Our Seminarians’ Personal Mission Trip

BY IVAN BREWER, FIRST-YEAR THEOLOGY AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S

It was privileged in the first part of our summer holidays this year to travel to Telegraph Creek, a remote community in northern British Columbia, with my fellow Seminarian, Michael Beaupré. We started in Midland, Ontario, and drove every day over the course of about a week to our final destination.

This was a mission trip of sorts where we got to see the Church in a different light in different parts of the country. Through our travels, we got to see and stay at different places in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Along the way, we met many different people within the Church that hosted us and helped us in different ways. For this, we are very thankful.

It all culminated in arriving at the church and community in Telegraph Creek, which is in the Whitehorse Diocese. Neither of us knew what to expect upon arrival, but once we were there, we adapted well to our new surroundings.

The parish there – St. Theresa’s Mission Church – is run by Josh and Denise Grimard, who are lay pastoral administrators. We stayed with them while we were there. They have a large and very vibrant family with seven kids and another one on the way. While there we would do most of our work on the large land they have, helping to maneuver and chop wood, a lot of painting, and different physical work around the house and church, as the church was severely damaged by forest fires in 2018.

THE MINISTRY OF PRESENCE

The kids as well would keep us very busy as they ranged in age and personality. Their youthfulness and simplicity were a joy to be around. The main part of it for me was the ministry of presence. For the two-and-a-half weeks, Michael and I were there, we got to learn about and merge into the family and the surrounding communities and their culture. We got to hear different stories from different people, partake in different communal events, and be a witness to the small church community that is there in Telegraph Creek.

I am especially thankful to Bishop Héctor Vila for hosting us in his diocese, Fr. Edwin Gonsalves (Rector, St. Augustine’s) for setting the trip up, and Josh and Denise for their special hospitality in having us. It was a trip I will never forget.