What fun!
When I was a summer student in Cowansville long ago, Bishop Mary was the rector in Dunham. She told me she considered going shopping with parishioners to be ministry. What fun! This idea freed me into creative outreach like shopping and strawberry picking with Cowansville women, taking 90+ year old Hester Kerr and other parishioners to visit the Sisters of St. Margaret in New Hartford, New York and much more. I am thankful.
– Ros Macgregor

Generosity and clarity
I join other deacons in paying tribute to Mary in whose episcopacy there have been steady advances in the restoration of the diaconate in Montreal and greater visibility and support for their collegial life and expression. My tribute has more personal dimensions as they encompass the decades of my own vocational discernment, formation and diaconal ministry in prison and community chaplaincy, spanning the years of Mary’s own path through studies, ordination, parish ministry and episcopacy, all followed in deeply prayerful and pastoral generosity and clarity about our discipleship.
– Deacon Peter Huish

Memories from decades past
Many of us will be adding thoughts and connections for Bishop Mary to call back up and remember. Mine go back a year or two with family connections. Bishop Mary’s Mom and my Mom became good friends during the charismatic movement that rose in our Diocese during the 1970’s. My first remembrance of Bishop Mary was sitting cross legged, on a table, playing guitar with a friend of mine at Champlain CEGEP, St-Lambert. The second was as being a server at her wedding at St-Barnabas, St-Lambert. Many memories, fun and glorious times.
Blessings on your retirement.
– Rev. Deacon Dave Blizard

And then… I nodded off
Dear Bishop Mary, congratulations and sincere best wishes on your retirement. You will be missed, the warmth of your smile, the peace you brought everywhere you went. If I am correct, the parish of St. Thomas’ in Noyan and St. George in Clarenceville were your first as priest in charge. At a confirmation ceremony years later you presided over the confirmation of my six grandchildren. What a memorable happy day. On another occasion as your crozier bearer, I nodded off at an inopportune moment. I spent the previous night caring for a cow having her first calf and had little sleep. You shared the news with the congregation to the delight of all in attendance. God bless you, Mary.
– Fred Wallet

“For such a time as this…” you were called Mary to be our bishop. Thank you for answering the call. Thank you for your support, your guidance and your prayers over the years. May God bless you and Mark richly as you begin this next step in your lives.
– Jean-Jacques Goulet

Grace
Bishop Mary has worked dedicatedly and with grace to serve this diocese and its many individual parishes. I know that I join many
others in wishing her a fulfilling retirement.
– Hilliard Goldfarb

Come visit!
Congratulations on your retirement. May you have many happy, healthy years ahead in your new home. Thank you for your support to our community. Now that you’re closer, we hope you visit us. All the best,

– Grace Church, Arundel

Now… relax
On behalf of the family of St-Paul’s Church in Dunany, we wish you a wonderful retirement. You have served with a great faith, always under the guidance of our Lord. You gave so much to so many, and we thank you. May you have good health and blessed adventures in this next chapter of your life. Take some time to relax and enjoy the beautiful nature all around you. And continue to share your Christ guided thoughts with all who you will meet.
Love and blessings from
– Wendy Crooks, Robert Percy, June Parker

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Just a young woman with a guitar
It was 50 years ago when I met a young lady named Mary Irwin. She was the eldest sister and music director of Irwin siblings and friends called The Joyful Noise. At that time the Rev. Garth Bulmer was priest in Trinity Church, Ste. Agathe Des Monts. Garth invited The Joyful Noise to visit for a summer weekend of worship and song. I have vivid memories of this wonderful visit, with a sung Eucharist on the church lawn, picnics and laughter, and a young woman with a guitar who shared her faith through music and story-telling. This new experience of church was a gift to the Trinity community and was a glimpse into God’s calling to an extraordinary young woman. Over the years I have been privileged to work alongside Mary Irwin-Gibson in many capacities as a friend and colleague. I give God thanks for her strong faith
and devotion shared generously throughout every stage of her journey. God’s blessings always dear Mary!
– Sue Winn

Kindness
Thank you for your service and ministry as our Bishop of Montreal. On your visits to the Townships and on other occasions, I want to thank you for your kindness and your presence. You make everyone feel at ease and included. God bless you on your retirement.
– Deacon Judith Ball

