one of the largest port cities in the country. After my parents separated, my mom emigrated to Canada in the early ’70s and sent for my two sisters and myself. We arrived in Toronto when I was in my preteen years. I was delighted to come to this new country with the new opportunities that it offered for my future, but it was not easy for me to witness the separation of my parents, be uprooted from family and friends and learn a second language. Before ordination, I spent some time in Johnstown, Pennsylvania working as a trainee counselor for Peniel, a residential Christian Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation program. Residents were taught Christian biblical principles to live by and healthy alternatives to combat the destructive habits of drug addiction.   Many of the clients were from large cities – New York, Philadelphia and Washington – and the objective was to relocate them to a small rural town where they could focus on rehabilitation.

I was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church in Peru. My grandmother was a significant influence in my life. She took me to church when I was very young. These services made a big impression on me because I was introduced to a God that had shown his love for me by sending his Son to be my Saviour and Redeemer. In my teenage years, my faith in God became alive by the working of his Holy Spirit, and it was at this point that I decided to pursue theological studies. In my late twenties, I married my beautiful wife Jacqueline and started Bible College in Peterborough. We raised our four boys in Peterborough, and I finished my MDiv at Wycliffe College. Subsequently, I worked as a community chaplain but was drawn to parish ministry. With my Anglican training, and having a wife who was Anglican, I applied for ordination in the Anglican Church, and the rest is history.

Looking ahead, I hope to have the ministry to migrant workers more established and in other areas in the region. Furthermore, I intend to apply the knowledge I learned in a program to see how best to reach out to the unchurched, the broken and those who feel marginalized by society.

My favourite passage from scripture is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loves us and all his creation; I am humbled that he has chosen me to play a part in this great plan of salvation.

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Adaptive Re-Use of Parish Facilities

St. Martin, Bay Ridges (Pickering)
$12,750 to address accessibility concerns. The parish installed an automatic door opener to allow easier access, created an accessible washroom and received estimates for further accessibility projects. “We at St. Martin’s envision the day when our worship space will be fully accessible. The Re-Imagine Church grant has helped us start that process,” said Joe Moore, churchwarden. The parish later received another grant of $55,000 to continue its accessibility work.

St. Peter, Erindale
$75,000 to install a lift that is used daily to give worshippers and visitors full access to all floors of the building. “Thanks to the OFOH support, we were able to open up our church to new ministry opportunities by gaining accessibility for all,” said the Rev. Canon Jennifer Reid, incumbent. “We see the future as much rosier – people are delighted with the lift.”

St. George Memorial, Oshawa
$35,000 for accessibility upgrades. The parish is installing an exterior accessibility ramp and modifying an existing internal ramp. It is also hoping to replace existing entrance doors that have begun to rot and are not energy-efficient.

St. Stephen in-the-Fields, Toronto
$418,000 for major building renovations. The grant provided for roof and foundation repairs, new hardwood floors, and a renovated kitchen and washrooms. St. Stephen’s was able to expand its capacity for outreach and community work, enhance its worship space and ensure the long-term stability of the building. “Our volunteers are delighted by the size and functionality of the new kitchen, and we are already providing better meals for our guests,” said the Rev. Maggie Helwig, incumbent.

St. George, Grafton
$145,000 to revitalize the interior and exterior of the church and parish hall. The remodelled hall is a hub in the community, hosting an internet café, a quilting group, men’s breakfasts, circles of prayer and other regular events in a comfortable, modern meeting place.

Communicating in a Wireless World

St. Bride, Clarkson
$15,000 for new audio equipment, projectors, screens and cameras. Prayers and hymns for worship services are projected rather than printed, video content is used during sermons, and the parish is finding new ways to use video during services. “The grant has helped make it possible for us to communicate the Good News in more impactful ways through the use of visual media,” said the Rev. Canon Stephen Peake, incumbent.

St. Paul, Newmarket
$30,000 to renew its technology and develop a robust online presence, including a new website and branding. “As a parish without a main-street presence, this grant enabled us to develop an online presence that has become our point of entry for newcomers,” said Colleen Keats, churchwarden. “More people are saying they found us and learned of our ministries and events via our web presence than before.”

Diocesan Communications Department
$58,700 to help 18 parishes build seeker-friendly websites, followed by $52,580 for a second phase of 20 parishes. Parishes work with a web designer, photographer and social media coach to enhance their online presence and develop communication strategies. “This has been a very engaging and fruitful process for us. We have become much more intentional in our use of social media,” said the Ven. Stephen Vail, incumbent of All Saints, Whitby, after participating in the program.

Christ Memorial Church, Oshawa
$27,298 to enhance its technology for mission. The parish upgraded its technological equipment, developed a new website, started posting sermons online, created a Facebook page and improved its capacity for graphic design. “We are so grateful for our OFOH grant,” said Michelle Nichols, churchwarden. “The whole process stimulated and continues to stimulate new engagement with social media, communications and even our ‘branding.’ What a lift this has been!”

