KW: Welcome to the Diocese of Brandon. We know you’re not from Manitoba, so please, tell us first a little bit about where you grew up.

+RP: I was born in Lindsay, Ontario, but we moved around a lot through southwestern Ontario, so I don’t think of a specific place, but the area. We ended up in London, Ontario, which is where I went to university. Now I think of home as being where I am with my husband, Rob. If he’s there, it’s home. Between his postings with the Canadian Forces and mine in various dioceses, we’ve moved around a fair bit, so I don’t think of home as being a place so much as I think it’s a relationship.

KW: Where have you worked previously in the Anglican Church?

+RP: I started in the Diocese of Huron, because I graduated from Huron Theological College. That was the first nine years. Then, I worked in Halifax (in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) for seven years. It’s where I really began to understand what it means to be a priest. I enjoyed it tremendously and I learned a lot. I also worked part-time in the Diocese of Ottawa for a little more than a year. This was when Rob was posted to Petawawa, which is at the northwest end of the diocese. I did a lot of supply work for the Parish of the Valley. Then, we ended up in Alberta. With the best of fortunes, both of us were posted and I took over the Dayspring Ministries, based in Wainwright, east of Edmonton. I realize looking back that it was God’s calling that I learn about how different Canada can be from one place to another. Whenever I drive, regardless of where it is, I find it’s beautiful.

KW: How did you decide you were called to be a bishop?

+RP: I don’t know if I’d put it that way. It started in Edmonton, where I was nominated to be bishop there. I thought long and hard about it, prayed about the question of who I was and where I was going in this life. I’d never discerned anything in me previously that thought I would become a bishop. It was a series of steps. What would I do if I weren’t elected? Obviously, I’d stay where I was in the Dayspring Ministries. And I was happy with that. I liked what I was doing. With regard to Brandon, there was also the question of what would we do if Rob didn’t get posted? We decided we’d work that out later, and at that point, I felt an incredible sense of calm. The electoral synod was wonderful. We got to meet people, got to hang out with Cody, and really began to appreciate the gifts Brandon has. Rob kept giving me his “when are you going to freak out?” look.

KW: And now?

+RP: And now I am working as hard as I can to learn about the people and culture of this diocese. I have always been mindful of it, kept it in my prayers because I knew Bishop Bill from Huron, but every day I find I have learned something new. It’s wonderful. I’m grateful it’s easy to get around. I’m really not a city person and this city is big enough for me. I’ve been warned that I’ll have a lot of driving in my future, but I’m looking forward to it. I really want to see the north, so see places like The Pas and Churchill. And yes, I know I can’t drive to Churchill, but you can be sure I’ll go.

KW: What are you hoping you accomplish?

+RP: All I want to do is serve Christ. I don’t need much more than that. If I can serve Christ, I’m good to go. I don’t need any feathers in my cap.

The post A Conversation with Our New Bishop appeared first on The Mustard Seed.

Among the noted soloists were Carlos Castro, a cellist, Shelby English, soprano, and Lauren Shymanski.  Shymanski wore two hats for the afternoon: she sang with the BU Chorale and did two pieces on the saxophone.  She finished off the concert with a stirring rendition of Schubert’s Ave Maria.  All three are also students who sing in the choir at St. Matthew’s.

Most of the concert was classical, but not the introduction to the selections from the Chorale.  The students gathered in a circle, and to the drum, they chanted the Graditude Song by Cody Cardinal.  It was a moving display of the history of indigenous music, as well as being an active acknowledgment of the history of the area, which is situated on land obtained by the federal government through Treaty Two, signed in 1871.

Jia Zhang, St. Matthew’s resident musician, was unable to play, as earlier that week, she fell on winter ice and hurt her shoulder.  As Lauren put it, it was just one more thing to add to the stress of putting together a concert in six weeks.

Lauren also remarked on the benefits of doing any concert in a space such as St. Matthew’s.  “The sound doesn’t get squished.  There’s room to move around and with the pews, lots of seats.”  When asked if she’d do it again, she replied, “In a heartbeat.”

Now she’s looking forward to organizing other concerts for the Cathedral, although not in the immediate future, and preferably, with more than six weeks to get the participants set, the program written and the advertising done.

When asked, those who watched said, “I had no idea those kids were that good” and “we should do this again in the fall, when the weather is better.  That way I can get more of my friends to come.”

Dean Don Bernhardt was gratified the student choir members were able to provide the concert and said, “They can do this anytime.  I’m looking forward to the next one.”

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Fr. Matt left the Tri-Valley Parish in the Diocese of Brandon at the end of the following week. He came to the parish in early 2017, shortly after Bishop William Cliff was consecrated in March, 2016. His appointment and subsequent ordinations was one of the first appoinments made by Bishop William. His response to Fr. Matt’s leaving was that he was sorry to see him go, but glad he had found the right place to move on. 

At Fr. Matt’s last service, congregants from Reston and Melita joined those from Virden to see him off. His last sermon before them acknowledged that in leaving there was both pain and joy. 

He wanted an ordinary service, but before he was able to process during the last hymn, the parish honoured him with a tribute gift, a mug with the church on it, as well as a purse. Anyone who was close enough to see his face knew his eyes teared up. Then, during the recessional, he was asked to stop midway down the aisle. Together, everyone there raised their hands in thanks and blessing. 

As several of his parishioners said during the gathering afterwards, “he’ll be hard to replace”. Those who have worked with him on Diocesan committees, including the Diocesan Executive Committee, would agree. He prayed hard; he worked hard. 

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