Interns work four days a week at one or two social service organisations around the city then meet at Montreal Dio on Wednesdays for a time of theological reflection with mentors and fellow interns.

Last April, Estelle Ah-Teck was struggling through a period of feeling lost, alone, and unsure of what the future held as she finished up her studies in History at McGill. “It felt like all potential doors were closing right in my face and I was struggling to see God in the middle of the mess.”

When she opened up to a friend about how she was feeling, her friend suggested applying for MMI. “Four months later, I can firmly say that this summer has been one of the most transformative and healing seasons of my life.”

She spent the summer working at Le Pont, a services and temporary housing centre for refugee claimants, accompanying the residents to appointments, organizing community events, tutoring children and much more.

“I have witnessed residents experience a lot of highs and lows. To work amid these extreme moments of joy and sorrow has been emotionally challenging. But I believe God is calling me to hold such tensions.”

Her experiences at Le Pont and the weekly theological reflections at Dio helped her to broaden her understanding of God’s plan for her. “This internship positively challenged the narrow vision I had for my career as I learned more about myself and gained new passions.”

She leaves the program with a deeper sense of trust in God and a new awareness of God’s presence in every moment. “I would absolutely recommend MMI. If you are seeking to learn how to invite God into your everyday moments, big and small, this is the program for you.”

Before coming to Montreal for the summer, Rebecca Mallett had just finished up her first year of ministry studies at International House of Prayer University. She began MMI seeking a clearer direction for her sense of vocation.

“I loved that MMI offered an opportunity to practice discernment while trying new types of ministries, helping me gain more clarity on what I’m called to do.”

Rebecca spent the summer working at Hadley Community, a collection of houses for people at risk of homelessness, and Ministry to Seafarers (M2S).

At M2S, she spent much of her time driving up and down Montreal’s port, chatting and sharing meals with seafarers, and bringing them to the seafarer’s centre to relax.

At Hadley Community, she led and participated in workshops and games, and helped practically, doing dishes and prepping rooms for new residents among other tasks.

“God used my time at my two placements to bring up deep beliefs I had about what it means to be successful, which was really challenging in certain moments,” she reflects. “I grew into a deeper acceptance of who God made me to be and grew to see that ministry has a lot more to do with how you do something than what you do.”

For any future MMI interns she notes, “MMI is a huge investment into the rest of your life. Be willing to have your sense of what you have to contribute to the world challenged.”

For the past three years, Nathan Tsang has been studying Computer Programming at Seneca College in his home city of Toronto. Recently, however, he found himself feeling unhappy in this field of study. “I felt disconnected from people,” he says. “I had a realisation that I want to work in a field where I could affect others in a positive way directly.”

MMI seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to spend time discerning how he might pivot his life in this direction.

Like Estelle, Nathan spent the summer working at Le Pont, supporting refugee claimants as they adjust to life in Quebec. He spent much of his time looking after the residents’ children and worked hard on his own time to improve his French so that he could better communicate with the residents. “I discovered that being available for the residents is a form of work in and of itself.”

One of Nathan’s big takeaways from the program was discovering what a relationship with God could look like for him. “I was born Roman Catholic and have found I have a been very narrow in my view of Christianity,” he explains. “I spent a lot of time talking with the other interns about their view on God and how He affects them in their lives.”

He attended several different churches throughout the summer to experience the different ways people worship. “I can confidently say this internship has made me rediscover my relationship with God in a positive way.”

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On May 8th, Montreal Dio & United Church Studies at Dio had its first convocation as an ecumenical college. It was a joyful celebration of unity and the accomplishments of the college’s graduates.

Along with several cash prizes awarded to students for their various academic and pastoral accomplishments over the year, two honours were extended to people outside the college whose ministries have positively impacted the wider church.

The Rev. Patricia Lisson received the honorary Doctorate of Divinity in recognition of her decades-long social-justice informed ministry. Currently the chair-person for the Canadian chapter of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines, and recently retired Executive Director of St. Columba House in Montreal, Patricia’s ministry has consistently gone beyond the church walls and into the communities in which she ministers.

The Craig Chaplin Award, formerly of the United Theological College, was awarded to Ken DeLisle, a recently retired United Church minister. This award recognizes the life’s work of an LGBTQ+ minister and celebrates their courage and commitment to social justice. The college was delighted to celebrate Ken as the first openly gay person to complete diaconal ministry training for the United Church of Canada back in 1994, and an outstanding advocate for LGBTQ+ justice within and beyond the church.

Bishop Ogé Beauvoir, retired Suffragan Bishop of Haiti, gave the convocation address. He stressed the value of ecumenical formation for ministry in an ever-diversifying church and society and ended by encouraging graduates to seek not to be successful, but to be faithful.

The college community thanks all who attended for their enthusiasm and support.

The post Dio convocation: A Celebration of Unity and Academic Accomplishment appeared first on Montreal Anglican.