Fall letter to the Diocese of Rupert's Land

Dear Friends,

As summer draws to a close and we begin a new season of ministry, I warmly welcome everyone back from the summer holidays. I hope you have enjoyed a time of rest and renewal. The summer months have offered opportunities for refreshment and time with loved ones, and I pray that they have also renewed your awareness of God's presence. 

I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your prayers, support, and words of comfort following the death of my brother, Paul. Travelling to Zimbabwe was deeply emotional, but it allowed me to be with my family, to grieve, and to find a measure of closure. Your kindness sustained me during a very difficult time, and I remain deeply grateful. 

Congratulations! 
Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Jane Barter of the University of Winnipeg on receiving a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for her research project, Beyond the "Shadow of Evil": A Critical Assessment of Vatican Teaching on Artificial Intelligence. This is a timely and important area of study. Jane will be one of our speakers during the Diocesan Lunch and Learn Series in November, when we will discuss Pope Leo XN's encyclical. We look forward to learning from her scholarship and insights. 

Congratulations as well to Dr. Ryan Turnbull, our Diocesan Discipleship Developer, and Joshua Zentner-Barrett on receiving a Calvin grant to offer liturgical training workshops. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our worship and equip clergy and lay leaders throughout the diocese. More information about these workshops will be shared in due course. 

September 11: National Day of Service 
On September 11, Canada observes the National Day of Service, a day dedicated to kindness, solemn remembrance, and community support. We remember and honour the nearly 3,000 innocent people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of 2001, including 24 Canadians. We give thanks for the extraordinary compassion shown by Canadians in the aftermath of the attacks. We remember with pride the historic hospitality of the people of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, who opened their homes and hearts to thousands of airline passengers stranded when flights were diverted. May their example inspire us to serve generously, volunteer in our communities, and support others in a spirit of courage, compassion, and unity. 

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 
On September 30, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. We honour the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, and their families and communities. We remember the enduring intergenerational harm caused by the residential school system and affirm again that every child matters. 
For us as Anglicans, reconciliation must begin with truth. We acknowledge and lament the Church's participation in the residential school system, and we admit that colonial structures within the Church harmed Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages, and spiritual traditions. In Christ, we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, but reconciliation cannot be separated from repentance, justice, accountability, and the patient work of rebuilding relationships. 

Within the Diocese of Rupert's Land, I call us to move beyond words and land acknowledgements toward faithful action. Let us listen humbly to Survivors, Elders, and Indigenous communities; learn the truth about our history; support Indigenous ministries; respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action; and build relationships grounded in dignity, respect, and mutuality. I encourage every parish to mark September 30 through prayer, learning, and participation in local Indigenous-led gatherings. Reconciliation is not the work of one day, but a lifelong commitment to walking together in humility, justice, and hope. 

Clergy and Parish Transitions 
The Reverend Edmund Laldin has accepted a call to serve at St. Thomas a Becket, Mississauga, in the Diocese of Toronto. We give thanks for Edmund's faithful ministry at St. Saviour's and pray for God's blessing upon him in this new chapter of ministry. 

The Reverend Benjamin "Ben" Rogers has been appointed Incumbent of St. Saviour's, effective September 1. Ben comes to us from the Diocese of Norwich in the Church of England, where he served as Associate Priest of Earlham and Chaplain to the University of East Anglia. We warmly welcome Ben and his family to the Diocese of Rupert's Land and pray that his ministry among us will be fruitful and joyful. 

We warmly welcome back the Reverend Helen Holbrook, who has been reappointed Chaplain of St. John's College at the University of Manitoba, effective September 1. Her return follows a one­year pause while the College discerned the future of its chaplaincy. We are grateful that Helen has once again said yes. We pray that God will bless her renewed ministry among the students of St. John's College and the wider University of Manitoba community. 

The Reverend Wilson Akinwale has accepted a half-time appointment at St. Benedict's Table, effective October 1, following his ministry at St. Bartholomew's. He will also continue to serve as half-time Rector of St. George's, Transcona. We give thanks for Wilson's ministry at St. Bartholomew's and pray for him and all the congregations affected by this transition. 

We are also pleased to welcome back the Reverend Victoria Luke, appointed half-time Incumbent of St. Peter's, effective October 15. Victoria most recently served as Honorary Associate Priest at St. John's Cathedral in Saskatoon. She previously ministered in our diocese at St. George's, Transcona, and St. Alban's, Winnipeg. Victoria is married to our Executive Archdeacon, the Venerable Iain Luke. We look forward to welcoming her back and supporting her as she begins this new ministry. 

Thanksgiving 
We give thanks for the Parish of St. Mary Magdalene, St. Vital, and its remarkable centwy of faithful ministry. The parish's ministry concluded on June 28 with a moving service of thanksgiving, secularization, and deconsecration at 3 St. Vital Road. The members of St. Mary Magdalene have joined St. Paul's, Fort Garry, and together they are building a strong congregation. We are grateful to the Reverend Paul Peters Derry, who served as interim incumbent for six months and helped guide the parish through this transition. Please continue to pray for them as they enter this new chapter. 

We also give thanks to Merv Lanctot, who served as interim incumbent at Christ Church, Selkirk, and to the Reverend Lois Graham, who served as interim incumbent at St. Saviour's. We are equally grateful for those who have recently concluded parish ministries and are discerning their next steps: the Reverend Andrew Colman, formerly of St. Benedict's Table, and the Reverend Ogheneruemu Eruenah (Ruemu), formerly of St. Aidan's. 

We give thanks for Bishop Don Phillips, who is serving as interim incumbent of St. Peter's until October 14. The Reverend Kim Salo has agreed to serve as half-time incumbent of St. Aidan's until December 31. As a diocese, we are grateful to our retired clergy for their willingness to serve whenever called upon. 

Bishop Geoff continues the road to recovery. In a message to me this summer, he shared the encouraging news that all his tumours were either stable or continuing to shrink. He remains deeply grateful for the prayers of this diocese. 

The Reverend Merna Major, Honorary Assistant Priest at St. John, Fort Frances, has moved to the Diocese of Islands and Inlets. We wish her well as she settles with family in British Columbia. The Venerable David Labdon, who served as priest at St. Aidan's and as Archdeacon of Portage­St. James, has moved to the Okanagan. Please pray for David and Elaine as they settle in British Columbia. 

A Call to Prayer 
Please continue to pray for our parishes seeking new clergy: St. John's Cathedral, as it searches for a Rector and Dean; St. Luke's, Dryden, as it seeks a Rector; and Christ Church, Selkirk, as it seeks a half-time Rector. These searches have reached the interview stage. Please pray that each parish finds the right priest and that the Holy Spirit guides every conversation and decision. 
Please also pray for the parishes currently discerning their future, particularly St. Aidan's, Winnipeg, and St. Bartholomew's. 

Our Diocesan Synod will take place from October 15-17 under the theme, "Team Rupert's Land: Courage, Connection, and Change. " I invite you to pray for all who will gather and for the work we will undertake together. May the Lord bless our shared ministry, guide our decisions, and bring our plans to fruition, especially during this season of"construction" across our diocese.

As we enter the fall, may we continue to walk together in faith, encourage one another, and remain attentive to the new things God is doing among us. Thank you for your faithful ministry and for all the ways you serve Christ in your parishes and communities. 

With every blessing, 

Bishop Naboth Manzongo