If you came by St Philip’s MTL West on a Saturday in early June, you would have seen an astonishing sight; more than 100 people; parents, children and friends all playing and having a great time.

They were bouncing away on the bouncy castle, having their faces painted, delighting in the clowns and music. Some were taking tours of the community garden, and most were eating popcorn, cotton candy and Jamaican patties. There was even a craft station where kids were busy making Pentecost wands with doves.

It was all happening in the church yard of St Philips MTL West!!  It was our Diocesan Family Day. 

Under the leadership of Lee Ann Matthews, who oversaw the planning with a meticulous level of detail, we created a safe place for families and friends to get together and have fun. Then it was all over.

This was a one-off event that did not assume that the participants would automatically start worshipping in Church on Sunday mornings, nor did it demand anything of our guests. Instead, it offered something of value to them: child-friendly fun in a safe environment at a time convenient to them on a Saturday, with food included.

There was a lot of planning and organising to do to bring it all together. This was a Diocesan event with resources behind it. But it is worth noting that Lee Ann put in a lot of time inviting people and advertising the event both throughout the Diocese and, equally important, locally.

Was it a success? Was it impactful? It was a roaring success for the most important reasons of all: because people came and had a great time, all at church.

I think this offers a model for our churches to consider. Many of us continue to struggle with the idea that we should be getting more people to come on Sunday morning, and preferably to take envelopes. But there is another way to build up our communities of faith. It involves learning to love our neighbours first and seeking to serve them.

Ministry is service, not mathematics

Many people think that ministry is like a mathematical equation with a direct result leading straight to Sunday morning attendance. People often, indeed almost always, ask me: but how do we get them to come to Church? I know this is a cry from the heart as we see our Sunday congregations growing smaller over time. The same question arises when discussing children & youth ministry. But how do we get them to come to Sunday school?

The people who come to church on Sunday mornings are those who find value in that discipline. Parents who bring their children to Sunday School tend to be those who find value in what Sunday School has to offer. They are willing to make the effort, usually because they themselves grew up in Church.

We need to realise that in many cases there simply aren’t enough people living in the communities around our churches who have experienced traditional church patterns. Many of those that do live very busy, highly scheduled lives.

Does that mean we should abandon all hope of reaching new people? Certainly not! But we do need to recognise that we must need to start from a different place. A missional place.  We need to get to know people and let them get to know us. That begins with embracing the truth that ministry is about serving people without the assumption that they will necessarily start coming to Church on Sunday. It is not a mathematical equation: it is service.

Scattering Seeds

Jesus encourages the ministry of scattering seeds, which I think is an important metaphor for us today. “A farmer went out to sow the seed. Some of it fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop”

For us in the Church now, our task is to re-connect with an entire generation of people who know very little about God or Church and thus do not see value in what we have to offer. We need to think of our mission of scattering seeds in people’s lives by building friendship and positive associations with Church. The Diocesan Family Day did exactly that.

Consider how important it is for the participants to go to church and for the Church to serve them in a way that was appropriate to them.  How important it is that families were all playing and having fun in a Church context. Seeds being scattered: church is fun. Others there saw the community garden. That is a great point of contact around a shared purpose.  People might be interested in getting involved. These are some of the way ways in which the Church can develop relationships with the people who live around our buildings.

The Environics maps we commissioned tell us a great deal about the kinds of people who live in our neighbourhoods. We can give you specific information about your neighbourhood. With this information we can think more about not attracting them to Church but serving them in ways that are relevant to them and putting on events that offer them something, rather demanding something from them.

• People have social needs, for there is much loneliness and isolation in many communities. Would you think about offering a community meal or dinner church at a time people can make?

• Many have spiritual aspirations. I was checking out a yoga group recently started by someone trying to meet the need for “spiritual fulfilment” in their community. Many are finding ways to meet their spiritual needs in many diverse ways. You could think about offering meditation or reflection groups in your space, even yoga.

• Families are often looking for enrichment opportunities for their children. If you don’t want to do a whole Messy Church, think about putting on a Harvest or Thanksgiving event. If you have pie-makers in your congregations, try an apple pie making event for children. Imagine children going home with the apple pies they made in Church.

