New Vicar for St. Matthias and St. Luke
The evening of Monday, December 17, 2018 was a dark and stormy night in the venerable south Vancouver neighbourhood of Oakridge, but the inclement weather did not prevent a good turnout of diocesan clergy, visitors from other parishes and of course members of the Parish of St. Matthias and St. Luke for the licensing by Archbishop Melissa Skelton of the Reverend Marion Wong as vicar of the parish and ordained leader of their shared ministry.
The Reverend Marion Wong, originally ordained in the United Church of Canada was hired as the Mandarin Minister for St. Matthias and St. Luke in December of 2014. Following her ordination to the transitional diaconate in the Anglican Church, June of 2017, her ministry title changed to Assistant Curate. Priested in June of 2018, Marion remained in her role, serving the Mandarin speaking community, present in the Oakridge neighbourhood. When St. Matthias and St. Luke incumbent, the Reverend Vivian Lam answered the call of new ministry opportunities at St. John the Apostle, Port Moody it was agreed upon by all that Archbishop Skelton appoint, the Reverend Marion Wong, vicar of the parish.
In the absence of Executive Archdeacon the Venerable Douglas Fenton, the Archdeacon of Vancouver and rector of St. John’s, Shaughnessy, the Venerable John Stephens presided over the Covenant in Ministry and the Reverend Stephanie Shepard still in the first months of her appointment as priest-in-charge at the nearby parish of St. Faith’s offered the Regional Deanery welcome to Rev. Wong. This slight irony was not wasted on Rev. Shepard who made a humourous reference that was much appreciated by the congregation.
The preacher for the Eucharist was the Venerable Dr. Richard Leggett, Archdeacon of Westminster and rector of Holy Trinity, Cathedral, New Westminster. The Reverend Chris Magrega also of a nearby parish, St. Augustine’s was Archbishop’s Chaplain and the Deacon of the Word and Table for the Eucharist was the Reverend Christine Wilson of St. Faith’s.
(Archdeacon Leggett's sermon is available by following this link, audio and a link to text)
St. Matthias and St. Luke’s new director of music is Dr. Kevin Zakresky who accompanied the hymns on the grand piano and the organ. A music in worship feature was the anthem “Down to the River” sung by the Parish and ESL Choir.
Following a group shot in the chancel, everyone adjourned to the hall downstairs for refreshments and some social time together.
IMAGES
- The Group Shot
- Archbishop Skelton leads the applause of welcome
- The preacher, the Venerable Dr. Richard Leggett
- The Parish Choir and ESL Chorus
- Rev. Wong receives the Canons from warden, Murray Fox
- Catherine beams a beautiful smile at the Peace
- The Rev. Wong administers the Body of Christ for the first time as the licensed vicar of the Parish of St. Matthias and St. Luke.