Welcomed by name
You had a vision for your episcopal ministry in this time and place, and worked tirelessly to pursue it, no doubt also experiencing some challenges of being the first woman to serve in this office. You welcomed me as an ecumenical partner at Diocesan Council and Synod, and always remembered my name and some of the things I am interested in. I trust that in retirement you and Mark will enjoy some of the things that were postponed during your years of faithful service.
– Jim Slack Retired Dean of the Montreal Ministry Area

From ministry to Quebec cooking
‘When I arrived in Montreal to take up the position of Rector of the Cathedral and Dean of the Diocese, Bishop Mary provided such a different model of Episcopacy that it took me a while to adjust to her hospitality, care as well as general advice on anything from ministry to Quebec cooking. In these past seven years, it has been a pleasure and privilege to work closely with +Mary, and I pray for a restful and creative retirement for both her and Mark.’ Well done faithful servant’!.
– Bertrand Olivier

Impact on our ministry
We are filled with gratitude and countless memories of our time with Bishop Mary. Her warm smile, her care and concern, her faithful prayers and patience all have shaped the ministry of the Synod office in profound ways. Bishop Mary, thank you for leading with love, humility, and grace. Your impact on each of us and on this ministry will be felt for years to come.
– The Synod Staff

Courage
For your warm welcome, constant encouragement, and for your courage in embracing the difficult work of healing and reconciliation, I give thanks. There are not words.
– Deborah Meister

Lapsed Methodist to active lay reader
I was a lapsed Methodist when I met Mary in 1997 for marriage preparation. She encouraged me to explore whether there was something more to being a Christian than I remembered from my childhood. I was baptized the following year and gladly attended services each week. Two years later she suggested I might like to become a lay reader, and so I did. Over the past 25 years I’ve gone from leading a few
services a year to two alternative services a month. Mary helped me recognize my leadership skills in helping others find their faith. Her greatest gift to my ministry was allowing me to experience God in my own fashion, leave behind the judgmental impressions I had from my childhood and share God’s love and support with others.
God bless Mary!
– Pamela Erskine-Layton

Holy Spirit
Overall I thank God for Bishop Mary’s very prayerful way of proceeding and alway asking the Holy Spirit to guide us. I have appreciated how Bishop Mary has encouraged Spiritual Direction in the Diocese.
– Ralph Leavitt

Energy and enthusiasm
Smiling, welcoming and encouraging – three words that speak about Bishop Mary’s ministry amongst us. Wherever she went, she embraced people and the congregations she was a pastor to. Uplifting in her sermons, she spoke from her heart about God’s love for us and our calling to love one another as Jesus loves us. Her energy and enthusiasm lifted us all with a sense of hope and purpose about our Christian ministry. She truly practised hospitality, welcoming everyone as Christ welcomes us all.
– Tim Smart

The post MORE BLESSINGS FOR BISHOP MARY appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Listening to the Holy Spirit
As chair of our Board of Governors, Bishop Mary rightly sensed that the college was a place that could benefit from her energy and determination. Mary has given me space for my leadership while backing me up and supporting our ministry here. At several key instances, Mary made decisive interventions that have allowed us to make necessary progress. What I will always remember is how, when I have come to her with questions, she has invariably responded, “What do you think the Holy Spirit is saying about this?” I confess that I have sometimes found this response unsatisfying. But what Mary understands and what I have come to learn, is that when we actually spend time with that question, the answer becomes clear and I can sense the Spirit working in ways I never could have imagined.
– Jesse Zink, Principal
Montreal Diocesan Theological College

Rooted in people, faith and ministry
In April 2022, my wife, child, and I arrived in Montreal. As an active Anglican, I connected with the diocese and was introduced to Bishop Mary. She responded quickly and kindly, meeting me for lunch and helping us feel welcomed. Soon after, clergy from her diocese reached out, offering pastoral care. Weeks later, we saw her joyfully serving cotton candy at a family event. We thank God for pastors like Bishop Mary—rooted in people, faith, and ministry more than structure. Her warmth and support in our early days here will always be a blessing we remember with gratitude.
– Jeroham Meléndez