The sky is the limit if you have enough imagination. Event-based ministry can be a way to minister to diverse people in a way that is meaningful to them and encouraging for you. Who knows – you might just make some new friends along the way.

Next Steps

1. Ask us for more information about your community MAP. You may be surprised to see how much potential there is around your Church,

2. Come to our special webinar on Saturday September 10th on Event-based gatherings. There will be a free e-book and a panel of very experienced speakers.

3. Then let your imaginations run wild.

The post A different Measure of Success – Event-based Ministry appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Through generous funding received from our friends at the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation as well as the Organix Foundation, and thanks to the efforts of our lovely staff: Lori, Missy and Trevor, these intergenerational outings were a great success.

And, of course, throughout the summer we enjoyed many fun and relaxing days with our members; simply socializing, playing music and eating watermelon and popsicles out on our peaceful sidewalk-terrace.

After two years of not being able to enjoy any of these activities, we were all so thrilled to be able to get back in the swing of things, be with each other and have fun!

Serving our meals both indoors and on the terrace, our three fabulous summer-program staff, Kai, Paige and Sequoia helped make sure that everyone received welcoming hospitality and care during the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

The Mission’s fabulous Leadership team of volunteer-members continued to ensure that our friperie Joyce, our Community Art group, our weekly food bank and our free meals program ran as smooth as usual.

Through the generous funding of the Anglican Foundation of Canada we were able – for the first time – to send children to the Quebec Camp Lodge in Hatlely, QC. Walmart Canada helped us equip the kids with sleeping bags and other camp necessities. In fact, we actually sent 14 kids to overnight camp. We were also able to send Paige who joined the kids and volunteered her services in the camp kitchen for a week!

Bringing TLC to the Mission on a regular basis, our Chaplin, Rev Ros Macgregor brought us lovely cards of encouragement, little gifts for special occasions and again helped us get our garden blooming in the spring. With the sudden passing of three of our dear friends at the Mission this past winter and spring, Ros made sure to offer her care and support to all who needed a shoulder to cry on.

While we did have a bout of COVID-19 at the Mission during the summer, thankfully, it was a mild case for the majority of people who had it.

While none of us know what’s in store for the fall in terms of Covid-19, we’re planning to move forward with a visit to the apple orchard and pumpkin picking fields in September. As the fall unfolds, we’ll continue as always to try and find ways to help our community through whatever may come – with compassion, care, dignity …and fun too.

The post Summer Returned to the Mile End Mission! appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

St. Barnabas Pierrefonds is happy to host an in-person, eleven week Alpha beginning September 14, 2022.

The brainchild of the Holy Trinity Brompton Anglican church in London in the 1980’s, it was created for new believers and has been hailed as a way to explore the meaning of life.

Alpha is used widely in churches, homes, prisons and universities. In fact, over 35,000 courses have been offered in over 170 countries and almost 20 million people have taken the course.

The Alpha Course attempts to answer many of the questions new Christians have like;

How do I read the Bible?

How can we have faith?

Does God still heal today?

In what ways does God guide us?

Who is Jesus?

Why did Jesus have to die?

Who is the Holy Spirit and what is His role in the believers’ life?

St Barnabas’ Alpha Course will take place at the church (12301 Rue Colin, Pierrefonds) on Wednesdays at 6:30pm starting September 14th. The course is open to all, so if you – or a friend or family member – feel you may benefit from it, please contact the Church office at 514-684-4460 to register.

If you have questions, someone in the Church office will be happy to answer them or he or she will have someone from the organizing committee get back to you. We are happy and extremely thankful to have the Rev. Neil Mancor leading the course for us. We hope you can join us.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

The post St. Barnabas Pierrefonds to Host Alpha Course this Fall appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

At vespers at the Cathedral on Sunday, July 3rd, renowned songstress Ranee Lee delivered a profound homily on spirituality and jazz, while prize-winning pianist Matt Herskowitz played several solos. A sizeable crowd attended and the YouTube recording of this innovative service attests to its ongoing interest.

At concerts on July 5th and 6th Matt Herskowitz further delighted audiences by accompanying singer Mlle Balladin.