St. Cuthbert, Leaside
$4,000 to upgrade the church’s sound system to accommodate assistive hearing devices. The project increased participation in worship by those with hearing impairments and created a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. “I think the hearing devices are wonderful – I would be lost without them,” said one parishioner. “When people were reading the Prayers of the People or anything from the pulpit, I couldn’t hear at all. I think they are a wonderful idea.”

Grace Church on-the-Hill, Toronto
$12,000 to develop a mobile app for Apple and Android phones to connect with the congregation and the wider community. It includes readings, daily prayer, videos and photos. “The Grace Church app has opened many new doors in the parish in connecting in a wireless world. We have spread the music of Grace Church well beyond our doors,” said Chris Leonard, director of administration.

Enabling Parishes to Become Multi-Staffed

St. Olave, Swansea
$49,000 to hire a child and youth minister to nurture the spiritual lives of children and their parents. The parish has also held events outside of regular worship times to reach more families who aren’t able to attend on Sunday mornings. “Our Our Faith-Our Hope grant helped us revitalize our children’s ministry and support our youth with the addition of a staff member. Without this much-needed investment, our volunteer resources would have been stretched beyond capacity,” said Janice Douglas, coordinator of the parish’s Junior Church Leadership committee.

St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto
$75,000 to hire a part-time associate priest responsible for children and youth work. Under the leadership of the Rev. Jennifer Schick, the parish has found new ways to connect with its youngest members. “We’re trying to grow our ministry both inside and out,” she said. “We’re also aware that we need to reach out to the wider community, too.”

Leadership Development

The Rev. Peter Mills, St. John, Ida
$2,500 for tuition fees to pursue a graduate certificate in missional leadership and formation at Wycliffe College. “This grant enabled me to participate in the Missional Leadership certificate course, which has invigorated my preaching and leadership. I have been given some tools that will help me cultivate a community with a missional heart,” said Mr. Mills.

Pioneering Ministry

St. Paul, L’Amoreaux, Toronto
$60,000 to establish a chapel ministry at Silversprings Park, a large low-income rental complex located at Finch and Birchmount in Scarborough. The chapel offers weekly services, pastoral care, Christian study and service, and a satellite office for St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Centre. It also enhances the development of community support programs.

St. John, West Toronto
$26,870 to support a new part-time youth worker with a focus on LGBTQ youth. The church hired Cormac Culkeen, who has started a monthly queer Eucharist and a weekly youth drop-in while making connections among LGBTQ youth in the parish and the wider community. “We know that LGBTQ youth do not have an easy walk of it in high school, so that’s what we set out to do: create a space for them to explore the possibility of faith in their lives,” said the Rev. Samantha Caravan, incumbent.

Sisterhood of St. John the Divine
$100,000 to support the Companions on an Ancient Path program, a year-long experience in intentional community for young women. “We feel this program answers a need that is expressed by young people in our church – how to be more grounded in their spiritual life and also to develop skills that will be useful in pioneering ministries that they may be involved in,” said Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert.

The last chance for parishes and individuals to apply for Our Faith-Our Hope grants will be September 2021. Grants are awarded twice a year, in the spring and fall. Each category has its own application guidelines and forms, and all applications need the support of the church’s area bishop. The next deadline is April 15. For more information, visit the diocese’s website, www.toronto.anglican.ca.

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Brian Armstrong, ODT
Trinity, Aurora
Mr. Armstrong has been nominated by the Archbishop for his outstanding contribution to the governance of the diocese. He has brought his considerable legal expertise and practical approach to problem-solving to bear while serving on the Executive Board and the Compensation Working Group. Most recently, he has served with distinction in his new role as vice-chancellor. Canon Clare Burns, chancellor, comments that “Brian is always good-humored, strategic and calm, and so is a perfect vice-chancellor!”

Joyce Badley, ODT
St. Paul, Bloor Street
Ms. Badley has been nominated by the Archbishop for her stewardship of professional skill and expertise in finance, property, administration and operations to her own church and the diocese. She has served on Diocesan Council, Executive Board, the Inter-Diocesan Learning Community, the Outreach Committee, the Investment Committee, Area Council and the Project Enabling and Monitoring Group. As the executive pastor of St. Paul, Bloor Street, she oversees all the functions of the church that enable its ministry to thrive.

David Baird, ODT
Christ Church, Scarborough
Mr. Baird quietly supports the needs of the parish through his extensive legal skills and knowledge. One of the longest-serving leaders of Christ Church, Scarborough, he has served as churchwarden, treasurer and Property Committee chair, and as leader of the Sideperson’s Guild for 35 years. He is reliable, generous, humble and compassionate.

Richard Baker, ODT
Trinity, Aurora
Mr. Baker has been nominated by Trinity, Aurora for his skilled contributions. His diverse gifts, ranging from music to photography to web design, have been a gift to the church and a true testament to his faith in action.

