Cherie’s life had been unimaginably hard from her beginning and yet, she had such a loving heart. She was determined, resourceful, courageous, loving, giving, a hard worker. Even near the end of her life, managing pain meds, she cheerfully helped fill bags on food bank day. She was in drug rehab more than once, giving it every effort with enormous courage. Now and then, she disappeared, and when she returned to the Mission we’d find she’d been in jail. Did you know sometimes people get themselves jailed mid-winter so they have food and so they don’t freeze to death? I didn’t.

The day before she died, Lori, Missy, and I visited Cherie in hospital. Sitting beside her bed holding her hand, I said, “If you get to heaven before I do, will you come and get me?” (She knew I also have cancer.) Quick as a wink, she replied, “I’ll come as a stray cat.” “Like Belle,” I said. “Yes.” We both understood the meaning. Belle, our Mission cat, was a stray who lived with us for almost 18 years. Everyone belongs at the Mission. Even a little grey cat.

Mile End Mission is a place for stray cats and for stray people whose lives have been and are hard. Our members are no different from the rest of us in that regard. We’re all stray cats looking for a home, a place to belong and people to belong to and with. Some people’s stray cat-ness may be more obvious. Some are better able to hide our stray-catness. We’re all in this life together to love and be loved.

To quote Charlie Mackesy in his book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: “Sometimes I feel lost,” said the boy. “Me too,” said the mole, “but we love you and love brings you home.”
“I think everyone is just trying to get home,” said the mole. Yes.

You’re home, Cherie. Rest in peace, and I’ll be watching for you, but not quite yet.

The post Mile End Mission: A Story of Love, Home, and Stray Cats appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The entire group has been, and is, a wonderful team of people committed to PWRDF’s goals: “Working towards a truly just, healthy and peaceful world.”

Since Covid, we have held zoom meetings mostly once a month on a Thursday from 11:30am to 1pm. Everyone is welcome. Lay. Ordained. Parish reps or anyone who is committed to these goals. The more the merrier!

And, if your parish or ministry doesn’t yet have a PWRDF rep, we would love to have new folks. It’s not too taxing and is very fulfilling. It’s tempting in today’s world to feel helpless and hopeless. Working with PWRDF shows us we can and do make a difference.

We held a meeting on October 24th and what a delight.Missing Ann, yet all conspiring in the Holy Spirit to move forward in love and commitment and sharing the load.

My illness has meant I have less time and energy. However, with the whole team sharing and enthusiastic, I will continue for now as Montreal’s Diocesan Rep.

The Rev’d Jane Bell is representing us November 13 – 15 at the annual gathering in Ontario and will share her learnings and inspirations on her return.

And, finally, after a lengthy process, PWRDF has decided on our new name: Alongside Hope. It will be gradually brought into play over coming months. (For more on the name change see page 2.)

Alongside Hope. Always partners. Always alongside. Always hope in a world that so sorely needs it.
Won’t you join us? macgregor@gmail.com.

The post PWRDF Montreal Unit is evolving – with a new name! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

PWRDF works with impacted dioceses to identify needs; this could include emergency accommodations, gift cards to purchase food, water and essentials, counselling and post-trauma supports, or locally identified long-term recovery activities to help rebuild community assets and increase community resilience.

To donate to PWRDF’s In-Canada Emergency fund, go to pwrdf.org/give-today.

Or mail a cheque to PWRDF at 80 Hayden Street, 3rd floor, Toronto, ON, M4Y 3G2. Please indicate In-Canada Emergency in the memo field.

On a local note, we are looking for new people to take on leadership roles in our Montreal chapter of PWRDF.We would love for some new people to join our planning team, to decide on the best ways forward. We would especially welcome young people to become involved, to help us with our social media efforts.

The work being done through PWRDF is an inspiring and tangible manisfestation of our faith. We have found being involved in it to be so rewarding; we would love others to experience it as well. There is so much opportunity and support through the national organization. We just need a few more enthusiastic souls to further the cause here at home. Interested? Contact Ann rhodesbartow@gmail.com or Ros roslyn.macgregor@gmail.com

The post Update from PWRDF appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

When one of our members moved into a group home I initially kept in touch with cards/letters and then later with walks to chat and get coffee. He often calls the Mission, and I was happy to bring him cigarettes and the goodies we know he likes.

This contact led to me preparing 18 Christmas stockings for the residents at the home as well as bringing them treats for special occasions. In the near future, when it is safe, I will be presiding at a small eucharist for those who wish to attend. The home’s social worker is very thankful to me and the Mission – saying how appreciative the residents are that they are remembered by the outside world.

I was able to prepare another 51 stockings for Mission folks, including one that was delivered to a former member now in a Vermont nursing home, one for her roommate, and several others for people we know who are alone. I fill the stockings with candies, decorations, socks from the Mission, and other needed articles. Missy helped pack the last few things including two large Christmas cookies from Première Moisson. The stockings were handed out with the Christmas baskets.

Ministry has taken different forms during covid – but it has always been creative at the Mission, adapting to the needs of the community, which of course includes the staff. This year I supported the staff with phone calls, and a special gift bag at Christmas with a thank you for their dedication, love, and commitment to Mission members. I also emailed creative liturgies to Mission folks. And finally, I led a special service during Advent called Blue Christmas — we sat in a circle, lit candles, remembered those whom we love who have died and whom we especially miss at Christmastime. It was peaceful and beautiful.

With the help of four friends and Mission folks we held a dinner for 12 Mission members on Christmas Day. We worked together peeling and cooking veggies, preparing stuffing (Julio, the expert), arranging the tables attractively (Lise and others). Lori and Doris prepared the turkey and there were yummy baked goods from friends. The dinner was intimate, quiet and joyful.

It has been disappointing not to be able to be more physically involved at the Mission during the pandemic. I look forward to a return to in-person ministry.

The post News from Mile End Mission appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

We will learn about the Indigenous Responsive Program from both Archbishop Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Archbishop of Canada and Lisa Phillips, Executive Director of KORLCC – Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center in Kahnawake. Indigenous Responsive Program Grant funds were applied for, and received by, KORLCC.

Join us to learn more at the upcoming webinar this spring Date to be announced.

As always, you are invited to join us at our monthly meetings happening remotely. Email Ros for more information:

roslyn.macgregor@gmail.com.

For more info and photos:

KORLCC: www.korkahnawake.org/

www. pwrdf.org/indigenousgrants/

“Grants Allocated to Indigenous Partners” on Page 2 of the February issue of PWRDF’s Under the Sun

The post PWRDF Webinar Coming to a Computer Near You! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

The post Fund-raising with Respect: PWRDF Montreal Diocesan Project 2021-2022 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.