Further, a group exhibit entitled Art in the Cathedral took place in the sanctuary from June 29th to July 10th. It drew daily visitors from Italy, Germany, France, Columbia, Belgium, Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, USA and throughout Canada.

The incomparable pianist Oliver Jones acted as Guest of Honour for this exhibition which he visited on July 6th. He surprised everyone by playing When You Wish Upon a Star – a favourite tune of the curator Prof. Norman Cornett, who also collaborated with the Christ Church Cathedral staff in organizing the above musical activities. As a religious studies scholar he sought thereby to evidence the variegated expressions of spirituality through contemporary art forms in the historical setting of Christ Church Cathedral.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrwRrEk1RfA

The post Spirituality Expressed in Contemporary Art Forms at Christ Church Cathedral appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

This is not how it should be. We should be treating the climate crisis the way some churches are treating Ukraine – with a prayer at the beginning of our service. With a dedicated icon. With special fundraising. With a special notice, front and centre on our websites and our Facebook pages. With the explicit outspoken support of both clergy and of lay leadership. With a support group for those wrestling with climate anxiety and climate grief.

The ecological crisis is not the kind of situation we face once in a decade, or a century or lifetime. This crisis that is upon us is unique in the history of the planet. After many false alarms, we are now indeed living in the End Times, unless there is a miracle. We need to be willing to be part of that miracle.

Our whole focus needs to be on the meaning of this moment, unique in human and even in geological time. We should be wearing sackcloth and ashes. We should be repenting, not just for the mess we have made, but for our lack of hope, our lack of determination, our reluctance to join fully in humanity’s last battle.

It is not just a matter of survival – though it is that. It is not just a matter of social justice, though it is that as well. It is a matter of learning to see the whole of creation in a new way, as an interdependent, interconnected web of life through which the love of God is revealed in its numinous fullness. Within this delicate web every creature has a place, has rights of its own, and makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the well-being of the whole. We need to understand that Jesus on the cross was pleading for the whole creation, not only the human, and that the whole Earth is the sacred body of Christ.

For our entire lifetime, and in fact, throughout the whole history of the Christianity, Christians have sung beautiful hymns about offering all that we have, all our treasure, time, and talents, to work for the coming of the kingdom. But now, when the willingness to sacrifice “all the vain things that charm us most” is required more urgently and literally than ever before, we are worrying about not overdoing it, keeping a balance, being realistic, not getting carried away.

We do need to sing (Heb.12.1). But we need to do more than sing. We need to share reasons for hope – news of concrete action and progress. We also need to share accurate information about reasons for panic. We need to be reminded that love is expressed in every tree planted, every wetland saved, every indigenous community protected from the violence of the extraction industry. We need to be reminded that every time we put on an extra sweater, or choose to take the bus, we are actively living out our faith, and expressing our own love for our Creator, our fellow creatures, and our common home.

At the same time, we need to be reminded that these little gestures are not enough – not nearly enough. We should sign every single worthwhile petition that appears in our inbox. We should write to our PMs, our MLAs, our mayors. We should, if we are able, show up at protests and rallies. We should, as a church, support the international Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which has been signed by 1,300 institutions including the cities of Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, London England and the Vatican, as well as thousands of individuals around the globe.

To be effective in the Climate War, and the war against extinctions, we need to strengthen our ties with other Christians and people of other faiths who are walking on the same path.  We need to accept in gratitude and humility the resources that are being offered to us by the wider church, the National Anglican church, the world-wide Anglican communions. We need to be inspired by the Lambeth calls on the environment, which are being discussed as I write.   We need to draw upon the shared resources of our sister denominations, and the many ecological and social justice organisations with whom we are affiliated. There is comfort in the knowledge that we belong to a mighty company of all faithful people, and that, working together, with God’s help, we are strong.

“We” here means everybody – people of all backgrounds, people of all ages. But “we” especially needs to include younger people, who will bear the brunt of what their elders have unleashed.

“We” in this context also means people of all races, cultures, classes, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations. Inclusion and equity are not separate issues competing with the issue of climate change. Particularly but not only, in the developing worlds, it is women who struggle to till the parched land, transgender people who are turned away from shelters, indigenous people whose water has been poisoned. Cradle Christians have heard all their lives that they are called to serve. Are we ready to put ourselves at the service of those on the front lines, who see clearly what needs to be done but struggle to find the means to do it on their own?