Bernie Bellis, ODT
St. Paul, L’Amoreaux
Mr. Bellis has demonstrated outstanding service as a board member and past chair of the board of St. Paul L’Amoreaux Centre senior’s residence. He has spent 40 years as a dedicated member, Sunday School director, youth group founder, churchwarden, financial coordinator, Visibility Committee chair, and chair of the Anniversary Project Committee, which entailed the re-carpeting and renovation of the church and the installation of a new church sign with video display. Both professionally and in the Centre and church, Mr. Bellis has found innovative ways to improve and develop the areas he directed and enact positive change.

Ruth Briffett, ODT
Grace Church, Markham
Mrs. Briffett has been nominated by the Archbishop for her dedication to the diocesan Anglican Church Women and especially her work with the Ecclesiastical Needlework Committee and the Diocesan Chancel Guild. She has faithfully served with the needleworkers for 16 years, becoming the director in 2011, and has been their representative on the Diocesan Chancel Guild, chairing meetings for two years. She is known for her organization and willingness to consult with parish chancel guilds and lead diocesan chancel workshops, as well as for her beautiful finishing work. She is a much-loved member of Grace Church, Markham.

Olga Clarke, ODT
St. Paul the Apostle, Rexdale
Mrs. Clarke has been nominated by St. Paul the Apostle, Rexdale for her outstanding contribution to the life of the parish in every capacity, including as lay pastoral associate, Bible study leader, ACW member, prayer group leader and coffee hour convener, and to the community. She is always willing to lend a helping hand or offer a prayer, and is an inspiration in her ability to reach the aged, sick, bereaved and isolated. She is well respected and loved in her parish, her community and beyond.

Frances Corkill, ODT
Christ the King, Toronto
Mrs. Corkill has been part of every activity at Christ the King since 1966. She has held every office innumerable times and is presently the churchwarden and chair of the advisory board. She does many things anonymously, and so her parish is glad to give anonymous recognition to her decades-long faithful service to the Church.

Jean Glionna, ODT
Holy Trinity, Thornhill
Mrs. Glionna has been nominated by the Archbishop for her outstanding contribution to the diocese in various roles, currently as a Bishop’s Appointee to Synod and a member of Diocesan Council, Executive Board and the Agenda Committee. An active volunteer in her parish, she has served in many roles that span three decades: churchwarden, lay assistant, altar guild member, ACW member and proud member of the senior choir. Mrs. Glionna is the first to greet you with a hug and a smile and is always the first to volunteer when help is needed. She has an infectious personality and is an inspiration to others.

David Gordon, ODT
Trinity, Aurora
Mr. Gordon has been nominated by the Archbishop for his significant contributions to the diocese in promoting social justice and, in particular, First Nations initiatives. He is an originating member of the Social Justice and Advocacy Committee at Trinity, Aurora, through which the Pikangikum Water Project developed in cooperation with Bishop Mark MacDonald. That project is now partnered with PWRDF and engaged nationally. Mr. Gordon has given dedication, education and guidance to Trinity and beyond to unite Anglicans in the road of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Janet Gouinlock, ODT and Robert Gouinlock, ODT
St. Clement, Eglinton
Mr. and Mrs. Gouinlock have been nominated by the Archbishop for not only their benevolence but their voluntarism as well. Both graduated from Trinity College in the early 1950s and have held numerous positions at St. Clement’s over the years, including churchwarden, treasurer and campaign leadership in numerous parish appeals. They are generous with their financial support to their parish, the diocese and the local community. Both Moorelands Community Services and All Saints Church-Community Centre are near and dear to their interests. They have given a lifetime example to their church and beyond.

Marion Hodgson, ODT
St. John the Evangelist, Port Hope
Mrs. Hodgson has been nominated for her lifelong faithful witness to Jesus Christ and the mission of his Church. Her dedication and service is extensive and exemplary; she has either participated in or supported all of the committees and initiatives of St. John’s for the past seven decades. Her deep love, simplicity and humility are appreciated and valued by all.

Dilys Jones, ODT
St. Jude, Wexford
Mrs. Jones has been a dedicated example of Christian leadership and motivation to the mission and life of the Church. She inspires those around her to work hard to be Christ’s hands and heart in our world. She is generous in how she shares her gifts of wisdom, fundraising and leadership, and as a tireless advocate for the witness of the parish in its community.

Elroy Joseph, ODT
Nativity, Malvern
Mr. Joseph has served in many different roles at Nativity, Malvern. He has been part of the men’s ministry for 20 years, sings tenor in the choir, has been the envelope secretary for five years, and has served in fundraising and as a sidesperson and churchwarden. He can be counted on when something needs to get done and is known for his good humour, diligence and precision.