An honour and blessing
Having worked alongside Bishop Mary has been an absolute honour and blessing. Her prayerful and spirit-filled oversight of our diocese has supported and enabled my ministry and the ministries of countless other clergy and lay people in our diocese. She has gently questioned and encouraged us along the way so that we might be able to hear and understand what the Holy Spirit is leading us into – for her strong leadership of the Diocese and for her friendship I am thankful! Gabe and I wish you, and Mark, a wonderful and restful retirement in the Laurentians filled with many adventures — but you know just how helpful and supporting having a retired bishop in our diocese can be to our bishop-elect and to the church!
– Robert Camara, Vicar General

We’ve been blessed
We have been blessed by your ministry and your leadership as our Bishop. We wish you happiness and peace for your well-deserved retirement. May you and Mark enjoy your new life and new home in the country.

-The congregation of St. Hilda in Montreal

Fiercely in favor
Although I was initially fiercely opposed to the ordination of women as Priests, I am now equally as fiercely in favor. I want to thank Bishop Mary for her understanding and constant support over the years.
– Peter Hannen

Meaningful support
I have felt nothing but support from Bishop Mary in all the ministries I am involved in: Education for Ministry, Mile End Community Mission, and Action Réfugiés Montréal. Thank you Mary, for your confidence in me and your prayers.
– Nancy Greene Gregoire

Open Arms
I went into a Presbyterian church and asked to be baptised. They were kind of non-plussed, so I went to Christ Church Cathedral. Bishop Mary welcomed me with open arms. I was baptised and confirmed in the same year. After being at the cathedral for a while, I changed parishes to CCB. Thank you Bishop Mary for all your hard work for the Diocese.
– John Matheson, Christ Church Beaurepaire

A grateful deacon
I would like to thank Bishop Mary for her presence and her ongoing encouragement as my Bishop over the last few years. Her support was instrumental in helping me achieve one of my life goals; in answering God’s call to the Diaconate. I am realizing and living a life in service, much to her support and guidance, and for that I will always be grateful. May God Bless her and keep her close to Him as she continues her journey.
– Randy Gates

The Best
Mary was the best bishop I can remember. She was always so thoughtful, hard working and very friendly to all of us. I hope her future will be a happy one.
– Tom Burpee

A welcoming gesture
When I arrived in the diocese in 1991, Mary alone sent me a welcome card. I have never forgotten that gesture, nor the many other ways in which she has extended her gift of hospitality to me, and to others! I’m not sure how my PhD comps and dissertation would have gone, had she not encouraged members of the congregation of Holy Trinity Church in Sainte-Agathe to open their doors to an itinerant student in
the early 2000s! She and those parishioners remain dear friends to this day! More recently, I observe that Bishop Mary has moved this diocese along substantially in anti-bias and anti-racism awareness, of becoming more conscious of the urgency of embracing diversity and of actively working toward reconciliation with our Indigenous and Inuit brothers and sisters.
Well done, good and faithful servant!
– The Rev’d Dr Holly Ratcliffe

The post BLESSINGS FOR BISHOP MARY appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

“This is the last Pride service at which Bishop Mary is officiating and I think it’s right that we should acknowledge her support over her many years of ministry here in this Diocese. So Bishop Mary, we want to thank you from the depth of our hearts for your support and the work that we can all do together here at this cathedral and in a diocese… Let’s give a round of applause to the bishop.”

To which Bishop Mary replied “More, Lord. More, Lord.”

The post Pride Mass 2025 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

We are searching for someone to proofread the Anglican Montreal, starting in February 2026. The committment includes reviewing and correcting the paper (typically 12 pages) approximately one month prior to publication dates: the first of March, June, September and December. Fluency in written French is appreciated.

If interested, please contact Nicki Hronjak at editor@montreal.anglican.ca.

Thank you!

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All are invited; please sign up at https://cccmtl.breezechms.com/form/FredAnderson.

The post Civil Rights Activist Fred Anderson to speak at the Cathedral September 17th.  appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

Gracious God, we give thanks for the smooth running of the electoral synod that took place on May 3rd. We pray for all the candidates who were called to let their name stand for this important office. May you ease the disappointment of those who prayed for a different outcome, and rally all your faithful servants behind Victor-David and the new way forward that will emerge for the diocese.