Our baptismal vows call us to resist “the evil powers of this world, which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.” This is a phrase that we also need to start taking literally, as this BBC article on the discrediting of science makes horrifyingly clear. But if we are to stand up to the forces of evil and the forces of oil, we need to strengthen and deepen ties witin our own local church communities. We cannot and will not get through this on our own. (“If “evil “ sounds like too

strong a word, you may want to have a look at Jane McMullen’s article, “The Audacious PR Plot that seeded doubt about climate change”, published by BBC News online, on July 23rd, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-62225696.)”

St Paul writes of “building each other up” (1 Thess. 5.11), although all too often he has been quoted in a way that puts people down. It is crucial in this crisis that we do not put each other down, or judge each other, but rather that we encourage each other in authentic friendship, trust and caring.

We are all children of God, and all children as well of a mother who is critically ill. We all need special consideration and love. But we need to be careful about focusing on grief. The patient isn’t dead yet. We need to direct our energy towards healing her, not resign ourselves to her passing.

We need urgently to think about ways we can support one another and help each other fight against denial and despair. In each of our parishes, we need to provide opportunity for discussion, for questions, for study, for prayer. We might even think about working with artists in our communities to make a Way of the Cross for the Earth. We might participate in the world-wide Communion Forest initiative launched this week at Lambeth.

Through it all, we need to take literally St Paul’s warning that the time is short (1 Cor 7:29) and that we are called, all of us, to respond to the crisis to the full extent of our ability. And beyond. Each of us needs to remind ourselves, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil.4.13).   

The post Time to start being literal in our interpretation of the Christian Faith appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

This summer internship, offered by Montreal Dio and the Montreal School of Theology, provides interns with individualized (and paid) service work placements at service organisations around the city, and a program of spiritual, vocational, and community growth led by program director Alan Ma and program mentor Rev. Fresia Saborio.

MMI is meant to give young people meaningful work experience while offering them opportunities to reflect on God’s call in their life and build community through weekly workshops, activities, prayer, and reflection.

Here’s the story of one participant.

Kristee Kuz is from Winnipeg and had never been to Montreal before this summer. She experienced a summer of immense personal and spiritual growth. “This program has really challenged my perspective. I’ve changed the way I view myself and view others and the work that I do.”

She worked at three different organisations during the summer. She started at Li-ber-t house, a recovery home for women, and ended the summer working at St. Michael’s Mission and Tyndale Community Centre, the former of which provides essential services to people experiencing homelessness, and the latter provides programs and services to the community of Little Burgundy.

Kristee comes from an evangelical background and was initially surprised by the type of mission work that she ended up doing as part of MMI. “I was struggling at the beginning because I felt like I wasn’t doing enough at the placements because I come from a background where mission work is literally evangelizing and praying for people. I definitely know now that I’m doing enough though whether I’m doing dishes in the back or interacting with people.”

During group reflections and her one-on-one time with Alan and Fresia she was able to delve deep into the challenges she found herself facing at her placements. “The biggest challenge is being able to still have a servant’s heart even when the people you’re serving don’t seem to be appreciating it. In one-on-one sessions with Alan we really dove in, questioning why I need to be seen by other people, and changing my perspective by asking ‘why do I need to be seen by other people when God is seeing me?’”

A theme she kept coming back to is the idea that we are human beings not human doers.

Many of the activities Alan led focused on presence and observation. During orientation week, for example, the interns were sent out on scavenger hunts in different parts of the city. “He was really intentional with saying ‘make sure you observe, see the demographic in the area, look around at what you see, but don’t think about why.’ It wasn’t just to know Montreal, it was to change our perspective. I really liked that activity because it made me remember to go into my placement and observe, take it in, be in the moment, be present.” This mentality has helped challenge her and the other interns to find God in whichever moments they can at their placements.

For her, the heart of the program has been the community of interns and the theological reflections. “I think some of my best moments so far have just been going places with everybody. As much as it looks like you’re just going to work all the time you’re also around community all the time. You meet people from all over, and you’re all growing together. Every person that is here is coming from a faith background and coming from a place of wanting to meet new people.”