Colleen Keats, ODT
St. Paul, Newmarket
Ms. Keats has provided outstanding leadership in her parish. Having served as a churchwarden, outreach coordinator, in newcomer ministry and many other roles, her practical faith has served to build up the parish and its mission to the community. She continues to be open and enthusiastic in walking the path God sets before her and the church of which she is a part.

Constance Kendall, ODT
St. Stephen, Downsview
Ms. Kendall has been nominated by the Archbishop for her outstanding contribution to the life of her parish and the area of York-Credit Valley. She has served faithfully in many capacities, including being a member of the York-Credit Valley Area Council, and is well known as a dynamic youth leader and mentor. She is a leading choreographer in liturgical dance and has choregraphed many liturgical dances in the diocese, including at the annual Black History service. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and is an inspiration to the young lives she mentors.

Peggy Kernohan, ODT
Parish of Georgina
Ms. Kernohan is a friend to all – the people of the Parish of Georgina and the wider community – and is always willing to give a hand, advice and help. She is patient and kind, and is moved by the proclamation of the gospel and the celebration of joyful services. She is always there for new adventures in Christianity.

Gordon Longman, ODT
St. Thomas, Brooklin
Mr. Longman has been nominated by the Archbishop for his service as a long-time volunteer in his parish in a number of roles, though most prodigiously in the area of stewardship. He has been engaged in stewardship education for more than a decade, first as a member of the Stewardship Development Board and later as a stewardship education coach, working with parishes including St. Timothy, North Toronto, St. Matthew, Oriole and St. John, Whitby. He was instrumental in establishing the parish stewardship campaign and supporting the Our Faith-Our Hope campaign.

Terry McCullum, ODT
Mr. McCullum has been nominated by the Archbishop for his 35 years with LOFT (Leap of Faith Together) Community Services, formerly known as Anglican Houses. He led the organization as its CEO and guiding force through remarkable changes, growing from a small agency to one that now provides more than 1,000 supportive housing units at over 70 sites across Toronto and York regions, and community services for more than 5,800 youth, vulnerable adults and seniors. Mr. McCullum retired on Dec. 31, 2017.

Sarah McDonald, ODT
St. James, Cathedral
Ms. McDonald has been nominated by the Archbishop for her outstanding community work and long-time service to the cathedral and the diocese. A retired high school principal recognized as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, her work in the area of housing has earned her the recognition of a non-profit housing complex in Pickering named in her honour: Sarah McDonald’s Place. She has served as vice-chair of the Durham Regional Police Services Board and St. James Cathedral council, chair of the Three Churches Refugee Committee, a member of the social justice housing sub-committee of the diocese and president of the board of Mary Lambert Swale Non-Profit Homes, and currently serves as the Honorary Lay Secretary of Synod.

Michelle Mercer, ODT
St. John the Divine, Scarborough
Ms. Mercer has been nominated by St. John the Divine, Scarborough for her enthusiastic and compassionate dedication to children’s and youth ministry. In 2016, she celebrated 50 years of ministry; she has touched the lives of generations of children. Today, because of her faithful leadership, St. John the Divine has a vibrant and active children’s and youth program.

Edward Moroney, ODT
St. Andrew, Scarborough
Mr. Moroney has been nominated in recognition of his 50 years of dedication to the maintenance of the highest standards of liturgical choral and organ music and composition throughout the City of Toronto. He has also given unrelenting support and encouragement to young singers, organists and accompanists.

Anne Oram, ODT
St. Mark, Port Hope
Ms. Oram has been nominated by the Archbishop for her many years of dedication not only to her parish, but also for her diocesan involvement. She has been an active parish volunteer, serving in many roles at St. John, Weston, St. Timothy, Agincourt and most recently at St. Mark, Port Hope. She is also a past member of Diocesan Council, Executive Board and the Court on Contested Seats. As a lifelong Anglican, she finds meaning in a scripture passage from Philippians 4:13 inscribed in her prayer book by her Sunday school teacher: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Peter Patterson, ODT
Christ Church St. James, Toronto
Mr. Patterson has been nominated by the Archbishop for his service to the Church for more than 40 years at Christ Church St. James. He has served several times as a churchwarden, has been the faithful chair of parish selection committees, and has also served with humility as treasurer and as a youth leader in the parish. He is retiring after 20 years as the business director of Wycliffe College, where his ministry was much valued. As an actuary in downtown Toronto for many years, Mr. Patterson has sought to be a faithful Christian businessman.

Mary Pember, ODT
St. Timothy, North Toronto
Ms. Pember has been nominated by the Archbishop for her instrumental role in fostering stewardship as a way of life in her home parish. A lead volunteer in the Our Faith-Our Hope campaign, she was also one of the first stewardship education coaches recruited for Growing Healthy Stewards, working with numerous parishes including St. Clement, Eglinton, St. George on Yonge, Toronto, and St. Philip on-the-Hill, Unionville. Beyond the Church, she has devoted considerable volunteer energy in a leadership capacity with the United Way of York Region.

