March 31, 2005

FURTHER TO ALL SYNOD DELEGATES:

The Bay Front Quality Inn in Sault Ste. Marie has offered all Diocesan Synod delegates a reduced rate for their accommodations. They are charging $84.00 plus taxes for single or double occupancy. This rate includes a continental breakfast. To make reservations at the Quality Inn, please call the hotel directly at 705-945-9264, and mention your affiliation with the Diocese of Algoma.

March 30, 2005

TO ALL SYNOD DELEGATES:

We have become aware that there is a major convention in Sault Ste. Marie, at the same time as our Synod, which could attract up to 10,000 people to the city. You are thus asked to make your hotel reservation as soon as possible. A list of hotels was included in the Convening Circular which was mailed last week. If you are planning to stay at the Holiday Inn, the code for the special Synod room rate is SYN.

March 29, 2005

1. The Reverend Canon Henry [Harry] Morrow celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on March 25, 2005. Harry has served in the Diocese of Algoma for his entire priestly ministry. He began as an assistant curate at the Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury. At that time he also began ministry in New Sudbury, where he became the first incumbent of the Church of the Ascension. Subsequently he served as incumbent of St. Matthew’s, Sault Ste. Marie, St. John’s, New Liskeard, and St. John’s, Thunder Bay. On retirement, he returned to Sault Ste. Marie, where he has served as an Honourary Assistant at St. Luke’s Cathedral. Harry was made a Canon of the Cathedral in 1982, and has served as Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop since 1983. Our prayers and best wishes go to Harry on this celebration of his years of service in the Church.

2. The Rev. Tom Carman celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on March 30, 2005. Tom came to Algoma from the Diocese of Calgary, where he had served in five different parishes. He has been incumbent of St. Brice’s, North Bay, since 2002. He also serves as both Pastoral Chaplain and Spiritual Director for Cursillo for the Deanery of Temiskaming. Our prayers and best wishes go to Tom on this celebration of his years of service in the Church.

3. Lt.(N). Ed Swayze, of St. Stephen’s Parish and the Mission to Seafarers in Thunder Bay, has been appointed Regional Chaplain for the Central Region of the Naval Reserves. In this capacity he visits and oversees chaplains from Kingston to Winnipeg. Our prayers and best wishes go to Ed as he begins this new ministry.

4. The Rev. Carol Hardie has been appointed incumbent of the Parish of Coldwater-Medonte in the Diocese of Toronto, effective May 1, 2005. Carol has been serving there as a part-time priest associate. Our prayers and best wishes go to Carol as she begins this new ministry.

5. Delegates to General and Provincial Synod will be elected at Diocesan Synod in May. Provincial Synod takes place in the fall of 2006, and General Synod in the spring of 2007. Each requires four clergy delegates and four lay delegates, plus a youth delegate. The same number of alternates is also needed. Please consider letting your name stand for one of these important positions. Note: it is the policy of the Diocese to let your name stand for either Synod, but not both. You must be a member of Diocesan Synod to let your name stand.

6. At Diocesan Synod we will be celebrating our parish ministries and goals for the future. At Deanery Council meetings in April, each parish will have time to share its vision and goals with the rest of its Deanery. Here is a reminder of the questions to answer in your parish report:

  • what do we believe is God’s vision for our parish?
  • what current parish ministries, relationships, and activities best reflect this vision?
  • what changes will we make to better reflect this vision?
  • how will we evaluate our progress?
    •

    Please remember to put your answers to these questions on paper so that you can give a copy to your Deanery’s Program Associate. If you need any help developing your vision and parish goals, contact your Deanery’s Program Associate or the Diocesan Program and Youth Consultant at 705-641-8787 or at programyouthalgoma@yahoo.ca .

    7. Upcoming dates for the Matrimonial Commission are: April 7, May 12, June 2. Please have completed files into the hands of the Registrar, Mrs. Christine Wright, at least ten days in advance of the meeting to allow adequate time for processing.