Every Wednesday, the interns met together with Alan and Fresia to share a theological reflection. “It’s very open-ended. It’s supposed to be about an experience in our placements, but could be about something you experienced while walking home. When someone presents their reflection, the others will ask them a question to make them think more about it and see what’s actually going on. It could be the most simple thing like washing dishes but then it turns into a thirty minute conversation that gets incredibly deep. It’s about those surface moments that we notice, that we feel, and going deeper into them to find what God is teaching you in that moment.”

As the program draws to a close, Kristee feels immense gratitude for her time in Montreal with the other interns. “I would literally do this program like ten times! I went to a new city, and I’m being paid to do awesome work for the community.”

We are already making plans for MMI 2023 and look forward to continuing this program for years to come.

The post Finding God in the Present: An Intern’s Perspective on the Montreal Mission Internship appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Following the service, we held a picnic on the lawn of the church. The picnic gave us all a chance to socialize not only among ourselves, but with her. Thirty years in the service of the Lord is a remarkable feat!

Reverend Ros came to Trinity Church as priest after serving in Chambly.  She brought with her such dedication to her profession in addition to being a caring shepherd of her flock. She displays immeasurable love for each member of the parish, and provides guidance whenever and wherever needed. She tries to understand where each of us is as we travel on our separate spiritual journey.

Reverend Ros displays exceptional creativity, which is evident each Sunday in her liturgy. She brings props along as her sermons demand and members of the congregation become willing participants.

During the tribute, we thanked her for her selfless ministry and inspiration which she brings to her work. We particularly love Ros’ inclusiveness. Each week, her liturgy package always includes work for the young children. The colouring pages, based on scripture readings, are always so enticing – even for an adult.

While Covid-19 was a challenge for church, Ros kept us together through zoom coffee hour during the week. The weekly liturgy was always emailed to parishioners as Reverend Ros kept open the line of communication between her and her flock.

Reverend Ros’ ministry has touched thousands of people, directly and indirectly.  Her work with PWRDF is inspiring; she is the Diocesan Representative and tireless and passionate co-chair of the Montreal Unit. In addition, she is Chaplain of the Mile End Mission in Montreal; a community which she is completely devoted to.

The parishioners are extremely grateful to have Reverend Ros as priest. We look forward to the challenges of the future with her as our leader. God knows her work is not done even after 30 years as a priest.

The post Celebrating Ros Macgregor’s Thirty Years as a Priest appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Many of us can claim roots in Europe and the influence of its hierarchical societies. “The rich man in his castle, the poor man at the gate, God made them high and lowly…” reflected society in 1848, when the hymn, “All things bright and beautiful”, was written. Although in the 19th century society tended to be divided into rich and poor, today we find many more ways to separate people; education, skin colour, athletic ability to name a few.

Our Anglican Church is not immune, not only with its bishops, priests and deacons but in the division of the priesthood versus laity. Those in the ‘higher’ levels of a society tend to feel superior and to make rules for others.

The worst in all of this surfaced in the treatment of Indigenous people by the settlers (colonizers).

There are many situations where Jesus’ commandment “Love your neighbour as yourself” has not been fully understood. It is not just providing food for the hungry or contributing to a charity; it is learning to understand one’s neighbours; it is learning to understand the effect of our actions on others and asking how we would feel if we were the recipient of our own actions.

PWRDF’s Indigenous Responsive Program provides funds from which an Indigenous community can apply for a grant for a local project. Instead of this project becoming a PWRDF project, with overtones of colonialism, ownership now stays with the Indigenous community.

Raising funds to help provide grants is the focus of the Diocesan PWRDF for this year. Please join us in supporting this campaign.

The post Decolonizing Fundraising and Empowering Indigenous Communities appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

I asked her about the painting she recently completed of Bishop Mary. The painting hangs in the Synod Office above the reception desk.

How did the idea of a painting a portrait of Bishop Mary emerge?

Bishop Mary has forever struck me as ‘the hands-on Bishop!’ It seemed timely to honour her along with previous bishops of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

As assistant archivist—and Sunday painter —I wanted to add to the existing collection of portraits, the first of which is the Right Reverend Francis Fulford, who was installed first bishop of this diocese in 1850.