Sue Savage, ODT
Parish of Penetanguishene and Waubaushene
Ms. Savage has been nominated by the Archbishop for her service as a Reach Grant “dragon” since 2013. At Synod in 2013, she invigorated participants with the results of her Reach Grant mission with a video of the lunch program at All Saints, Penetanguishene. She has shared her evangelistic coaching with her congregation’s sister church, Christ Church, Waubaushene. At All Saints, Ms. Savage has volunteered as cemetery manager at St. James on-the-Lines, screening coordinator, server, chalice bearer, acolyte, envelope secretary and bookkeeper, and as a member of a parish selection committee, Synod and the ACW.

Susan Schuschu, ODT
St. John, East Orangeville
Ms. Schuschu has been nominated by the Archbishop for her dedication to the life of her parish, the area of York-Simcoe and the diocese. She has faithfully served St. John’s as a churchwarden (both rector’s and people’s), a Sunday school teacher, chair of the stewardship and fundraising committees and chair of the cemetery board. It was her election as the parish’s lay member of Synod that piqued her interest in the wider church, and in 2013 she was elected to represent the area on Diocesan Council. Ms. Schuschu is a valued member of the York-Simcoe Area Council and is currently a member of the Diocesan Council Nominating Committee.

Joyce Sowby, ODT
St. James Cathedral
Ms. Sowby has been nominated by the Archbishop for her extraordinary contributions to the Church, Trinity College, the University of Toronto and the province of Ontario. A member of St. James Cathedral for 80 years, she is a published author and has spent decades investing in and contributing to historical Canadian biographies and art collections, which she shares freely. Her kindness to immigrant families the cathedral has supported, as well as her decades-long service to the Cathedral York Group, personifies Christian charity in its truest form.

Stanley Squires, ODT
St. Saviour, Orono, Parish of Newcastle
Mr. Squires’ life of community mission has been influential to his small Anglican church in the village of Orono. He has chaired his parish’s Our Faith-Our Hope campaign, organized special dinners for the community to fundraise for various causes and worked to sponsor a Syrian refugee family, toward which more than 300 people in the area contributed. He lives the belief that the Church is not a building, but a mission “with the community and for the community.”

Carol Ann Trabert, ODT
Christ Church, Kettleby, Parish of Lloydtown
Mrs. Trabert has been nominated for her many years of faithful service to Christ Church, the Parish of Lloydtown and King Township. Her work as churchwarden at Christ Church and president of the King Township Foodbank displays the mercy of God. Her generous spirit, dedication to the gospel and compassion for those who suffer inspires others to do likewise.

Rebecca Wang, ODT
St. Margaret, New Toronto
Mrs. Wang has faithfully served her parish as organist and choirmaster since 1968. This year marks her 50^th anniversary at St. Margaret’s. Sharing her considerable baking and cake-decorating skills and helping with events, she is a much-loved and respected member of the parish.

Dorothy Weir, ODT
St. Peter, Scarborough
Mrs. Weir has been nominated for her 62 years of service as a member of the altar guild. She has designed well over 800 floral arrangements that have beautified the church, giving joy and comfort to all. Along with her husband John, she was a founding member of St. Peter’s in 1955. Today, at 94, she continues to be a faithful Christian, setting a shining example of grace and humility for us all.

Patricia Weller, ODT
St. Peter, Cobourg
Mrs. Weller has been nominated by St. Peter, Cobourg for her commitment to helping others marginalized by life’s circumstances in what she would call a “sensible” way – by quietly and persistently bringing churches and community agencies together to help others through her parish and across the community. Additionally, as chair of the leadership development committee, she interviews parishioners, finds the right volunteer ministry for them and provides calm coaching to ensure their effectiveness. When things need fixing, “Call Pat Weller” is what works.

James Weller, ODT
St. Peter, Cobourg
Mr. Weller has provided 24 years of commitment to the production of Keynotes, a parish magazine of excellent quality. Through the pages of this five-times-a-year publication, he has built a spirit of community and provided inspiration to the ministries of his parish and beyond. As a creative member of the diocesan Communications Committee for well over a decade, he helped to form many communications initiatives across the diocese and share his valuable gifts more broadly.

Lance Wilson, ODT
St. John the Divine, Scarborough
Mr. Wilson has been nominated by the Archbishop for his service on the diocesan Reconfiguration Team, working with parishes to discern a way forward in times of transition and amalgamation. Serving on the board of administration at St. George on Yonge, Toronto, and as a Bishop’s Envoy in the York-Scarborough area, his community service and service to his parish are stellar. He is a leading local, provincial, national and international voice for racial justice and intercultural cooperation, and is currently engaged with diocesan Anglicans in fundraising for the people of the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba for hurricane relief efforts.

