UPDATED: Clergy News Around the Diocese July - August 2021

The Reverend Miranda Sutherland has been increased to 60% time as the Vicar of Holy Spirit, Whonnock effective July 1, 2021. Additionally, Miranda has been appointed as Vicar of St Oswald, Port Kells (30%) on August 1, 2021.

Bishop John Stephens has appointed the Reverend Georgina Harris as Priest-in-Charge of St Columba, Pitt Meadows effective July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Georgina will be facilitating a self-study and discernment period for the parish.

The Reverend Armand Mercier has been appointed Vicar of St Alban, Richmond effective August 1, 2021 following the Search Committee's recommendation. They had asked the bishop for a direct appointment. He will also serve as an assistant priest for pastoral care at Christ Church Cathedral.  Here is some additional information about Fr. Armand:

Rev. Armand Mercier is husband to Carol Anne, dad to Benoît, 11, and Étienne, 7, and lifelong (almost) resident of Alberta.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta, Rev. Armand worked for a number of years in the automotive industry before beginning a discernment to ministry in the Franciscan Order in the Roman Catholic Church. After ordination to the diaconate and obtaining M.Div. and M.Th. degrees, Rev. Armand left the Franciscan Order to marry Carol Anne; some time later, Rev. Armand and Carol Anne were called to the Anglican Church, where they participated as parishioners for several years in two different communities.

Rev. Armand was subsequently called to serve as a deacon before receiving the call to the priesthood in 2016, after which he was an honourary assistant in the Diocese of Edmonton. In 2017, Rev. Armand was inducted as Rector of St Stephen’s Parish, where he served until July 2021. Rev. Armand also worked at Habitat for Humanity Edmonton from 2010-21 as Director of Family Services.

Apart from enjoying the company of his family, Rev. Armand enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and cycling, and he and his family look forward to many new adventures in the Diocese of New Westminster. 

The Reverend Melanie Calabrigo has been appointed as an assistant priest for pastoral care (40% time) at Christ Church Cathedral. Melanie will begin on September 1, 2021. She will continue as the assistant priest at St Faith, Vancouver with responsibility for St Hildegard's sanctuary.

Following the recommendation of the Search Committee, Bishop Stephens has appointed the Reverend Marnie Peterson as the next Rector of St Anne, Steveston. Marnie will begin on September 16, 2021. She leaves her ministry as an assistant priest at the Cathedral where she was a developer of the St Brigid's congregation and the primary priest for Maundy Café.

The Reverend Amanda Rushton has been appointed Assistant Curate at St James' Church effective, July 1, 2021. Mother Amanda will be at 50% time in her first year as she completes her final year of coursework at VST and a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

The Reverend Jose' Luis Aranda Moyano has been appointed as Assistant Curate to St Paul, Vancouver effective August 1, 2021. Jose' Luis will be completing a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) during his curacy. This will be a 50% time position in year one and full-time in year two.  

The Reverend Monte Tugwete has been appointed by the bishop as Assistant Curate at St Alban the Martyr, Burnaby (75%) with the Reverend Greg Jenkins and Holy Trinity Cathedral (25%) with the Ven Richard Leggett effective September 1, 2021. 

The Reverend Alecia Greenfield has been appointed by the Bishop to serve one-day each work as Special Projects Facilitator in the Mission and Ministry Department. She began on July 8 and Thursdays will be her regular office day.

Bishop Stephens has received the resignation of the Reverend Angus Stuart as rector of the Parish of St Francis-in-the-Wood. Angus has served at St Francis-in-the-Wood since March 1, 2005, and is looking forward to retirement and next opportunities. His last Sunday will be on September 12 and his final date as rector on October 1, 2021.

The Reverend Stephen Laskey has signified to Bishop Stephens his resignation of the Parish of St Helen, Surrey effective October 15 as he takes up retirement. Stephen has also indicated his resignation as Regional Dean of Peach Arch effective September 30 and as Chair of the Christ Church, Surrey, Cemetery Committee on August 31. Stephen's last Sunday will be on September 26.

After more than 40 years of ministry as parish priest, university chaplain, spiritual director and most recently as Director of Anglican Formation at the Vancouver School of Theology, the Rev. Grant Rodgers is retiring at the end of December, 2021. Full story here on this website.

Inductions and Celebrations of New Ministry

Inductions of Rectors and Celebrations of New Ministry for Vicars have now been scheduled. Some have been delayed since January 2021.  All will take place at 7pm unless otherwise noted.

• The Reverend Alecia Greenfield, Vicar, Holy Cross, Vancouver on the Feast of St Mary the Virgin (August 15) at 2pm with Archdeacon Kevin Hunt presiding and the Reverend Jason Byassee preaching. Liturgical colour: white.
• The Reverend Miranda Sutherland, Vicar of Holy Spirit, Whonnock on the Feast of St Mary the Virgin (August 15) at 5pm with Archdeacon Al Carson presiding and the Reverend Alex Wilson preaching. Liturgical colour: white.
• The Reverend Armand Mercier, Vicar of St Alban, Richmond on the Commemoration of Holy Women (August 16) at 7pm with the Archdeacon Luisito Engnan presiding and the preacher will be announced later. Liturgical colour: green.
• The Revd Miranda Sutherland, Vicar of St Oswald, Port Kells on the Commemoration of John Stuart (August 17) at 7pm with Archdeacon Luisito Engnan presiding and the Reverend Helen Dunn preaching. Liturgical colour: green.
• The Reverend Steve Black, Rector of St Hilda, Sechelt on the Feast of St Bartholomew (August 24) at 6pm with Bishop Stephens presiding and the Very Reverend Peter Elliott preaching. Liturgical colour:  red.
• The Revd Billy Isenor, OSF, Rector of St Mark, Ocean Park on the Feast of St Bartholomew -transferred (August 25) at 7pm with Bishop Stephens presiding and the preacher to be announced. Liturgical colour:  red.
• The Reverend Helen Dunn, Rector of St Clement, Lynn Valley on the Feast of St Aidan (August 31) at 7pm with Bishop Stephens presiding and the Reverend Miranda Sutherland preaching. Liturgical colour: green.
• The Reverend Tasha Carrothers, Vicar of St Mary Magdalene, Vancouver on September 1 at 7pm with Archdeacon Stephanie Shepard presiding and the Reverend Sharon Smith preaching. Liturgical colour: green.
• The Reverend Marnie Peterson, Rector of St Anne, Steveston on the Feast of St Matthew (September 21) at 7pm with Bishop Stephens presiding and the preacher to be announced. Liturgical colour: red.
• The Reverend Ken Vinal, Rector of St Stephen, West Vancouver on the Feast of St Michael and All Angels (September 28) at 7pm with Archdeacon Stephen Muir presiding and the preacher will be the Very Reverend Peter Elliott. Liturgical colour: white.
• The Reverend Philip Barker, Vicar of All Saints, Agassiz, with Archdeacon of Lougheed, the Venerable Al Carson presiding. Details to follow.

• IMAGES:
  The Reverend Miranda Sutherland
• The Reverend Armand Mercier
• The Reverend Marnie Peterson
• The Reverend Angus Stuart
• The Reverend Stephen Laskey