God of endless possibilities, we pray that you would impart Victor-David with your grace, wisdom and encouragement. Grant him your guidance so that he will be able to steer this diocese into flourishing times. We thank you Gracious God that there are many people in our midst with progressive views and ideas. We realize also that there are many opposing factors that we must face. Help Victor-David to be discerning and choose the right paths for us to follow, accepting only those ideas that are pleasing in your sight. We know that with you all things are possible. Help us, we pray, to all be of one mind and spirt as we work through the coming changes and do everything to the honour and glory of your name.

O Great Shepherd, please hold in your heart the parishioners of l’Église Anglicane de la Nativité St James (Rosemère) and St Simon and St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church (Laval-Chomedey). While they rejoice in Victor-David’s success, they have lost a trusted and compassionate pastor. May the Holy Spirit be present during this period of discernment and send a new incumbent to these parishes who will lead with hope, enthusiasm, and compassion.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. AMEN

Valerie and Stacey

The post A Prayer from the Diocesan Representatives The Anglican Fellowship of Prayer – Canada appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

When I received the schedule and pre-reading, the reality of this Synod commitment landed. The meetings were book-ended with two full travel days, there was pre-reading for procedures and motions and a packed schedule: prayer at 7:30am with wrap up daily at 9pm.
The business of Synod included such resolutions as restoring the Diaconate, pathways for transformational change of General Synod (presented by Dion Lewis), hospitality to migrant workers, tenets of Disability, and reduce greenhouse gas (moved by our own The Rt. Rev. Mary Irwin-Gibson).

We also received reports from the Council of the North, the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Anglican Foundation and Alongside Hope, and sent messages of support and prayer to the Diocese of Jerusalem.
During our breaks we met and chatted with the sponsors of Synod and visited their display tables on subjects ranging from financial management to insurance to theological colleges and archives. Please do reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.

The teaching by Primate Anne Germond was framed by three questions that we discussed at our tables:
• What is Jesus (the Gospel) calling the church to do?
• How is the church facing dark nights?
• How is the church soaring like eagles?

On each table was a stone, a cedar sapling, and a copy of the First Nations Version New Testament, which we often use in Montreal. We took turns holding the stone to speak and truly listened to each other. We came together to tackle difficult questions, frame resolutions, and find solutions. What a wonderful experience to encounter people from different dioceses and different parts of the country and to share many views of Scripture and an enduring faith in Jesus.

The selection of our new Primate was a refreshing gift of Holy Spirit: after several rounds of voting, the Laity voted to ask the House of Bishops for another candidate. Bishop Shane Parker emerged as our new Primate. We felt, as Synod, that Primate Shane Parker offers hope and possibility for the church in this moment. Later, when inducted, he told a story about not having been sure the mitre would fit his head. Looking at the mitre, he had seen that there were layers of insulation and duct tape inside (for it to fit the previous Primate). He removed those layers, and it fit. An apt metaphor for the work to be done, as he said: “Now it’s time for us to remove the insulation, to feel the heat and the cold.” Throughout the many important decisions and votes at Synod, I felt absolute trust and faith in our Montreal delegation (clergy and laity). We worked solidly together and enjoyed each other’s company.

As we move forward, as Anglicans in Canada, I am inspired and encouraged. Our delegation returned comforted and recharged. The theme of this 44th Synod was, “They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40.31). In the words of acting Primate Anne Germond in her welcome, “This verse offers words of hope and promises of strength and resilience for those who trust in God. Even in a time of immense challenge in the church and in the world, this will be a time of spiritual renewal. We will be formed by our common prayer and worship, as well as opportunities for fellowship and the study of God’s word” .

The post They will soar on wings like eagles; a reflection on the Canadian General Synod 2025 appeared first on Montreal Anglican.

For Jôsi Pretto Simmons, a political science and international development student at McGill, MMI offered a rare chance to bring together her deep concern for social justice with her Christian faith. “I came into the program wanting to connect my heart for social justice with my faith because I felt like there wasn’t really any opportunity to do so,” she explains. Having heard about the program from a friend and campus ministry staff, Jôsi saw MMI as a unique opportunity for growth.