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What are those vows that guide our living? For bishops, they are the promises we made just before hands were laid on our heads. They include: being faithful in prayer and in the study of holy Scripture; boldly proclaiming and interpreting the gospel of Christ; encouraging and supporting all baptized people in their gifts and ministries; guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the Church; ordaining priests and deacons, sharing in the government of the whole Church; and showing compassion to the poor and strangers, and defending those who have no helper (BAS, p. 636-637).

To help us live more fully into these vows, we are each assigned a coach, usually a more senior bishop, who is able to share wisdom and experience from his or her own years in episcopal ministry. I am blessed that Bishop Michael Bird, the retiring Bishop of Niagara, is my coach. I meet with him regularly, and he has been tremendously supportive in helping me navigate my first year of ministry in a purple shirt. Another essential element of “Living Our Vows” is time away. Once a year, the new bishops gather together for four days of prayer, instruction, shared learning and fellowship. We meet at a retreat centre where there are relatively few distractions.

As we approach the beginning of Lent once again, what would it be like for all of us to recommit to “living our vows” in a similar way? As Lent is a season of education and formation for both baptism and confirmation, this is an ideal time to live more fully into the vows that we made (or that were made for us) at baptism. Here they are:

• Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
• Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
• Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
• Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
• Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
• Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the Earth? (BAS, p. 159.)

In seeking to live into these vows, here too I would recommend a coach. For those preparing for baptism or confirmation in the Easter season, your coach may be your parish priest or a leader in the parish who oversees catechesis and Christian formation. For the rest of us who are preparing to renew our baptismal promises at Easter, it may be a spiritual director, a fellow member of the parish, or a wise and trusted friend. You may also find it helpful to get away for a few days, or even for a few hours. Within our diocese, there are places apart, such as St. John’s Convent or the Holy Cross Priory, for prayer, spiritual direction, retreat and rest.

However we choose to enter into this holy season, may Lent be for all of us a time of drawing nearer to God and “living our vows” more deeply.

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Br. Robert L’Esperance, SSJE, writes, “What attracts me to (the Gospel of) John’s Jesus is that he is an iconoclast who strikes at the very heart of those things we human beings want to cling to, yet which have absolutely nothing to do with the God that Jesus calls ‘Father.’ What does Jesus show us? Jesus shows us love.”

Every year since 1995, the College of Bishops make a retreat of several days with the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some of you might know them as the Cowley Fathers, an Anglican monastic order founded over 150 years ago, who had a monastery in Bracebridge and were responsible for the mission to much of Muskoka.

When you read this, we will have just returned from Boston. One of the Brothers guides us in a daily meditation, with a feedback discussion later that day. We join the Brothers in their meals and their pattern of worship, with the Eucharist and short services (the Divine Office) marking the transitional moments of each day – dawn, noon, dusk and night. The retreat is a time of reflection, silence, reading, walking and yes, some laughter and play. It is not a holiday, but it is recreation in the fullest sense: re-creation, renewing and rekindling the flame of faith and hope in the midst of busy lives. It is a chance to come to terms with life as we are living it, and recalibrating those parts that need it. It is both personal and communal as we explore privately our own soul and grow in our understanding of each other. It is a good Lenten practice that I have valued enormously (even if it rarely takes place in the season of Lent!)

But Lent is upon us early this year – Feb. 14 is Ash Wednesday. I wonder whether the Ash Wednesday fast will win out over St. Valentine’s Day chocolate. (I am not taking any bets!)

The traditional disciplines of Lent that are meant to prepare us not only for the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection on Easter but for the ongoing life as a Christian disciple. They are:

• Self-examination
• Penitence
• Prayer
• Fasting and almsgiving
• Reading and meditating on the word of God

I want to commend to you one particular activity this Lent and ask that you join me in it.  You can do it as an individual or, ideally, with a small group. The SSJE, in conjunction with Virginia Theological Seminary, have produced a Lenten program that we have chosen to use in the Diocese of Toronto this year. It is called “Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.” Over a period of five, six or seven weeks, the program “invites us not only to learn about God, but also to enter into a loving and intimate relationship with God, in which God abides in us and we abide in God.”

Each week, a different aspect of this gospel’s message is considered:

• God is love.
• The Word became flesh.
• Close to the Father’s heart.
• I have called you friends.
• Abide in me.
• We declare to you.

There are a lot of resources available to help: a daily prayer journal, a daily short video, suggestions for prayer, online posts and blogs, free resources for study groups and individuals. They are available for download from www.meetingjesusinjohn.org. There is even an outline for a parish quiet day. Something for everyone.

I invite you to join me in this journey to Easter through Lent and “reflect on the person of Jesus, his mission and his message, as it is presented in the writings of John.” Draw closer to God and grow as an instrument of God’s love in the world.

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The Toronto chapter of the Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius is having its first gathering in decades on Jan. 25, when it will host a talk by renowned Orthodox theologian Edith Humphrey on the works of C.S. Lewis.