    8. The Ven. Jim Boyles, General Secretary of General Synod, has announced his retirement effective July 31, 2005. His last working day will be June 30. He intends to continue to serve the church and community. Jim has served in this position for twelve years, and most recently has taken the lead in negotiating the Indian Residential Schools Settlement with the Government of Canada. Our prayers and best wishes go out to Jim as he prepares for his retirement.

    9. There will be a five day summer retreat at Villa Loyola on the theme "Christianity is not a religion, rather a way of living: exploring the ways we live the Gospel and the challenges facing us today". The retreat runs from Sunday, July 24th, 7:00 pm, to Friday, July 29th, 3:00 pm. The facilitator will be Father Eugene O’Reilly, C.Ss.R. The cost is $350.00, which includes spiritual direction, a private room, meals, and taxes. To register, call 705-522-3502 Monday to Friday, or email loyola@isys.ca . The retreat is both preached and directed, and will be a quiet time for personal reflection. Please bring your bible.

    March 17, 2005

    1. The Rev. Tom Stradwick has accepted appointment as the incumbent of the Wider Parish in Birtle, Manitoba, in the Diocese of Brandon, effective May 15, 2005. Tom was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Peterson in 1994, and to the Priesthood by Bishop Ferris in 1995. He has served in Algoma ever since, and is presently incumbent of the Parish of Muskoka Lakes. Our prayers and best wishes go to Tom, his wife Nancy, and their family as they prepare for their move and this new ministry.

    2. On behalf of the Rt. Rev. Jered Kalimba, Bishop of Shyogwe Diocese, Rwanda, Bishop Ferris will ordain the Rev. Manasse Maniragaba to the Priesthood on Friday, June 24. The liturgical colour will be white. Clergy and lay readers are invited to robe and process. The ordination will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany, Sudbury, where Manasse is Deacon Assistant. Manasse, and his wife Rosine, a student at the University of Sudbury, are well known to the Epiphany community, and were married there last November. Manasse will be acting as Bishop’s Chaplain at the upcoming ordination at Synod, and will also be speaking about the Church in Rwanda at one of the information sessions at Synod.

    3. Bishop Len Whitten, retired Bishop of Western Newfoundland, and his wife, June, will be visiting the Diocese of Algoma from April 6 to April 25, conducting leadership training workshops in North Bay on behalf of Anglican Renewal Ministries. They will also be doing some visiting on behalf of SOMA, an overseas mission organization. Bishop Whitten will be preaching at St. John’s Church, North Bay, on April 17. We welcome Bishop Whitten and June, and the other team members to Algoma.

    March 4, 2005

    1. Bishop Ronald Ferris and Mrs. Jan Ferris are happy to announce the upcoming wedding of their son Matthew, to Lynda Lyons. Matt will graduate this spring from Brock University where he has been studying toward his degree in Education. Lynda works for the Toronto Dominion Bank in Toronto. Bishop Ferris will officiate at the wedding, which will be held on Saturday, July 23, in St. Catharines, Ontario. Our prayers and best wishes go with Matt and Lynda as they prepare for their life together.

    2. The deadline for diocesan reports (i.e. statistics, financial reports, etc.) has passed. Please send these reports quickly as they are needed to complete forms for the National Church.

    3. We have discovered a calendar conflict with the dates that were proposed for the Early Ministry Conference (June 15-17, 2005). We will work on alternate dates and advise you shortly. Clergy who have been ordained for four years or less, as well as the Pastoral Chaplains, are encouraged to attend this conference.

    4. In accordance with Section C, Article 4, of the constitution, the Convening Circular will be mailed one month before the meeting of Synod. This date has been scheduled for March 21, 2005. Please note also Article 11 of the Constitution, which provides for proper notice in the Convening Circular of any amendments or alterations to the Constitution and Canons. Any such motions should, therefore, be submitted by March 11, 2005, in order to ensure their inclusion in the Convening Circular.

    5. It is extremely important that the Certificate of Election of Lay Delegates to Synod be sent immediately to the Synod Office. These names are needed for the mailing of the Convening Circular.