Buoyed by a comment from a prominent member of my own congregation about the portrait I painted of Naïm Kattan (O.C., O.Q., Arts et lettres de la France) that my painting resembled the subject even more than the photo from which the work was drawn, I ventured to approach the bishop.

How did she react when you approached her?

Originally, she was reluctant. While chatting over lunch pre-pandemic, I asked if she wanted a portrait done of her and she showed no interest in the idea. Then, when I pulled out a picture of the one I had done for Mr. Kattan she called me a Rembrandt. Of course, I was delighted by her compliment! Eventually, when I approached her again she agreed.

I’m sure she was too busy to sit for you. How were you able to capture her likeness?

I picked a photo which Janet Best had taken in the cathedral. The face was a big challenge since the lighting wasn’t ideal for what I had in mind.

Finally, when the Church Home closed and the photographed portraits of the bishops of Montreal came to their final home at the diocese, I found the perfect picture to work from.

And, as fate would have it, I soon found that working from home during the pandemic was the only way this ambitious project could be completed alongside my full time day job.

What did you intend to portray in this portrait?

In essence, it was intended to tell a story…that of a leader placed in the difficult position to navigate the uncertainties faced by all of us, since March of 2020, when the pandemic gripped the world.

Her kindness has manifested not only as a superior, but also as a mentor, through many practical tips offered through the years; her helpful ideas and advice have in turn, enhanced my own craft as assistant archivist of the Diocese.

The oil on canvas portrait of Bishop Mary Catherine Irwin-Gibson is my way of thanking the Diocese and our wonderful colleagues at the Synod office for their warm embrace since joining the team in 2014.

How did she react to the finished piece?

It was gratifying to receive her reaction, insisting that it is truly a “work of love.” I am also grateful that this portrait allowed me to push my limits in the art of portraiture.

The post Portrait of Bishop Mary Welcomes Guests to the Synod Office appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

She was ordained Deacon in June 1989 and Priest in March 1990, serving as assistant curate at St. James the Apostle and Acting Editor of The Montreal Churchman. She was priest assistant at Christ Church Cathedral from 1991 to 1996, while also continuing as Editor of The Montreal Anglican. Joan was Editor of the Montreal Anglican for 18 years until she stepped down in 2007.

Over the years, Joan served as Chaplain at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and as Associate Chaplain at The Royal Victoria Hospital. In 1997 she was appointed to offer Christian Ministry at Tyndale St. Georges’ and in 2001, she was made a Canon of the Diocese of Montreal.

Joan served as Interim Pastor four times in her ministry: St. Margaret of Scotland, Tetreaultville in 1996; St. George’s Place du Canada in 2002; St. Peter’s Town of Mount Royal in 2003; and St. Matthew’s, Hampstead in 2010 until her retirement in September 2010.

From her obituary, which appeared in the Montreal Gazette:

SHANKS, Joan (Edith). Daughter of the late Walter (Wally) and Christine Hinds. She is survived by her children Paul, Penelope, and David, and her grandchildren, Sebastian, Alex, Karen and Jason whom she treasured. Born in Winnipeg on July 27, 1942, she moved to Montreal with her

family as a teenager. She worked as a nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital where she met her late husband, John (since divorced), and many lifelong friends. Her desire to care for others led her to a second career as a priest with the Montreal diocese. She moved to Victoria to be close to her son and his family.

In May of 2007 The Rev Canon Joan Shanks penned a farewell to the readers of the Montreal Anglican as she retired as Editor after 18 years. “It has been joyful, it has been stressful, it has been satisfying, and always challenging. There have been sleepless nights and days blessed with feelings of accomplishment, and always a sense of serious responsibility to you, the readers, who are the sole reason for the existence of this newspaper. Ultimately The Montreal Anglican belongs to you.”

Following a lengthy list of thank yous she went on to say, “And to you, essential readers, without you this newspaper would have so little purpose, thank you for your time and your support and your responses…

To the new editor, as yet unknown, I wish great joy, great creativity and much success and satisfaction in this difficult and worthwhile vocation.

And now, in peace, I take my leave.”

A celebration of life will be held in Victoria in 2023.

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