Amani Ciccarelli, a student at the University of Waterloo studying Environment, Resources, and Sustainability, applied after her grandfather forwarded her the opportunity. What started as a practical search for a co-op placement became something more.
“I hoped it might help me develop my faith,” she reflects. Having recently been confirmed in the Anglican Church, Amani was eager to keep the promises she had made in that spiritual commitment, and MMI helped her do just that.

Nicolas Shone, a Concordia University student in Human Relations with a minor in Theological Studies, was raised in Quebec City and heard about MMI through an Anglican priest mentor. Now rooted in Orthodox Christian tradition, he came to the program with a strong spiritual foundation but found himself stretched in new and unexpected ways. “It’s been a wonderful summer, getting to know myself better, getting to know the other interns, and really understanding what it means to serve God in our modern world,” he says.

Serving on the Ground

Each intern was placed with one or more community organisations across the city, gaining first-hand experience of ministry in action.
Jôsi split her time between Disarm the Dark, an anti-trafficking organisation, and St. Columba House, a mission-focused ministry in Montreal’s Point St. Charles neighbourhood. Her days were filled with a mix of research, policy work, and hands-on community service, helping with lunch preparation, youth programming, and political discussion groups. “It’s been a really great opportunity to be hands-on in the community,” she says.

At St. Philip’s Church in Montreal West, Amani tended gardens filled with vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and berry bushes. “My day-to-day changed with the season,” she says, describing moments spent harvesting Saskatoon berries, making jam for a church bazaar, and battling beetle infestations. The garden, she says, was a place of abundance and mystery: “It’s amazing how well the plants grow there. Even though I help in the garden, I still don’t fully understand how everything thrives so much!”

Nicolas’s placement with the Ministry to Seafarers took him beyond the church walls and into one of the city’s lesser-known outreach efforts. His time was often unpredictable: “Some days, were quiet while other days we were visiting ships, picking up seafarers, talking with them, listening to their joys and sorrows.” As someone who prefers structure, he found the lack of routine surprisingly life-giving: “I was totally fine being thrown out of my comfort zone. Every day was the same, yet so different, and that’s what I loved the most.”

Encounters with God

All three interns spoke about moments when God’s presence was unmistakable. For Jôsi, it was often in the unexpected: her nervous first day that began in a cat café, or quiet times of connection with staff and community members. “I could see how God was really calling me to just be present,” she says.

She also highlights a moment from the program’s early days, climbing Mont Royal with fellow interns and choosing together to take the harder path. “We were panting and tired, but we all took that path together. At the top, we set our goals. It was an impactful moment.”
Amani found spiritual insight through the program’s reflective workshops, especially one on Ignatian discernment using stones and crystals. “It was really cool,” she recalls. “It helped us reflect on how much we rely on one sense. like sight and what it means to engage the world through others.”

These experiences helped her reconnect with a childhood faith that once felt lost: “As a child, I had a strong faith and felt like I could hear God. I still struggle with that, but I think I’m getting closer or at least more committed to working toward that.”
Nicolas, grounded in spiritual discipline, found that MMI expanded his understanding of ministry. “It made me realise that ministry isn’t all about preaching or big actions or beautiful vestments,” he says. “It’s about the quiet moments, the still, small voice of God in dark places where you wouldn’t expect to hear Him.”

Through his work with seafarers, he also came to a deeper understanding of grace: “Maybe this is where God comes in learning that God accepts us as we are, as the people He made us to be.”

Looking Ahead
The impact of the Montreal Mission Internship isn’t limited to one summer. Interns spoke about how the program has influenced their sense of vocation and faith going forward.

Jôsi is heading into her final year at McGill with a renewed sense of purpose. She and another intern plan to continue working with one of their host organisations. “It doesn’t stop here,” she says.

For Amani, MMI provided guidance in a time of uncertainty. As she looks ahead to graduation, she values the space the program gave her to ask hard questions and grow in commitment, even without having all the answers.

And for Nicolas, the experience was transformative. “MMI has been a place where I could be vulnerable. A place where I could be myself. And a place where God is glorified,” he says. “It shows you how the Gospel can be lived out, right here in Montreal.”
The Montreal Mission Internship is open to ages 18-25. Applications for 2026 open in February; montrealmission.ca.

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