Deanery pilgrimage

On Saturday Oct 3rd, the day before the feast of St. Francis, a number of us from the deanery(1) met at the Cathedral for a walk to St. James. 

We were blessed with a beautiful sunny Vancouver afternoon. 

The Cathedral provided some light refreshments, coffee and tea upstairs. 

Before we got ready to leave, we gave thanks for being called into ministry together, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our deanery, and to encourage one another in this shared ministry. Mother Amanda, our Regional Dean, We gathered under the Tree of Life stained glass window in the Narthex (the entryway) and we reflected on what we saw. Cathedral parishioner, Charlie Demers, shared some funny stories about it's commissioning and design.

We spoke about our walking route. We had varying thoughts and reflections and a moment of acknowledgement that, while we were not going to walk along East Hastings, it is a part of our neighbourhood that we are called to pray and love.

We then said a prayer to give thanks for all creation, for our walk and for all our neighbours in our shared neighbourhood. 

Mother Amanda invited us to notice creation and animals on our walk to St. James, as we walked on this day with St. Francis in our hearts and preparation to close the liturgical Season of Creation. 

It took about 1.5 hours to walk to St. James. We walked along the viaduct and prayed for a pigeon that seemed hurt. We noticed dogs barking, the birds in Chinatown, a shopcat, as well as the things that are rapidly changing in the neighbourhood on our route and the things that remained unchanged (like the Sunrise grocery store!). We noticed a small patch on a block that was being tended to by a group of BIPOC youth hoping to offer the gift of a tiny bit of wild space in a very urban area. 

We arrived at St. James and gathered in the library. We were offered refreshments. We took a moment to sit and reflect together on what we saw - the creatures we noticed, the things that touched our hearts, and our insights. We also spoke about the ministry of St. Francis and the 800-year old Francisan movement. It was a lovely time of fellowship, learning and laughter. 

Some of us left and some of us stayed on for the 4pm Mass at St. James, followed by a service of the word to remember St. Francis's transition from this life to his life with God, designed by Charlie Demers. 

I am so grateful for this time of connection with each other, with our neighbourhood and with all creation. We look forward to next year's Deanery pilgrimage and we hope to see you there!

Loving Creator God,
You call your Church to witness that you were in Christ, reconciling all things to yourself:
So bind us together in love and obedience to you, that the beauty of our lives, the truth of our words, and the justice of our deeds may draw all people to you;
Through him who gave himself for us and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

(Prayer for General Synod DONW, and applies equally well to our deaneries =)

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(1) The Diocese of New Westminster consists of 62 parishes and 4 worshiping communities serving in mission together across the southwest part of the province of British Columbia from the Sunshine Coast to the west to Hope located 150 km east of the City of Vancouver, the traditional unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples.

To assist with pastoral care and administration, dioceses are divided into smaller groupings called Archdeaconries and Regional Deaneries. The Diocese of New Westminster has six Archdeaconries and eleven Regional Deaneries.

This Deanery pilgrimage was for the parishes that are members of the Kingsway Deanery (which is part of the Burrard Archdeaconery). Mother Amanda, the Rector of St. James, is our Regional Dean. The parishes that are members of the Kingsway Deanery are (from south to north): St Mary the Virgin, South Hill, St. Thomas, Holy Cross, St. Margaret Cedar Cottage, St. Michael, St. Paul, St. James and Christ Church Cathedral.  

To learn more, look at this great description on the Diocese of New Westminster website.