The event, called “Further Up and Further In: Anglicans and Orthodox in Conversation with C.S. Lewis,” will take place at 7 p.m. at the convent of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, 233 Cummer Ave., Toronto. Joining Dr. Humphrey in conversation will be Professor John Bowen, the former director of the Institute of Evangelism at Wycliffe College.

The Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius, named after two English and Russian saints, is an international society of Anglicans and Orthodox Christians that grew out of Oxford, England in the late 1920s. It publishes a journal, and local chapters meet to share papers, discuss issues of mutual concern and build rapport and relations between the two communions.

The Toronto chapter was active in the 1950s and ’60s and included such luminaries as the Rev. Canon Eugene Fairweather and Bishop Henry Hill before fading into obscurity. It has recently been revived by two Anglican and Orthodox priests –  the Rev. Canon Philip Hobson, OGS, incumbent of St. Martin in-the-Fields, Toronto and the Diocesan Ecumenical Officer, and the Very Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Ready, program co-director of the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College, Toronto.

The two men are hoping the Jan. 25 event will drum up interest in the chapter. “It has just been resurrected in name and idea up until now,” explains Fr. Ready. “This is the first event and we’ll see from that if people want to formally sign on.”

While membership is available in the worldwide fellowship, which anyone can join and comes with a subscription to the journal, there are no plans for the Toronto chapter to have formal membership and fees. Rather, Canon Hobson and Fr. Ready are hoping that members will stay in touch through email and a webpage and help out with and attend speaking events and get-togethers from time to time.

Fr. Ready says the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Church have had a close relationship over the centuries, and the Toronto chapter is a local expression of that friendship. (Similar to the Anglican Communion, the Orthodox Church is a worldwide confederation of 14 self-governing churches that are in communion with each other. There are about one million Orthodox Christians in Canada, mainly belonging to the Greek, Russian and Ukrainian traditions.)

“There is just a sincere interest in getting to know people within the local Toronto community who are either Anglican or Orthodox who want to get together and share fellowship and discuss issues of common concern,” says Fr. Ready, adding that several Orthodox congregations in Toronto started meeting in Anglican churches.

He says the Jan. 25 gathering is a good way to kick off the chapter’s new life. C.S. Lewis, who died in 1963, was an Anglican author much beloved by Orthodox Christians. “I often joke that he is the most quoted of the Church Fathers by Orthodox,” he says.

Even if the chapter isn’t at the top of everyone’s mind on Jan. 25, it will be a good opportunity for people from both churches to get together, he says. “It’s another opportunity to strengthen each other and to share. With the very complex world that we live in, it’s good to have friends, and it’s good to have the opportunity to explore each other’s traditions.”

For more information on the Toronto chapter of the Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius, visit www.trinityorthodox.ca/fellowship.

The Jan. 25 event will be held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which will take place Jan. 18-25. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an annual ecumenical celebration that invites Christians around the world to pray for the unity of all Christians, reflect on scripture together, participate in ecumenical services and share fellowship. The theme for 2018 comes from the Caribbean region: “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power” (Exodus 15:6). Resources for churches are available on the Week of Prayer website, including worship service templates, hymn suggestions, children’s resources, Bible study questions, bulletin inserts and poster templates. Visit www.weekofprayer.ca.

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“They were huge shoes to fill and it was a strange experience,” he recalls fondly. “For a year it felt like I was merely somebody who was waving his arms in front of the choir while they were actually looking at a shadow behind me.”

Canon Bryant tells the story with humour and a deep appreciation for his predecessor and the choir he inherited. “On the other hand, they were a hugely loyal group – to Willan and St. Mary Magdalene and the Anglican Church in general. They were very committed. Very nicely they stuck around for me.”

Canon Bryant, who is retired after a long and distinguished music career of his own, will be one of many former friends, choristers and students of Dr. Willan returning to St. Mary Magdalene on Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. to commemorate the 50^th anniversary – to the very day – of the composer’s death.

Everyone is invited to the concert, which will include performances by the choirs of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Thomas, Huron Street. Dr. Willan’s only surviving child, Mary Willan Mason, who is in her 90s, plans to attend. Former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalene, will attend and give remarks.

With more than 800 compositions to his credit, Dr. Willan was called the dean of Canadian composers. In addition to church music, he wrote operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and piano. He was asked to compose an anthem for the Queen’s coronation in 1953, leading to the Queen Mother visiting St. Mary Magdalene in 1989.

He is best known for his church music, which is still performed by choirs in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1956, he became the first non-English church musician to receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1967 and was one of the first Canadian musicians to appear on a Canadian postage stamp.

Originally from the U.K., Dr. Willan was the organist and choirmaster at St. Paul, Bloor Street before moving to St. Mary Magdalene in 1921, where he remained for the rest of his career. As a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music, he influenced generations of Canadian musicians, singers and composers. His work at St. Mary Magdalene made it a North American mecca for choral and Anglican church musicians, especially those of the Anglo-Catholic variety.

“I think in Canada he helped to establish a sort of standard at St. Mary Magdalene,” says Andrew Adair, the church’s current organist and director of music. “The place became known as a standard of quality, liturgy and music, and that became a beacon for other churches in Canada to try to match.”

He says Dr. Willan’s reputation still makes St. Mary Magdalene a top destination for choral singers in the city. “We’re the only large choral program in downtown Toronto that maintains an all-volunteer rota of choristers,” he says. “That remains from Willan’s time, and I’m sure it’s his mark on the place that has helped us to keep drawing volunteer choristers who give a lot of their time and are quite skilled. Most of the singers I have could be paid elsewhere.”

Many people in the diocese can trace their musical roots back to Dr. Willan – including the current incumbent of St. Mary Magdalene, the Rev. Canon David Harrison. As a boy chorister at St. James Cathedral, Canon Harrison sang for Canon Bryant, who was not only a friend of the composer but catalogued his works.

“I grew up singing Willan and I’m a musician myself, so it’s always been a really special connection for me here,” says Canon Harrison. “I regret that I never met him, but I’m always fascinated to talk to people who worked with him or met him.”

He says Dr. Willan’s presence continues to grace St. Mary Magdalene. His music is performed regularly, and a small park beside the church is named after him. The parish honoured him during its 125^th anniversary celebrations in 2013 by donating musical playground equipment for it. There is also a plaque of the composer in front of the church.

“As a musician and priest, it’s wonderful to have someone with that historical significance,” says Canon Harrison. “It’s part of the fabric of the place in a way that’s still alive and part of our liturgical life.”

Canon Harrison is hoping the concert will help the neighbourhood community learn more about the famous musician. “We want to take the opportunity to invite people to know a little bit more about Willan – to say this is the person whose park you play in and walk by and cycle by, so come and learn more about him.”

In addition to the Friday night concert, the church is planning to hold a reunion on Sunday, Feb. 18 for choristers who sang for Dr. Willan or his successors. Canon Bryant, for one, is looking forward to it. “I love getting back in to that building,” he says. “I conducted some former choristers there a few years ago and it was simply a wonderful experience. Many of us are still pals from 50 years ago and I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”

St. Mary Magdalene is located at 477 Manning Ave., Toronto. Admission to the concert is on a pay-what-you-can basis. For more information about the concert and reunion, visit www.stmarymagdalene.ca.

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The diocesan fundraising campaign launched in 2010 with the goal of providing financial resources to renew, reimagine and revitalize the Church of tomorrow. Donors pledged about $41 million for mission and ministry both inside and outside the diocese. The first grant allocations were made in 2013, and since then, more than $9 million has been given to parishes and individuals across the diocese, in addition to the portion kept by parishes.

“I think it’s been very successful,” says Canon Paul Baston, chair of the allocations committee, which meets twice a year to review applications and approve grants. “The intent was from the beginning to reimagine church, to develop a new approach and find a way to continue the ministry and make it more attractive.”

There are five categories of grants that parishes and congregations can apply for: adaptive re-use of parish facilities; communicating in a wireless world; enabling parishes to become multi-staffed; leadership development; and pioneering ministry. Grant amounts have ranged from $1,400 toward the tuition for a professional development course to $418,000 for major renovations to a church building.

Canon Baston says he thinks the focus on these categories will have a lasting effect across the diocese. “Things like accessibility are improved – elevators and that sort of thing – and communications, definitely,” he says. “I think there’s more awareness of the use of communication within the worship service, but also beyond that, among people that aren’t attending church and among the parishes themselves.”

In addition to grants for parishes and individuals, the diocese has distributed $1.5 million so far from the campaign’s “Giving to Others” category. Three gifts of $500,000 each have been given to the Anglican Military Ordinariate to fund the office of the Bishop Ordinariate in perpetuity; to the Council of the North to support regional gatherings of clergy and lay leaders; and to the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund to improve maternal, newborn and child health in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada.

Though the end of the grants is in sight, there is about $5 million still available to be allocated. “I think all of the different sections have a lot of potential,” says Canon Baston. “I would encourage parishes to continue applying and looking at the guidelines to see if they fit.” Grants are awarded twice a year, in the spring and fall. Each category has its own application guidelines and forms, and all applications need the support of the church’s area bishop. The next deadline is April 15. Applications will be assessed by the allocations committee in early May, and its recommendations will be forwarded to Diocesan Council for final approval.

Canon Baston says he is looking forward to continuing his work with the allocations committee. “It’s been, for the whole committee I think, a wonderful experience to be involved with and have the opportunity to make some recommendations about where the money might go,” he says. “It’s been a lot of good, hard work by the talented and committed members of the committee. It’s been a delight to work with them.”

To learn more about the Our Faith-Our Hope campaign and how to apply for grants, visit www.toronto.anglican.ca/ourfaithourhope.

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